Our Valentine Angel. Blackie was the beloved Ferret 'Son' of findagrave contributor Frank Russo. Blackie was a sweet little soul and great individual who lived a short but happy life. We got Blackie, along with his sister and litter mate Penny, (findagrave memorial 99082507) in September of 2005. Both he and his sister literally jumped out of the cage they were in, into my wife Joanne's arms. After that, we always said that they chose us, we didn't choose them! Blackie was a very well behaved fur baby, who absolutely loved to be spoiled, which we gladly did. Blackie loved out cat, Kitten. He always followed her around, wanting to be close to her. In September of 2010, we adopted another cat, PoPo, and almost immediately, Blackie tried to get close to him. He just loved cats! Blackie was very big boned, yet very docile. He never once bit anyone in anger. He particularly loved getting the backs of his hind legs rubbed, and loved sleeping and lounging on his back. My "Little Baby Boy" was given the nickname "Chublardo" by my wife Joanne, because he was so chubby! Like all our other fur babies, Blackie was a Happy-go-lucky Soul who loved to play with his brothers and sisters. He touched everyone that he met and was a special favorite of my mother Rose, who especially loved to fawn all over him. Blackie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (Insulinoma) in early March of 2010. Upon diagnosis, he immediately started treatment with steroids. He also underwent an operation in May 2010 to remove tumors in his pancreas. I treated "My Little Baby Boy" for his disease, giving him around the clock care for almost 11 months. I would hand feed him five times a day and also give him his medication (prelone) for his insulinoma twice a day, along with herbs to combat his cancer. I always made sure that I prayed to St. Francis, the patron Saint of animals, every time I fed him, and also prayed for him nightly, asking God to help him. In August of 2010, Blackie began gaining weight due to the steroids, and soon began having complications. He had a hard time walking and playing and also had a hard time breathing, but he still battled on. On Valentines Day night of 2011, Blackie had a severe "crash" and went onto a coma. Knowing that there was really nothing more that we could do, Joanne and I took him to an All-Night Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Iselin, NJ. He crossed over the Rainbow Bridge around 10:15 pm under the watch of Dr. O'Neill, who told us that he went peacefully. Before that happened, both Joanne and I said out goodbyes. I made sure that I held him one last time, and with tears running down my face, told him that he was and always would be my "Little Baby Boy." I gave him one last kiss, and then gave him to the Doctor. In the end, although I lost him, I was satisfied knowing that I did all that was humanly possible for him. I was very proud of my "Little Baby Boy for the way he fought his disease. Even though I only had 5 1/2 years with him, it was the best 5 1/2 years anyone could ask for. Blackie is in God's hands now and is playing and running with his other little buddies in Heaven. Of course, he will be missed every day of our lives, but, we also know that we will all one day be together when we cross over the Rainbow Bridge. I love you Blackie, "My Little Baby Boy."
Our Valentine Angel. Blackie was the beloved Ferret 'Son' of findagrave contributor Frank Russo. Blackie was a sweet little soul and great individual who lived a short but happy life. We got Blackie, along with his sister and litter mate Penny, (findagrave memorial 99082507) in September of 2005. Both he and his sister literally jumped out of the cage they were in, into my wife Joanne's arms. After that, we always said that they chose us, we didn't choose them! Blackie was a very well behaved fur baby, who absolutely loved to be spoiled, which we gladly did. Blackie loved out cat, Kitten. He always followed her around, wanting to be close to her. In September of 2010, we adopted another cat, PoPo, and almost immediately, Blackie tried to get close to him. He just loved cats! Blackie was very big boned, yet very docile. He never once bit anyone in anger. He particularly loved getting the backs of his hind legs rubbed, and loved sleeping and lounging on his back. My "Little Baby Boy" was given the nickname "Chublardo" by my wife Joanne, because he was so chubby! Like all our other fur babies, Blackie was a Happy-go-lucky Soul who loved to play with his brothers and sisters. He touched everyone that he met and was a special favorite of my mother Rose, who especially loved to fawn all over him. Blackie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (Insulinoma) in early March of 2010. Upon diagnosis, he immediately started treatment with steroids. He also underwent an operation in May 2010 to remove tumors in his pancreas. I treated "My Little Baby Boy" for his disease, giving him around the clock care for almost 11 months. I would hand feed him five times a day and also give him his medication (prelone) for his insulinoma twice a day, along with herbs to combat his cancer. I always made sure that I prayed to St. Francis, the patron Saint of animals, every time I fed him, and also prayed for him nightly, asking God to help him. In August of 2010, Blackie began gaining weight due to the steroids, and soon began having complications. He had a hard time walking and playing and also had a hard time breathing, but he still battled on. On Valentines Day night of 2011, Blackie had a severe "crash" and went onto a coma. Knowing that there was really nothing more that we could do, Joanne and I took him to an All-Night Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Iselin, NJ. He crossed over the Rainbow Bridge around 10:15 pm under the watch of Dr. O'Neill, who told us that he went peacefully. Before that happened, both Joanne and I said out goodbyes. I made sure that I held him one last time, and with tears running down my face, told him that he was and always would be my "Little Baby Boy." I gave him one last kiss, and then gave him to the Doctor. In the end, although I lost him, I was satisfied knowing that I did all that was humanly possible for him. I was very proud of my "Little Baby Boy for the way he fought his disease. Even though I only had 5 1/2 years with him, it was the best 5 1/2 years anyone could ask for. Blackie is in God's hands now and is playing and running with his other little buddies in Heaven. Of course, he will be missed every day of our lives, but, we also know that we will all one day be together when we cross over the Rainbow Bridge. I love you Blackie, "My Little Baby Boy."
