Haiku

Peppee mouse

Peppee mouse wanted to be alone, but I told him it would be better if I stayed with him. So we sat together as I gently pet him and whispered to him that it was all right, holding him to the moment of his last breath. As I had mentioned in the last post about Peppee mouse it was as if overnight he had become a little old man mouse. During the day on Sunday it looked like Peppee mouse was rallying, eager to accept the offered PediaSure and acting playful like a young mouse. But come Sunday evening Peppee mouse decided it was time.

Ethel Mouse

Sweet old lady Ethel mouse passed as I held her. Ethel mouse had been in decline and when she was no longer interested in her wheel I knew the end was near. Two weeks ago I found her in some sort of respiratory distress, blood appearing to be coming out of her nose and mouth. I held her, expecting her to die that morning, but her breathing improved and she even became mildly pissy with me for holding her so long ("I have to go NOW.") Since then Ethel mouse appeared to make a come-back, but the signs were still pointing towards her decline. The morning I found her once again in distress, struggling, and she stumbled around in the cage, trying to run away from what was tormenting her. I picked Ethel mouse up and cuddled her to the end.

Ethel Mouse was one of many of what I called "the little brown mouse" type mouses, who was always feisty and independent, but could be quite the loving little mouse when the mood was right. Her friend Abigale mouse noticed right away Ethel mouse was gone and searched for her. Abigale mouse was always a caretaker mouse, minding her little girl Lizzy mouse and then Ethel mouse. Abigale mouse was cuddled for a long time and she eventually went to the nest she shared with Ethel mouse and slept with her head sticking out as if she were waiting for Ethel mouse's return...

Amelia rat

Amelia rat was a strong and persistent little old lady rat from the day she arrived to the evening she left us. As she sat in my arms she struggled, fighting to her lost moment with such dignity and grace, her soft, loving pink eyes looking up at me while I snuggled and scratched her.

I found Amelia rat's tumor shortly before her nieces were born and fretted about what should be done, considering her age and temperament. Amelia was fragile but persistent when she wanted something, pushing her way out in front of the younger ratty girls and letting her intentions be known. Nothing could stop her from her navigating the house and play area. We would sit together in evenings, Amelia bruxing and boggling in my lap or against my forearm. Eventually she would start to fuss, her way of telling me she had enough and wanted to go back to her house. Amelia's nieces Drinky and Gabby and sister Isis took care of her. Gabby rat insistented to being her snuggle buddy while her newly adopted sister Elle rat would share the plush new hammock with her. Amelia rat could diffently hold her own.

A Patriarch Passes

The day after we introduced Chaucer to his boys, he declined rapidly; we think it was a stroke. Christopher nursed him all yesterday, his healing hands worked magic massaging Chaucer's tired broken body, fed him Pediasure by dropper, and made sure he was warm and loved.

Last night he was put to bed, I checked on him around 2am and he was still with us. But this morning Chris came into the bedroom with Chaucer cradled in his arms, in a towel, "...He's gone."

Chaucer would have been 2 years old this coming January. He came from a line bred for longevity. Mother nature fooled us again.

R.I.P., beloved Patriarch.

Eulogy for a Friend

I know I say it every time we lose a furry friend, but it's true: "He was special."

Slugo was an amazing person. He may have only been 18" long nose to tip of tail, walked on all fours, and have very wiry, curly whiskers, but to me, he was my friend.

We saw him in a small cage at a local pet store, all bubbly and wanting attention. Christopher noticed him first, and we left thinking we can't take another one. But his little face kept popping into our minds all that night, and the next day, we went to get him. Best decision we ever made.

Slugo was one of the happiest, friendliest little guys you could ask for. He wasn't very healthly from the get-go, and we had to take him to see the doctor more often than most, but he was worth every penny. He brought joy into our lives, and we hope we did the same for him. I will always remember the cuddles, the wrestling matches between him and my hand, seeing his little butt running down the back of the couch, and of the many times I passed his home and saw him sleeping contentedly in his little cube hammy.

While the talk may have appeared one-way on my part, there was plenty of communication coming the other way - Slugo's expressive eyes conveyed not only an intelligence, but a sense of humor and mischievousness. Yes, Slugo knew how to enjoy life, and that's pretty important when you live only two years if you're lucky...and he wasn't. We're not sure how old he was, but he was still growing up when he came to live with us last year. At the most, he was a year and a half.

With love comes risk, and always, always pain. Some say it's not worth it, but I disagree. It most definitely is worth it. Slugo, I love you, and if there is more after death, I hope you are at peace...and happy.

Slugo

Slugo rat's passing was peaceful.

Slugo rat has be struggling with illness from the day we first got him. This time Slugo was getting lethargic and having problems with passing urine and stool. Supplementing Slugo's diet with Pedialite, Pediasure and yogurt appeared to help him recover somewhat and with this last round of illness it appeared he was making a comeback. Slugo was having that rally of youthfulness that most if not all have when nearing the end.

Late night when we looked in on Slugo rat we found he was cold and barely responsive. I carefully picked Slugo up and he turned his head as if he was looking up to me. I sat down with Slugo rat on a blanket, he sitting in my hand. Slugo rat would make infrequent, quiet little whimpers, his body twitching with each cry. Slugo rat's front feet were pressed against my finger, his toes grasping onto for comfort. A couple of times Slugo rat reacted like he was startled or afraid and tried to move but would settle back into my hand. I quietly whispered to Slugo rat and gently scritched and tufted him, hoping to give comfort in these final moments.

I gently placed my fingertip against his ribs on the left side and I could feel his heartbeat slowing down and becoming more irregular. As he left, his body made subtle little twitches, almost as if he were still breathing. It took several minutes for me to accept that he was gone and I cuddled him, stroking his sweet little face and whispering "it's o.k." and "I love you."