Thank you for sharing your pain, I know how you feel, I had a
hamster Hammy, and this is like close to 15 years ago, but she was
hand fed, and well a real sweet heart. I use to bring her up in to
the bed room of the condo I was living in and let her just run around.
Laying in bed watching TV you would see this little lump under the
sheets, a head would pop out and she would just sit there on my chest
staring at me. Her cage was on the first floor, one night, she got
out, I kept hearing this noise, at first I thought it was snow
sliding off the roof, finally I bought my foot done and this little
furry thing ran across it, I picked it up, and thought, I hope this
is my hamster. Of course she was looking for food, cause I would
always hand feed her in the bedroom, she was always so cute with her
full pouches. Well she was one in a million rodents that is for sure.
She died when she was 3, one night she was acting funny, and dang if
she did not die in my hands when I was holding her, she nestled up to
me shuddered a couple of times and was gone. So here I am a 30 year
old male balling my eyes out over this little hamster. And the fact
that she had to hold out, till I picked her up, she knew, and I
believed she held out to say goodbye, people always think I am nuts
telling them that, but she knew.
Just wanted to share.
On Tue, 26 Jun 2001 20:02:38 -0700, you wrote:
>Thanks to all who posted the sweet little stories about their gerbs,
>they gave me a much needed smile. Earlier today I had to have our 3 1/2
>year old Rascal put to sleep. Poor thing seemed to have not only an ear
>infection, but probably a malignant middle ear tumor. We tried for
>weeks to clear it up, including two trips to the vet and medicine that
>he hated, but it just kept getting worse. Finally I knew it was no use
>and I didn't want him to die slowly and painfully just because it was
>hard for me to let him go. He is at peace now and no more pain. It's
>going to take me a long time to get over this one, though. :(
>
>Nearly all the gerbils I have are descended from Rascal and his deceased
>mate Miss Piggy. Our clan name, The Little Rascals, is derived partly
>from his name and partly from the mischievous nature of gerbils! He was
>a great-grandfather. I remember when I first got him and put him into a
>split cage with Miss Piggy, he took matters into his own paws and chewed
>through the barrier (I was new to that and didn't do a good job).
>Fortunately they got along well.
>
>Rascal is one of the only gerbils I've had that really enjoyed being
>petted, sometimes anyway. Most of mine have all been too hyper for
>that, but when he was in a relaxed, sleepy mood, I could pet and pet him
>and he'd just stretch out and enjoy it. Just had to catch him in the
>right mood! :) His son Sherlock, who carried on the line, was watching
>this once when he was a pup, and apparently decided it looked
>interesting. He snuggled up to Rascal, and stretched his little head
>out right next to his father's so when I petted Rascal, he got petted
>too. Sherlock won my heart right then and there! Rascal was a good
>"dad" and passed on a lot of good personality traits.
>
>Rascal had survived two earlier ear tumors (those were on the outside
>where we could get to them) and a scent gland tumor. His cagemate
>Pookie seems a bit bewildered right now. I'll have to keep an eye on
>him. If he seems depressed I plan to hunt down two male pups to put
>with him. He is over 3 himself so I'd want to get two, that way they'd
>have each other when he passes on.
