RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Wed Nov 05, 2003 2:31 am

Curly did not make it.

I can't believe I'm typing this...

Curly came to me last spring with Bob, two retiring lab rats. Curly didn't seem to like me much at first; he bit me with fair frequency and did not want to be picked up. Even for playtime I had to put a box next to the cage for him to crawl onto, then transfer him to the bed. It took weeks for him to trust me.

Originally he lived with Bob, but when Bob could no longer handle the ramps in their cage Curly got to move in with the girls. I think he enjoyed that; they cuddled and groomed and even though he was two years older he kept right up with them. I guess he appreciated the fact that I gave him a harem, because he pretty much stopped biting and as soon as I opened the cage door he was the first rat to crawl up my arm.

Curly had pretty frequent bouts of sneezes and wheezing, but never any fluid in his lungs. A small lump on his side grew slowly for a few months then sloughed away, to my great relief...I didn't want to put my three year old boy through surgery. Even though he was as active as a youngster I knew he wasn't.

In the last few weeks I started noticing his back legs drag a bit, but he was still good on the ramps. More concerning was his weight loss...in the last month he went from 677 to 590 grams. Still, at the vet two weeks ago his lungs and heart sounded strong and the doc felt no lumps. Last night Victor found a small lump with a scab on his underside, by the time I got home the abscess had burst on its own and we cleaned it out well. This morning we cleaned it again...which annoyed him greatly...but when I left for work he was eating a blueberry as a reward.

I had considered taking him to the office today, to try to get a vet appointment to look at the abscess, but he seemed just fine. He seemed just fine.

When I got home he was gone, lying on the cage floor, his feet and tail grey. My poor sweet boy...

Curly, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't with you, I'm sorry I didn't take you to the vet first thing today. I'm sorry that the last time I held you it was to torture you with medicine. I hope you didn't feel a thing...

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~Abita and the Rat in a Box rats

In loving memory of Krycek, Rizzo, Curly, Bob, Witter, Kono, Rat, Pinky, Olie, Metro, Calle, Cinnamon Schwartz, Mr. Ratburn, Arwen, Leather, Ohana, Zoe, and Mr. Mistoffelees

Wed Nov 05, 2003 2:38 am

Abita, I am so sorry. Curly had a wonderful life with you. I don't think he minds that you "weren't with him" at the time. I think remembering the last cuddle, and the last time we spoke, and the last time we held each other, etc, is a human construct. I don't believe rats feel bad when they slip away when we are not there. The remember their whole lovely life with you, not just the last moment. Anyway, Curly knows that you were with him in spirit, and he must have felt very at peace, to slip away quietly on his own terms. {{{hugs}}}

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Arvay and the Squirmin' Vermin

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'

--Erma Bombeck

Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:01 am

Abita, I am so sorry you had to say good-bye to Curly. He will be missed tremendously. Many {{{hugs}}}
Farewell and goodnight sweet Curly~may your journey be a safe one. Angel rat

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~~Mallory~~
*~Paz~Mia~Nina~Medellia~Penelope~*
Angel rat

~Eleanor~ ~Sally~Maggie~

Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:08 am

Oh no Abita!!! Sad

I was hoping he would get better. Poor you and poor Curly Sad

Must have been such a shock for you Hug

You know that you gave him a great chance at life, you gave him a great home and lots of love. His time had come and he couldn't wait for you. That is so sad Sad

Hope your heart heals soon...

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Sab

"I feel like I know her, but sometimes my arms bend back"

Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:12 am

I am so sorry. Curly had a great life with you and I am sure he knows how much you love him. He lived a very long life, and I am sure was not bothered by the abcess. They feel they must protest as a matter of pride.

Hug

To you, Victor and all your other furries

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paisley

Spike, Diamond, Elphaba, Rose, Octavia, A Cappella, & Nocturne

the cats: Trip & Phlox

the rabbit: Ripley

Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:45 am

There will be a brightly shining rainbow in the sky when Curly makes it to the Bridge for his presence was one that held such beautiful rays of light. Nothing I can say will help ease that horrible pain you are feeling right now Abita, and I know that Curly bears no grudge against you, for he did trust you. The ones that are so hard to lose are the ones we have to gain their trust and love, not ever to be forgotten.
Curly will be watching over his harem, Bob and you from the heavens tonight Abita and hoping your tears dry soon for his life was so very good at the end and he has your love to remember him by.
My deepest, and heartfelt condolences....
Rest easy Curly, say hello to Nikko and Thomas for me, and let them show you around to the wonders at The Bridge. Hug

:****

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~~Wiley's(& Simon's ) Mom & The Lil Rattie Crew
Don't count how many breaths you take
But what takes your breath away~
~Sir Wiley William Templeton
2/29/00-3/5/03 My light, my love forever~
Gentleman Jack 1/1/01-4/22/03
Quiet courage, my heart~

Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:52 am

Oh Abita/Victor.....I am so very sorry you had to say good-bye to dear Curly. It does sound like he had a wonderful life and enjoyed living with his ladies. Please try to find comfort in the fact that he loved you and loved his life with you.

Cry

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Debbie and the gang of spoiled furries

Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:53 am

I wanted to add a few pictures...

This was my shy boy when he first came home, in March.

My no longer shy boy, trying to eat the prop in our holiday photo shoot a couple weeks ago...

Thank you all. Your understanding and comfort mean more than you can imagine.

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~Abita and the Rat in a Box rats

In loving memory of Krycek, Rizzo, Curly, Bob, Witter, Kono, Rat, Pinky, Olie, Metro, Calle, Cinnamon Schwartz, Mr. Ratburn, Arwen, Leather, Ohana, Zoe, and Mr. Mistoffelees

Wed Nov 05, 2003 4:00 am

What a cute witto man. He looks like he was very smiggly and smelled nice.

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Arvay and the Squirmin' Vermin

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'

--Erma Bombeck

Wed Nov 05, 2003 4:09 am

I am so sorry that Curly didn't make it. I hope you really take comfort in the fact that you gave him a wonderful home and he is in a better place.

Wed Nov 05, 2003 4:45 am

I'm so sorry, Abita. Curly had a splendid retirement with you and I'm sure no rat could have wished for more. You should not regret anything, except that he is gone and you will miss him. I'm sure that, given a choice, our rats would prefer to be able to slip away in their own place, as Curly did, rather than in the strangeness of a vet's surgery.
Hug

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Linda and the RMDs

Many have forgotten this truth but you must not forget it. We remain responsible forever, for what we have tamed.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Wed Nov 05, 2003 5:54 am

Oh no

I'm so sorry Abita and Victor. What a gorgeous boy. I think sometimes they wait until we are not around on purpose so as not to see us upset. He came such a long way from when you first got him. He knows love and knows how to love...and that love will be everlasting. I'm so sorry. Hug

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Christy
RP Admin
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Frodo, Zorro, Erzulie, Maeve, Clara, Molly & Emily

Wed Nov 05, 2003 5:58 am

I'm so sorry. Cry

It's so hard when our babies leave us without our being there. Please try to be comforted knowing that the blueberry reward took his mind off the previous moments, and that he died in the comfort of his own home.

I'm so sorry, you guys. Hug

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Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Wed Nov 05, 2003 8:18 am

Oh no, I am so sorry, Abita. Cry

Curly was such a handsome, special guy. He will be missed greatly.

Sleep easy, Curly.

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~Briana~

The ladies and the Lads

Wed Nov 05, 2003 9:07 am

Oh Abita.. my heart is brekaing for you and Victor. You took those boys in and gave them both such a wonderful retirement after all those hard months of work. You really gave Curly a life he never could have imagined existed when he was in a shoebox lab cage. And you earned his trust, which couldn't have been easy for him to give you. I am so terribly sorry that Curly has left you, but I know that he left knowing that it was his time, and that he was well enough loved to be mourned. Curly hears your apologies, but I think he feels they're unwarranted - you did right by him and he loved you for it. Hug

rq

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Wed Nov 05, 2003 1:53 pm

I'm so sorry, Abita. It must have been such a shock to find him when you got home. Remember that you transformed Curly's life, and gave him so much. I'm sure he's watching and whispering the thank-you that he didn't have time to say in person. Hug

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P, Charlie and Snoopy

Wed Nov 05, 2003 8:09 pm

I'm sorry that Curly had to leave you. Please do not torture yourself with the "should haves" and "what ifs." Curly loved you unconditionally and I'm sure he is thanking you for giving him such a wonderful life.

PatTheRat and The BB's

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PatTheRat and Cuervo
Gonzo the pudgey rat angel
================
Miss Piddy Pat at the Bridge--"The guardian angels of life sometimes fly so high to be beyond our sight, but they are always looking down upon us."
--Jean Paul Richter

Thu Nov 06, 2003 1:50 am

I'm so sorry Abita Sad

Try not to beat yourself up about not being with him. You weren't to know and it sounds like he went peacefully and in his own familiar surroundings.
He knew how much he was loved and you gave him a wonderful last few months.
Hug

to you and Victor

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Isla

Beanie & Meg
RIP Marmite, Treacle, Pepper & Pickles (we all miss you)

Thu Nov 06, 2003 4:26 am

Oh, I'm so sorry, Abita and Victor. Such a sweetie. He knew you loved him first, and I'm sure he loved you to the last. Try not to worry that you weren't there. You were there all the times it really mattered.

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Sandy ~ and Liberty, Skye, and Pyro

Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:48 am

I'm so sorry your sweet little man slipped away from you so suddenly.
Abita, I'm sure Curly wasn't thinking of having to take icky medicine, he was thinking what a lovely Mummy to give him a delicious blueberry.
You enriched his life with your love.

Hugs to you and Victor.
Sweet dreams, little Curly.
Hug

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Caroline
and the HAGGIS RATS