Harriet the ferret was left feeling lonesome after her

newfound friend returned home to her rightful owners in

Lincoln.

Harriet thought she had found a friend for life when

Pickles, the albino ferret, became the latest addition to the

family household.

Harriet's owner Becky Crow (28) adopted Pickles from

Weirfield Animal Hospital, Lincoln, and couldn't wait to take

him back to her home in Birchwood.

"I adopted her on Sunday, August 17, and introduced her to

Harriet the same day." said Miss Crow.

"I've been searching for months to find a stray ferret, so I

was really excited when I heard about Pickles.

"They had a rocky start but they became more acquainted as

they spent more time together."

But Pickles had escaped from her home in St Faith's Street,

Lincoln, on August 10. Owners Sharon Bateman and her

nine-year-old son Matthew contacted the Echo and made an

emotional appeal for her return.

Miss Crow saw their plea in the Echo on August 20. She said:

"I couldn't believe it when I saw the article in the Echo. I

thought that it must be the same ferret because it described an

albino with white fur and pink eyes.

"I rang up straight away and drove to their house. Matthew

pressed his face against my car window and shouted, 'It's

Pickles!'

"I was quite upset to lose Pickles, even after such a short

length of time.

"They didn't have chance to build a strong bond but Harriet

is still sad to have lost her companion."

Find out more about the ferrets in Tuesday's

Lincolnshire Echo