well its over

[kim]

anchovy has left us.
a week ago anchovy was rushed to the e-vet at midnight when i returned home from moving out of college and discovered her stomach swollen and firm. xrays, then an ultrasound later revealed she probably had lymphoma.
we spent the last week and a half enjoying each other - she was a little less active, but still ate, would beat up her sister, and cuddle. the growing lymph nodes began to press on both her lungs and intestines, so it was inevitable that at some point this would become a problem. today when i came home for my lunch break, her uterus had prolapsed. not a huge deal, and very fixable - but it was time. we cuddled for 45 minutes and she ate some of her favorite treats, then i brought her and her sister to work with me. she went quickly, and i allowed gobo to say goodbye to her as well.

anchovy was a rat with personality to spare. she chose who she liked and who she hated, and never met another female rat she liked (besides her mother and sister). she was a shameless beggar, would do anything for nutri-cal and would take any meds in it with ease. she was trained to walk upside down on the top of her cage by my old roommate, and would kill any blankets or towels within arms reach.

i named her anchovy because she was the one i liked least out of her family. she was one of the first rats i ever rescued, 2 years ago this past month. she was adorable and spunky to the end - and i ended up adoring every bit of her, even down to her nubby nails (which never grew). she could beat up any rat on earth and let them know it.

gobo is now the only rat left from the first group of rats i ever rescued -- and now anchovy is at rest and with her mother, where she will never have another tumor and nutri-cal and chocolate chips are constantly on tap.

anchovy
2/2000 - 5/2002

[DebW]

I'm so sorry.  It sounds like she was one of those incredible rats you never forget.  Just remember she's at peace now and in no pain and that she had an excellent life with you.

[Jodi]

Aw, Kimmy, Honey... what a wonderful tribute and a sweet, beautiful little girl. I'm so sorry, Sweetheart! Big hugs to you and yours. Anchovy was obviously very special and very, very loved.

Love and best wishes,
Jodi

[Christy]

I'm so sorry about Anchovy :*(  She was a beautiful girlie.

[Rat-love]

That was a great elegy for Anchovy; we send many rat and human condolences.

[Elaken]

You can just see that personality in her eyes.  It is always the 'bad' ones that win us over the most.

[JTRATMAN]

The ratties and I send our condolences!

[Kristen]

Oh I'm so sorry about Anchovy..but she had a great life with you as long as she lived, which is all a rat can ask for.  

[Eileen]

I;m sorry you lost Anchovy - she looked like a whole lot of fun. (I love the walking upside down thing, never thought of that!) I'm sure you'll really miss her but it seems like you have a lot of lovely thoughts of her.
We're all thinking of her.

[BabyBlue]

I'm so sorry about Anchovy. Was she the one who was sick and under the towel, last week when I was there? So sorry I didn't get to meet her. Best of wishes from me and my girls (special kisses from Midori )

[vx]

What a great eulogy.  I am so sorry about Anchovy.  She was truly blessed to have such a loving and understanding home.  

[ckhs]

What a wonderful mom your little girl had,Im sure she felt loved at all times,you gave her a beautiful farewell and im sure she's keeping an eye on you from the bridge.Share your memories as im sure she is sharing hers about her great human friend with all her new..well chosen,rattie friends.My girls and i are sending lots of rattie hugs to you and yours,Keep on trying,and loving those little furry wonders,they need you.
ckhs and the girls

[RatStalker]

Awwww.  I'm so very sorry.

[sunshine9]

I am so sorry to hear about Anchovy!  the girls and I are sending hugs!

[Louise]

So sorry to hear about Anchovy, Kim.  It sounds as if you have got many happy memories of her.  Rattie hugs to you and your other babies.