Goosemoose Pet Portal

Shadow was a rehome who was coming up to 2 when I got her.  A friend had run into trouble and had to rehome most of her rats so 2 of her old ladies came home with me along with 4 more Wildgirls that I had originally adopted out to her. 

Shadow was a bit confused when I first got her home and was a bit antsy but then settled down, lay her head on my hand and asked me with her eyes “Are you my new mom?”
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/New%20ratgirls%20-%20Lori/Shadow.jpg)

Very quickly she became a very content little girl :)
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/New%20ratgirls%20-%20Lori/Shadowiscontent.jpg)

She loved her old cagemate Maddy…Maddy made a great pillow!
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/New%20ratgirls%20-%20Lori/MaddyandShadowMay2.jpg)

Sadly much older Maddy ended succumbing to a throat abscess that we fought, but she was too old and weak…she left Shadow and I 1 ½ months after she arrived.  :puppy_dog_eyes:

So Shadow was alone.  I introduced her to a nicer group of girls and even they just took her for granted and ostracized her a little.  Shadow being the sweet passive girl never seemed to really notice, but I always did.  I just wanted my Shadow girl to be happy and have real friends.

She met my big girl Selene who weirdly enough became her big sister/protector until she passed.
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/New%20R-680%20Geriatric%20Cage/SeleneisgoingtoprotectShadownow.jpg)

Then after Maddy and Selene left, it was only Portia and Rennie who were bonded.  Rennie was not kind to Shadow and would make her scream every once in awhile, which I hated but Shadow forgave her every time and I knew she would be miserable on her own.  My little girl just wanted to be loved but it wasn't happening with these other girls.  :-\

Next came sweet tiny older Mattie, but sadly Mattie was only with us for a short while as well.  A bad vet had OD’d her on ivermectin and the first of her strokes hit her a couple of weeks after she came home.
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/Shadow%20and%20Friends/ShadowandMattieDec13.jpg)

And then it happened!!  I introduced sweet old Shadow to 2 new rescue boys (now neutered) that I had taken in.  It was love!!!
Here she is snuggled with Wilbur
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/Shadow%20and%20Friends/ShadowandWilburintheteenycube.jpg)
And here with Wilbur and her other Main Man Otto
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/Shadow%20and%20Friends/ShadowWilburandOtto.jpg)
Look at my sweet lady smile now :D
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/Shadow%20and%20Friends/Shadowlikesthenewcage2.jpg)

After this more rats got added to the happy group :D
Starting with the little terror Carina Snake Biter...
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/Shadow%20and%20Friends/OttoShadowandCarina.jpg)

Cuddled up with Keely
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/Shadow%20and%20Friends/ShadowhasaKeelyPillowMar15.jpg)

Shadow even as an elderly girl just kept going happily, clambering up her 4 ' Martin's cage, she was wobbly and scruffy and happy as a clam until she started gasping last week for a part of the night.  But she bounced back until this weekend.  She wanted to be with me all the time, it was an odd weekend, I didn’tget much done except a lot of loving. :D She lay on me and I stroked her while she slept. I actually managed to re-watch the entire first season of Buffy ::)
 When she decided this morning she could not gobble down her syringes of Ensure like usual, I knew it was time and I took her to my vet and dropped her off to be pts.   :puppy_dog_eyes:

I hope my Shadow has too many friends now, she deserves them and its all she has ever wanted.    And I hope she finds her Maddy and her Mattie as well.  :heart:  :heart:

I am so, so, so very sorry, Shelagh.

 :heart: :heart: :heart:

How much more pain can a human heart endure?

You are a wonderful person for understanding the cycle of life and for knowing when to let go. I am sure your pain is incredibly hard to cope with, but I also know that the pain will eventually be fainter and fainter and in its place, all the sweet moment of your life shared with them will settle in your heart and you are able to think of your kids with a smile in your face and a soft warm feeling in your heart.

I am so sorry!

Shadow surely is a beautiful little girl who will shine down from heaven! When you look up tonight, look for the brightest little star! It will be your little Shadow smiling!!!

((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))

That's a lovely tribute.  God bless, she's pain free and will always be happy now.

What a celebration of her life!  I'm so sorry, Shelagh.  It seems that every time I turn around, you're posting another loss.  I once lost 11 rats in a 2 month span, so I know how each one hurts.  *hugs*  That was part of what made hubby and I decide to start letting our numbers dwindle.  It was so hard.  And yet, the joy they bring, even if they're only with us for a brief time, cannot be measured, and so we continue to bring home little heart thieves.  And yet, somehow, when they leave with a bit of our hearts, our hearts are bigger for it. 

Cuddle with your friends at the bridge, Shadow, and leap and play.  You deserve it.  :)

I love that Marybelle!.. Heart thieves...yes thats what they are and we are standing in the unlocked door saying "C'mon in and take it!"   :heart: :heart:

Well I am only at 7 in just over a month and I know Saffi will have to be helped to leave soon, possibly this week, and Beni my CHF Wildling...how long can he go on?  But I wouldn't opt out of it for the world.  Thank you everyone for your words, they truly do help.  :D

oh shelagh, i'm so sorry.   little shadow had such a great life with you and now she's at the bridge being adored by all the ratties.   you know that they were all lined up to meet her with kisses and treats.  she's at peace now--hale and hearty--admired by all.  

Oh no Shelagh. I'm so sorry for all your losses. Sweet Shadow is resting well with all the other sweet furkids who have loved you and who you have loved. :heart:

Gosh, Shelagh!  :'( I am so sorry.
Looking at the pictures, I can see that she was one sweet girl. They just make my heart ache.

Rest well, little one. You had lots of friends down here and now lots of them at the bridge  :heart:.

Poor Shelagh. You've had so many losses recently :( I'm so sorry. All of them were so incredibly loved. I don't know how you keep up.