Libby Passes In My Arms

In a double whammy this morning, Libby, the bunny soft fur rattie girl, also taken from the Bonnie L Hayes animal shelter, was found this morning in great distress in her cage. Our house has central air so I know it wasn't the heat. She had bloated up at some point with some serious water retention so I can only think she had a heart attack sometime before I got in that morning. I picked her up and didn't take 10 steps to get to the top of the stairs in my house and she passed in my arms. I'm sad she has gone but glad that she waited for me, although I know she had to be in great pain. I pet and gave her a kiss as I was walking and kept telling her to wait and then she was gone.

She has been prepared and is awaiting transport to OHS for private cremation.

Colonel's Last Adventure :*(

It is with great sadness that after Colonel's adventure on Friday and Saturday appears to be his last one. Taken from the Bonnie L Hayes animal shelter in Washington County through a friend, he was brought to Vermin Village for his retirement. Apparently last week was not his only escape adventure and he was brought in to the shelter as a "stray." Given that he was pretty raggedy looking, it doesn't surprise me that he was wondering around although people often use that as an excuse when they are "tired" of a pet. (And given that hamsters have such a short lifespan, quite frankly I find that very appauling.) Anyway he had a great time here and he loved hanging out in my husband's pocket.

I found Colonel had passed in his cage sometime during the night as he had passed when I found him this morning.

Colonel's Adventure

It started sometime Friday after I left for work. (I frequently clean cages before I go to work.) Colonel was in his carrier while his cage dried. He apparently was not satisfied with this. I went in when I got home that night and OMG his carrier was OPEN--I mustn't have fastened it well. :/ I searched and searched but could not find him. I have 4 cats. Needless to say, I was freaking out. The ONLY other escapee I've had was the late Precious and she came when called (and she escaped because I failed to shut the door so basically she had an invitation too). My husband is in Texas, I had to go see the vet today (Crinkle, one of my boys has a UTI, Brick, my big boy and Crinkle's brother has a respiratory issue and Molly was going in for her eye check.) I had to do errands today as well since I'm housebound on Sunday. So I set my female hammie on the floor in a carrier and put some food and water out and blocked off the area with the Plexi Glas play pen. (The cats don't jump this, I don't know if they can distinguish that it is only so high.) Anyway, no luck. I headed up again about 30 minutes ago and was just "quiet". I hear a faint rustling in the computer room. (The cats are either downstairs or in our bedroom so I KNOW who it is--the computer room is also our storage room.) The rustling gets more pronounced. I head into the computer room and home in near my husband's computer. I look in his trash can, and there was Colonel. Apparently he smelled some food and drink in there and jumped in. I was never more glad in my life. I gave him kisses and of course he squirmed as if to say, "Just get me my house, my food, and my water save the affection for later lady!" He is now safe and sound. And each of my kitties will get a treat for leaving him alone. Ugh. I feel like I've been on a roller coaster.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Susie Joins the Group

Susie was adopted today from the Oregon Humane Society (OHS). She is about 18 months old. She is part of their second chance program and came from the Mt. Shasta area. She had just gotten placed on the "floor" when I happened in there. She was huddled in a corner. I asked where her paperwork was. Took her home today. Right now she is chilling in a carrier in the bathroom with some food and water and blankets. I'm cleaning cages tonight so she'll move in right away with her new friends. To make it really interesting, I'll be merging 2 cages together anyway. Luciano (neutered boy), Spot (neutered boy), Pip (spayed girl), Smudge, (spayed girl), and Gretta, Hannah, and Betsy, Sammie and Brixton and now Susie will be sharing a 4 level tower.

All is well!

Patches Says Goodnight

Patches passed away sometime this morning. He was about 2 years old and was adopted from a family off of CL. (Same family I got Nona and Sherman from.) He was a sweet little guy and lived with Pip, Spot, Smudge and Luciano.

He has been wrapped in a piece of blue fleece and prepared to go to OHS for private cremation.

Rest in peace little one.

Merriweather Hits the Lottery

A little rattie girl had made her way on to CL after a person had purchased her for their python. Python not interested. I hemmed and hawed and emailed a friend, that emailed a friend and she is now at that friend's house. My friends will keep a hold of her until I get back from the show before she moves here. This other friend does not have ratties.

Welcome to Vermin Village little one.

This picture was taken from CL.

Mischa and Molly, Remi and The Alberta Boys (Black and Blue)

Today is the 2nd day that Black had his "daily dose" of his heart medication. While he has dropped quite a bit of weight, I'm hoping he will start eating more. This afternoon he seemed more alert and moving around a bit more. I've been feeding them baby food to help stimulate his appetite and give him something he can swallow relatively fast. His brother Blue is just fine--and probably ate most of the baby food.

I asked Emily if they could stay with me so Black could be checked again by Dr. Surrency and to make sure the heart medication, now that it is daily, helps him. Otherwise, he may be too sick to travel. He gets stressed really easily and gets short of breath. :(

Molly appears to be doing better. She is very busy redecorating her half of the cage. She still has the opening on her face, but it hasn't gotten bigger and the edges of the wound appear to be finally healing, although whatever that tissue is has not disappeared. She is still taking oral antibiotics and getting topical cream.

Molly takes her medicine so well and she puts up with me kissing her belly and giving her scritches. I think she can't make up her mind as to whether or not she likes it.

Mischa, the little hussy, was sleeping on top of Remi in the hammock when I was getting Molly to give her her meds tonight. So cute. Remi was lying there in bliss now that he has a rattie girlfriend that cuddles with him. The pathetic ham.

So for Molly I'm cautiously optimistic. For Black, I'm waiting anxiously that he'll improve.

Vermin Village Update

The last 3 of the original concept cages have gone off to their new home. Some friends picked them up tonight and they'll make their way to Albany. Hopefully they'll be well used. :)

I'm keeping a hold of ratties Black and Blue right now in the hopes that Black will improve. He started the full dose of heart medicine today and he still isn't looking all that great so hopefully the daily dose will help. Poor little guy. Blue is doing wonderfully.

Molly is doing ok. She bounces all over her cage so she doesn't let her wound slow her down! Both Molly and Black will go to the vet next Saturday so they can get a recheck.

Update on Precious the Hammie

It appears no one wanted to adopt Precious except the 3rd party that expressed an interest but now my husband doesn't want her to leave. She is so soft and likes to hang out in his pocket. We ordered a wheel for her today. They should be here in a week or so.

Right now they are living in collapsible Large Deluxe Rat cages but as some of my other rat cages empty :*( they will move into them as they are even bigger and a bit easier for me to clean on my schedule. And they are easier for me to get into as the Large Deluxe Rat cages have to sit on TOP of the other cages. I can add balconies to the other cages so they can still tunnel through paper.

Tip Is Helped to the Bridge

Tip had to be helped to the bridge today. He is one of the Corvallis 6. He is survived by his 5 brothers. Crinkle, Brick, Braque, Top, and Mr. Wiggles.

Tip was a lovable little guy. He loved to be cuddled and kissed. He also loved hanging with his brothers. He will be greatly missed. :*(

Colonel and Precious the Hammies!

Someone surrendered 2 hamsters to the Washington County Humane Society. Sadly, this shelter does not keep any animals but cats or dogs, so the animals needed to be moved out quickly. A friend picked them up, another friend held them for me and I picked them up today. I was only going to foster them until they found a home, but the older boy, who I've named Colonel after the Little Colonel's character played by Lionel Barrymore will be staying here. He is older so is in need of a final home.

Both are very gregarious. I've named the little female Precious because she reminds me of those Precious Moments collectibles. Right now they are in carriers, but will move into their new cages tomorrow.

Precious may have a home, but I'm not quite sure yet. Someone else had contacted me first and they were checking on it. If she doesn't find a home, she is welcome to stay here. She is a very sweet little girl. I do have enough cages for her to live here too.

Alex Is Helped to the Bridge

His respiratory illness finally got the better of him. Despite medication it was finally time to help Alex to the bridge. He must have known release was coming because laying him in the box, he just laid down and closed his eyes.

Alex was one of 9 ratties I got from a lady in St. Helens. I got the 7 brothers and the mother and daughter.

Mando is the one that has been written about more because he suffers from heart issues.

Alex is survived by his six brothers, his sister, his mother and last time I checked, his father and another brother.

Rest in peace little Alex.

Eddie Passes in The Night

Eddie passed in the night. He joins his original cage mate Dumbo at the bridge. Eddie and Dumbo came to me from a family where a little boy became scared of the rats. Dumbo succumbed to respiratory illness quite some time ago. Eddie survived for about a year later.

Eddie was approximately over 2 years old.

While at Vermin Village he of course lived with Dumbo, but then moved in with Hades and Chester. He is survived by his cage mates Drape and Diego. They too are fairly frail as they are also over 2 years old.

Rest in peace little one.

Peepers and Poppers

Peepers and Poppers are Syrian hamsters that have joined Vermin Village. They arrived June 22nd. I adopted them from CL from a person that had them living in the same cage. I've since separated them. They are waiting to move into their new cages....http://qualitycage.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=129_231_240&products_id=1380. Right now they are living in smaller cages, their new cage will be ready Friday.

They are really sweet and I hope they really like it here!

Bella Is Helped to the Bridge

Bella had multiple tumors crop up not long after her first surgery for tumor removal. Given her age and the number of tumors that cropped up, the decision was made to keep her comfortable as long as she was comfortable. Sadly, that was until today. I picked her up to give her some cuddles and one of her tumors had ulcerated. She has been wrapped in her blanket and awaits private cremation.

Her favorite thing to do was stuff her hammock full of newspaper!

Rest in peace little one.