Sofa Sleepers

[robbinc]

If you have a sofa sleeper, please get rid of it for your ferret's sake. On July 13, 2009, I accidentally killed my beloved ferret, Cootie, when I set the sofa down upon him. I did not see Cootie when I was setting down the sofa on the floor. There are two metal bars that support the mattress inside the couch. Cootie became pinned underneath one of these bars and i believe he was unable to breath and suffocated. I took him to my vet for a necropsy and Dr. Nelson said there was trauma but no broken bones. He agreed with my theory of how Cootie died.

My ferrets hide under the sofa and socialize there. I'd had the sofa for 11 years and no problems until this incident. I was looking for one of my other ferrets who requires medication, and that was why I had lifted the sofa up in the first place.

My heart is broken and I'm now on medication for depression. It hurts so bad.

Please get rid of your sofa sleeper if you have one. We took our sofa out to the dumpster so the City trash department will pick it up.

I don't think I will ever forgive myself for what happened to Cootie. He was a young, health and beautiful dark sable boy who spent a lot of time with me, and I absolutely adored him.

[ordinarygirl]

oh no I'm so sorry to hear about Cootie and thank you for posting your tragedy here so others can learn from your experince.

But please don't think that Cootie hasn't already forgiven you. He already has for sure and is dooking it out at the bridge and can't wait to see you again and give you kisses for the awesome home he had with you. He knows 130% that it was an accident, it wasn't intentional or cruel and he knows that you love him still and forever.

Fly high on your wings Cootie and send Momma a sign to let her know you made it there okay when you can.

Rest Easy Cootie

[ivoryleola]

I agree fully on the poster before me. He definitely forgives you, and I know that for sure.

We actually have a sofa sleeper that Wags and Uno LOVED to get into, but we have since put boards on the gap between the floor and the couch to prevent them from going under it, and we have blocked off the entrances to it through the sides of the couch. They haven't been in it in months, the other two don't care about it, and we never even bothered to open the couch because we just don't use it at all.

I am extremely sorry for your loss, but at the very least, this is a learning experience for everyone involved and all the readers here. Lazy boys aren't the only dangerous furniture for ferrets.