Butterfly the Butterball of a Hammie

Well, today we took the remains of some of our critters that have passed within the last month to OHS for private cremation. They are wrapped in a clean blanket and placed in a freezer appropriate container and then in the freezer until my husband can bring me to the shelter. Anyway, someone was looking out for a pudgy hammie girl named Butterfly. As I was getting helped by the staff at OHS, a woman walked in with a cage. A former roommate left their hammie with her family. After caring for her for a while, they decided it would be best to bring her to find a new home as their kitties had tried to get at her already. It was all in the timing. We got to OHS later than we wanted to due to me doing some cleaning in the rattie room. OHS said they couldn't take the little hammie at that time and I mentioned I might have a friend that might take her. :-) I called my friend and now the hammie has a new place. I don't have much experience with hammies but I must say she was a friendly little girl. She let me pick her up and she ran all around her cage. Anyway, it was fortuitous that we happened to be there at that time. I'm so glad Butterfly has a wonderful new home. She is a very lucky little....er...not so little :-), hammie! It is also rather ironic since today was the day we were to participate in the rattie train which in the end did not need us as none were coming into Oregon this trip, so we had our own little hammie train!

Pinkie's Trial and Peace

Pinkie was put to sleep today. I had intended to bring her in last night but they refused to follow the procedures I set out. As long as the rats in my care meet the criteria, which Pixie did, I want them in my arms when they pass. Most of the rats in my care were "throw away" pets, some don't even like to be held. They deserve to be loved, even if they are cranky. Pinkie was such a girl. She loved her sister Pixie, but not much else.

When they first to came to Vermin Village, they were frightened little girls. They were both adopted from the Oregon Humane Society. They were 1 years old at the time. Thankfully, they had taken them in. They originally had a huge cage to start with, but Pinkie bit me and Pixie was terrified. So I got them an aquarium and they felt safer. Eventually I went to Quality Cages and got a topper for the aquarium and eventually they graduated to the cages. Both were avid wheel runners.

As time passed, they took food from my hands and didn't run in terror when I opened the cages but they still needed a blanket to pick them up because they did NOT like being held. They also were terrified during free range attempts so I always made sure their cages were BIG and full of stuff for them to mess around with. It must have been good because as of this month they turned 26 months old.

Pinkie is survived by her sister Pixie. I held Pinkie while they administered the sedative and after she was completely relaxed, they injected the medication into her abdomen, and I held her then too. She peacefully went to sleep. She is awaiting transport to OHS tomorrow for private cremation.

The whole trial of the situation was I had arranged an appointment last night with Rock Creek Veterinary Hospital. Every time I have been in previously they performed the procedure exactly as I wanted. This time, they refused. (Different doctor.) I left. They said it was too traumatic to watch. Um, if you don't know what you're doing, just say so. What really irritated me was that I specifically asked for the procedure to be performed in the specific manner when I made the appointment. To add insult to injury, when I called Dove Lewis, the attitude was, we don't give sedatives to rats. Well, we won't be going there either. It is all very disappointing. I wish there was a way to get the communities that should respect all animals to read up on taking care of animals that are pets. Rats do deserve respect, even if you don't like them. In Columbia, the same species of rats we have as pets, they use for clearing land mine fields. (The ones in Africa are a different animal, but they do the same.) And for the sacrifice of their lives for humans for research, they damn well deserve to be treated humanely.

Rest in peace little one. Now you don't have to put up with crappy people any more. I'll look after your sister for you, and when it is time for her, you will be reunited again with your playmate.

Cage Condensing

Well, I'm going to be condensing cages today. They won't have the extreme spaciousness they have now as all of the 3 level cages will become 2 level and all of the 2 levels will become one level and the 4 level will become a 3 level. This is in preparation for the new cages to arrive. I need to sell some of the current cages off to make room otherwise the new cages will have nowhere to go. 5 extensions and up to 2 top portions are being donated to Little Mischief Rescue. These will allow them a 3 level, and 2 2 levels (expanding a Large Deluxe Rat cage already sent up). The new cages should arrive at QC this or next week so the next cleaning I do of my current cages will be to retire them.

These are wonderful cages that I have now, but due to the shear number of ratties I have, while they cut down cage cleaning time HUGELY, the newer ones will cut down even more. They should, they were quite a bit more...and will be worth EVERY penny.

Peace!

Sherman and Joey Status Update

Well, they got their antibiotics and pain medicine again this morning. Sherman also had his wound flushed and packed again. They are both good boys. Both indulged in a little "nervous" bruxxing. However I held Sherman for quite some time after, since his treatment is a bit more traumatic, and he contentedly bruxxed and boggled for me the whole time. He is such a big love bug.

They'll get their meds and treatment for the next couple of weeks. Joey has a hard lump on his abdomen that I have to monitor. This is unrelated to the surgery but something the doctor noticed after he had his abdominopelvic region shaved for surgery.

0410 Hours, Ruthie Departs

I usually sleep downstairs in my recliner due to my back and acid reflux. When I have sick ratties, they also sleep in the cage right next to me. At about 0333 hours, I woke up to a noise of crying. I looked in the cage. Sprite, another little sick girl, was dancing around the cage, clearly agitated. I located Ruthie on the other side of the igloo. Her eyes looking sadly back at me. My heart started to cry. I picked her up and cuddled her close in a blanket. I told her how happy I was she came into my life and that I hope her friends had made her happy. The nearest 24 hour vet is at least 20 minutes away. And like Mr. Chuckles, I would rather she have me hold her than be scared in a car with no one holding her. So here we sat. She passed at 0410 hours.

Ruthie came to me in a round-a-bout way. A woman had contacted Quality Cage asking about rat information and they referred her to me. I spoke with her and eventually she asked that I take Ruthie. Ruthie didn't get on very well in my one cage of girls, so I made her boss of another cage. She lived with Tweek and Sprite. Eventually Zelda joined them when her cage mate passed.

So Ruthie will await private cremation at the Oregon Humane Society. I refused to take a picture of Ruthie after she became sick because she never held still long enough for me to take shots when she was healthy.

The only shot I have is with her in her cage after her and her cage mates decided to make a tent with their first hammock. They eventually learned that snuggling in the hammock was a lot more fun than making a tent. She is tucked in there right next to the "tent."

Rest in peace little Ruthie. I'm sure you'll get as many sunflower seeds as you want now.

Junior

A new little boy has come to Vermin Village. He's a black and white hooded rattie. He is very shy, but I am going to be working with him on this. I'll set up a neuter appointment for him as well. He doesn't bite but I'm hoping it will calm him down. He'll be living in our bathroom in his own cage for a while. He has a very sweet face. Hopefully it will all go well. After he gets neutered, I'll move him to the downstairs cage.

He was adopted from a wonderful family that has several rats but also a small child and it was hard to work with him in a "calm" manner. This family took him in from a HORRIBLE situation so I'm so grateful they gave him a chance. His previous owner dumped him and 2 hamsters in their apartment after vacating it. The 3 rodents were left running around loose. Dumb ass people. The people that run the apartments were trying to rehome them and while my friend called about the hammies she found out about the rat. After asking what they intended to do with him--bring him to the Vancouver Humane Society that said they would euthanize him OR the woman's boyfriend would feed him to his alligator.

So he is safe and sound here and I'm sure he'll be just fine.

Joey and Sherman's Day at the Vet

I had to bring 2 boys in to SWAH today. I was getting Joey neutered and Sherman was getting an abscess taken care of. Both came through just fine.

During Sherman's appointment, I mentioned meeting a "Hermaphrodite" rat and seeing one at the show with extra fingers. Dr. Surrency was going to be doing the neuter on my little boy later that day.

She called me after it was done. Turns out Joey had smaller than normal testicles and he had 3. They had to make an extra long incision so he is getting antibiotics but I thought that was odd and kind of ironic that we were talking about abnormalities...um uniqueness such as this earlier.

While Joey was getting neutered, his cage mate Potter got to come with me today. We stopped by my office and visited people. And we freaked out our HR department. I brought him down to meet the VP of HR but she wasn't there and one of the supervisors was asking if I wanted to
leave a message. And just as I was about to answer, Potter poked his head out of my sweatshirt (he was on my shoulder between my shirt and sweatshirt). She jumped, and yelped..."OMG Kimber". Of course others were there to laugh at her--and she laughed at herself too. :-)
Potter just twitched his whiskers and then ducked back out of sight.

Ah well, everywhere else we went he was hugged and pet and cuddled.

We even popped into Quality Cages to make a payment on my order so he got more cuddles there too. He was so polite, he only peed on me.

Sherman and Joey

Well, Sherman and Joey have to go to the vet this Friday. Joey is scheduled to be neutered and Sherman has developed an abscess on his back during his tussles with his cage mate Luke.

I hope this all goes well. Next Friday's appointment is not so sanguine. More on that after that happens.

Sherman and his buddy Luke love the cube and hammock. Although Luke has "rearranged" the cube. He sleeps between the fleece and the flannel. Little bum. Sherman, on the other hand, sleeps on TOP of the cube.

My Name is Mr. Pants and I'm a Cowboy at Ratapalooza

Ratapalooza 2008 was awesome! I rode up with two fellow Oregonians, Emily and Morgan. I had a great time in our carpool despite the fact my "condition" got in the way on the way home. I had a wonderful time all around!

There was lots of informative materials around the hall and lots of wonderful items for sale! And of course, ratties!

I got to meet Wonkie, the one eyed wonder rattie. He is too cute for words.

I got to meet Thelma and Louise, R's new babies. Also little sweetie pies. The two WSU girls, Carla and Ashley. If I only had room. :-( I love my little PEWS!

I got to meet the Breakfast Bunch Ratties! Oh, little cherubs all...okay maybe some were not so little. hehehe

Emily had some awesome jewelry for sale. I got a lovely blazed pendent. From LMR I got a cube and 2 hammocks and a spider kitty toy. I kind of dumped all of my Canadian money on them. heheh I got a lovely hat from Lynn and some rattie finger puppets. I got a rattie pendent from BLRRFH and some vegetarian dog food that tastes like rice cakes from Hillary. They were not half bad...get some hummas from Trader Joe's and I'd be set. I said no one would ever know if I put them in a dish on a coffee table. (I wouldn't do that. LOL)

I won two raffle prizes, an animated Remmy toy that talks. And a plush rattie puppet. They will be decorating my desk at work.

Oh yeah, and I got a cupcake in the cake walk.

Morgan also allowed me to hold Mr. Pants, the cowboy, in the costume contest at Ratapalooza. He reluctantly kept his hat and scarf on. He reminds me of my Luciano, a little neutered dumbo boy I have.

"I'm Mr. Pants and I'm a cowboy."

Chester, The Agouti Big Guy

Chester passed early this morning. He was about 18 months old. His cage mate Drape stayed with him and pretty much alerted me that something was wrong when I walked in. Chester is survived by his cage mates Eddie, Diego and Drape.

Chester was a big guy. Gentle but with a very strong personality. He liked to be pet and held but he also liked to be left alone to explore. He was bonded most closely with Drape as he and Drape were single rats adopted from separate people. Eddie was originally Dumbo's cage mate and Diego was originally Hades cage mate. My poor bachelor group is getting smaller.

I adopted Chester from someone on Craigslist when he was six months old. She got him from someone that raised feeders. :-(

His remains are being saved for private cremation.