Brownie has come and gone

Sadly little Brownie, 2 years old, wasn't with us long.  After getting her home, I assessed her and decided to bring her to the vet that Saturday.  I believe the tumor was a bit more than a tumor.

The decision to euthanize is never taken lightly.  I actually paused because I wanted to make sure she had an advantage, but I also didn't want her last week of life, being a struggle of me forcing medication into her mouth and her getting sick from the medicine.  After watching her walk around the table while waiting for our doctor (we were early), her leg was also pushed out of position so she had to hobble.

Hamsters, like most small animals, are pretty stoic little critters.  She was a big girl to begin with and she was extremely sweet.  She had to be to never bite given the amount of pain she probably was in.

She was very well loved in her original home and she was well loved the brief time she was here.  The picture above was taken by her pet parent who gave me permission to post it here.  She kind of reminds me of a gourd in this picture.  Or maybe a pear. :*)

Her remains have been prepared for private cremation.

Be free little...er big one.  :*)

Rosie Trying to Sleep in her Burrow

I see a little foot!

Awww, here is a little sleeping fuzzy bear!

Seriously?  You woke me up!  I'll come out and check out the area to patrol what that flash was from.

Ok I'm out!

This was me waiting for her to come down into the main part of her cage from her burrow.  Instead I missed the bum shot as she showed her butt as she crawled back into her house and went back to bed.  :)

Silly Rosie!

Rosco and the Village

A co-worker, Marilyn H., contacted me, asking if I knew of a rescue that would helps rats.  :)

After getting a bit of background, I arranged to pick up little Rosco. 

The Good Samaritan that rescued him from being tossed away kept him safe until I was able to get him.  She told me that he'd previously lived "loose" in a bathroom that was never cleaned and then in a bucket until the young lady took him in when the original owner was going to throw him away. I'm not sure how my co-worker got involved, but Rosco has come here to live!

I've been working on his socialization and he has come a long way in the week I've had him. He runs to greet me at the door and is so anxious to be worked with. I'm thinking he will be ready by March, so if he continues with his smashing progress, he's been entered in the rat show in Seattle, Ratapalooza 2013. I've entered him in Best Rescue Story and Best Costume (We will work on wearing the tuxedo in another week or two). 

Welcome Roscoe!