Diego Slips Away

Diego has sadly slipped away, leaving his cage mate Drape behind but joining his other cage mates at the bridge. Chester, Eddie, Dumbo and his brother Hades are already there to greet him at the bridge. He always looked at you as if deciding whether or not he wanted you to pick him up or if he wanted you to chase him--as a game. He was very gentle. I was crushed the day his brother Hades passed. I think it was made easier for Diego because
he had other friends to be with. He is survived by his last cage mate, Drape, who has also been very ill.

Rest in peace little one.

Sprite Slips Away

Sprite slipped away early this morning. She had been suffering from chronic respiratory illness for the past few months. I actually contemplated having her PTS but when I'd think about it, she'd start darting around the cage. So I would put it off.

Sprite (previously named Tinkerbell) had come to us because her previous owner kept 2 of the babies Sprite had had. (They had put Drape, previously named Hammy, in the cage with her and surprise, ended up with ratlets.) They the babies, keeping 2. I had already adopted Drape so when I saw Sprite up, I took her too. She lived with Ruthie, Tweek and Zelda, but as she got more frail, I moved her on her own. Ruthie, Tweek and Zelda are already at the bridge, so Sprite will not be lonely.

I said good night to her last night after her medicine. When I went in this morning to give her medicine, she had passed, curled up in her hammock. I wrapped her in a clean rattie blanket and tucked her in a box and placed her in the freezer to await transport. She is survived by her "husband" Drape.

Rest in peace little one.

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.

Drape AKA Hammy

On 10/28/2007, I picked up a new rat. He had a name, but John renamed him Drape (I was thinking of Luke) but Drape works. (You'll see when you see his picture.) He is a lovable little guy, but he is a bit nervous of all of the noises in Vermin Village so he is just taking it easy. He'll be introduced to Chester this weekend when I am home to monitor them for several hours.