Adia - Oct, 2005 to May 10, 2008 :’(

[lilspaz68]

Adia was from a group of rats that had been left behind by a someone’s girlfriend after the relationship went south.  The sister who had rats of her own, took in the rats but was only able to keep them until she left for England for her studies.  She put up a post and I offered to help her rehome them.  There were 5 girls and 5 boys, and through her and my efforts we got 5 of them adopted before the cutoff.  I ended up taking in the remainder of them on July 24/06 before they ended up in a high-kill shelter.
Sadly they hadn’t been cared for well and reeked.  I never bathe a rat if I can help it, but I gave in when these girls were making me feel very sick and kept running under my face.
There were 2 black hoodie girls, 2 hoodie boys and a sweet blazed lilac(?) boy as well. 
A wonderful woman took the lovely boys into her heart and I decided to just keep the girls since there was an influx of rats in the area and no one would want black hoodies.
I named them Asha and Adia.
Adia was sweet from the beginning, unlike her sister who has been a bit of a challenge
Although not impressed with her bath

Asha started to grow but Adia stayed petite…here they are at 11 months

The 2 got introduced to the Horde where they were the bottom of the ranks and Adia was fine with that, but downtrodden Asha would go into these strange occasional rages and would harass the other rats…Adia would get pinned and powergroomed along with her sister when she didn’t deserve it.   

Adia loved gentle Brie and Lucine most of all, and of course those 2 left her and no one replaced them in her affections.

2 years old

She had a toe bitten and had to have the toe amputated but here she is after her surgery, in the thick of things again…I mean c’mon, its Chicken! 


Sadly my lovely little gal developed a tumour in an awkward place.  It was joined to her right forearm and really hindered her with her grooming so I had to help out a lot.  The tumour never grew very big but you could tell she hated it. 

When the Horde started ignoring her I ended up taking her out and she ended up with Bagel and Goliath…where she seemed happier.


I kept thinking she was unhappy, but what I missed was her acceptance and I kept seeing the sad frustrated little girl and when she started having neuro symptoms I decided she was to go in with Lisbet on Thursday morning to be pts (she had an appointment for Saturday already).  I was syringing Ensure into Lisbet when Adia decided to go MIA.  The girl couldn’t really walk but she disappeared.  I was frantic!  I looked for her most of the night.  I put down water for her just in case and took Lisbet in to Dr. Munn’s that morning. 
I finally found Adia filthy, bright-eyed, hungry but mostly pleased with herself that evening.  I warmed up Ensure and started feeding a hungry girl…she did get a bath after this pic.


Last night I fed and stroked Adia goodnight while she bruxxed for me, this morning I found a cold and stiff girl.  I was shocked, I just don’t find my rats like that anymore. She really fooled me.  My thoughts are that she felt Bagel leave and maybe he told her how wonderful it was to leave behind those defective bodies of theirs, so she did.
I will not cry for my little gal, its what she wanted and she wouldn’t like me feeling sorry for her.
I hope she and Bagel can take care of each other until I get there.  I can see those 2 bouncing around causing havoc right now. 

[fuzzybee]

Oh, Shelagh.  So much sadness, so much loss recently.  But such happy lives!  Your attitude is perfect, realistic and compassionate, and the rats love you for it.  I'm so, so sorry for what you're going through right now.  What a dear little lady Adia was.
Thinking of you. 

[JR1030]

Oh, honey. 

[liza]

It is with great sadness that I opened this posting and read Adia's lovely tribute.
Shelagh, you are a very strong lady and one of the most admirable people on this forum (if not THE ONE).
There are many members here who would agree with me.
The amount of love you give (I know, it's an untangible noun, you cannot measure love by weighing it), but what you give to those who are in need is way beyond what most people are capable of giving.
They know you are strong, they know you will be all right... eventually. They know you will never forget them and always love them. It's as if they have to come to your house to go to RainbowLand in order to recharge their heart, charge it full of love so they can make it up there in happiness and peace. Once they get up there, they open their hearts and share with those who were not able to find a lot of love down here.

Adia was a very beautiful girl who was very lucky to have her rat companions and you.

How is Goliath doing?

I am very sorry she had to leave too.

Three in three days is very hard to bear... You go from one mourning to the next and can't get out of it. You will!

All my love to you. 

[Nokithis]

adia went walkabout and having fufilled her bucket list, she went to be with bagel--he was waiting for her at the bridge.  brave souls now with proud healthy bodies playing havoc at the bridge. 

[slynx]

Aw, rest well, sweet Adia.  What a lovely tribute and a happy girl. 

It sounds like she enjoyed her last adventure, despite the worry it caused.  I'm so sorry for your losses...that is a lot of pain to bear.

[Marybelle]

Sound like she went totally on her terms.  She had her final exploration of the house, and decided she needed new places to explore.  I'm so sorry, Shelagh.  It just seems that I've been typing that way too often lately.  *hugs*

[mandycoot]

Oh Shelagh, I'm so sorry about your many recent losses. Adia knew it was time to go keep Bagel company over at the Bridge. I am in absolute agreement with Antonella, you are such an inspiration to all rat lovers everywhere. Huge Hugs

[dwankrista]

Oh Shelagh, you have had way too much sadness this week.  I'm so sorry.  *hugs*  Play hard, sweet girl.

[zoocrew26]

I'm so sorry...

[baschlais]

I'm so very sorry about the loss of your beautiful little girl.  Your tribute to her life and spirit was wonderful to read.  Thank you for sharing it with us.
Warmly,
Brenda

[wonderrodent]

BIG (((HUGS))), Shelagh.
Adia was such a sweet girlie. I am so sorry she left you. 

And I have to agree. You ARE amazing!