When Lacey adopted two ferrets, she never expected their friendship to blossom into love...
Placing my hands on top of the pig’s head, I gently slid them down to his tail.
‘That’s it,’ I soothed.
As a volunteer at a local animal sanctuary, I performed reiki on farm animals, as well as end-of-life support.
I was passionate about helping all creatures great and small, and my husband Chris was used to me bringing home critters that needed extra care.
Chris worked in the military,
so I had a shih-tzu called Maggie to keep me company while he was deployed.
Maggie was my best friend and when she eventually crossed the rainbow bridge aged 12, I was heartbroken.
‘Will we get another pet?’ Chris asked.
‘It’s too soon,’ I replied.
Rather than seeking out a furry friend, I felt that one would come to me.
One day, I was wandering past a pet store, when something caught my eye.
A gang of ferrets were racing around in the shop window.
They looked so full of life and happy and it instantly brightened my day.
Curious, I stepped inside.
‘Please can I have a look at your ferrets?’ I asked the shop assistant.
He unlocked the cage and brought one out for me to hold.
It was like a Slinky, sliding through my fingers.
Could I really keep a ferret? I wondered.
Back home, I did my research.
It turned out ferrets were quite hard work.
Inquisitive and natural mischief makers, they needed a lot of attention.
And their food was expensive.
But I could tell they were the animals for me.
Three months later, I brought Luca home.
She was a bundle of love and energy.
I thought I had managed to ferret-proof the house, but Luca still managed to squeeze herself into nooks and crannies that I didn’t even know existed.
When Chris arrived back home from deployment, I held Luca up to him delightedly.
‘Surprise!’ I grinned.
‘What on earth…?’ he smiled.
Over the coming days, I’d hear Chris sigh in exasperation as Luca continued to run riot.
However, when he didn’t think I was looking, I saw him fussing over her.
‘I think Luca needs a companion,’ I announced one day.
‘Go on then,’ Chris said.
'We need to make every second count'
So I adopted Niko.
He was smitten with Luca, and followed her around like a puppy.
They had five beds to choose from, but they would always curl up with each other.
When they were four, Luca and Niko developed serious conditions common in ferrets.
Luca was diagnosed with insulinoma, which meant she had tumours on her pancreas. Whereas Niko developed adrenal disease.
Both were incurable.
‘I don’t know how much time they have left together,’ I sobbed to Chris. ‘We need to make every second count.’
Then, I was in the grocery store, when I saw two wine bottles dressed up as a bride and groom.
They’re ferret-sized! I realised.
Taking the bottles home,
I held up the tiny outfits triumphantly to Chris.
‘Luca and Niko are getting married!’ I declared.
Chris didn’t bat an eyelid.
A few days later, the pair tied the knot in front of me, Chris, and our two newest family members — our dog Tosca and cat Michi.
Unpredictable as ever, Luca ran off a couple of times during the short ceremony.
But each time she raced back to her groom.
They sealed the day with a
kiss, then snuggled up together that night.
When I look at Luca and Niko, I don’t just see a pair of ferrets. I see a love that grows stronger ever day.
They truly are the best companions.
I’m so glad I was able to give them their happy ev-fur after.
Lacey Huffmire, 45