I see Kos mentioned his appreciation of ferrets. My nephews just got a pair of these marmots, and they are pretty cool when they're not sleeping (which is about 3 hours a day). One weekend when I was caring for the animals I learned firsthand about SNDS. Read the rest below the fold...
This is a true story and no ferrets were harmed in the production of this memory.
So my nephews get 2 ferrets, Mark (female - don't ask) and Jenga a male. They left town and I was charged with their care. I wasn't too happy as they are kinda smelly and a lot of (ahem) "waste" to clean up after.
Anyway, so I go check on them and Mark is asleep inside this carpeted tube thing. I look for Jenga, and find him lodged between the carpeted tube thing and the side of the cage. The lower half of his body is inside the tube, the upper half contorted into an impossible position squeezed against the bars of the cage. Belly up. Not moving. Looks like he was trying to get out of the tube or struggle against the cage. I feel panic creeping in. I open the cage (loud rattle), no movement. I pull the tube away from the bars and his lifeless body slides with the tube. He is dead...there is no question now. I am positive. After a few short breaths, I gently reach in and touch his body. Cold.
I begin thinking of how sad my 8 year-old nephew is going to be and wonder if he will forever blame me for its death. Yes, he will. At this point I am depressed and saddened for this animal's suffering and reach in to extract the carcass. His limp body hangs in my hand and his head lolls around as I move it out. It's neck must be broken, I decide. I lay it down prone on the carpet and sit down next to it and stroke his fur, my mind reeling with what I must do next.
At that moment, a half-sneeze, half yawn noise comes out if him and he starts stretching as if awakened from a quick nap. I literally jumped back and screamed, convinced I had just raised the dead. After telling my sister this whole story (she's laughing, laughing, so funny, haha) she explained SNDS to me which I cross-referenced in the book "Raising Ferrets for Dummies" which is exactly how I felt.
Thanks for reading.