Petey (June 2006 - May 2008)

[Poppyseed]

He was a great rat and I always will regret not scooping him up from my aunt's care a long time ago so I could have more time with him. But I am greatful that I did get to spend the last couple of months with him in my care and feel I did give him a better more loving couple of months.

Petey came into my life as a rescue. I knew he wasn't being taken care of but wasn't ready for more rats so tried to fix the problem through the owner. He did finally get a friend and was put in a decent sized cage with carefresh towards the end but when I went to visit as I rarely did (3 times a year max... I'm far away) I noticed he had lice. This was in November. I advised for them to get some revolution and put some olive oil on him now for comfort if needed as it was Sunday. I then told her repeatidly after to get revolution but no... she didn't. I came to find out in March that he had horrible lice and that is when I scooped him up and took him in.

He made a quick recovery and was so good. He loved his new wire cage and loved playing with me. He even started giving kisses which he never did before. He looked so much happier and more comfortable. He was a very personable rat that loved to get out and spend time. I regret not having as much time as I had two jobs but I did what I could and it was more than he recieved previously. He always took things in stride and seemed to be much more accepting of intros than his cagemate Dustin. Him and Dustin were never fully introduced because of that.

We had a short time but I have some good memories. I loved how he would bounce around during playtime. I love how he would greet me so readily when I came to the cage and immediately shower my hand with kisses. I loved how he let me pet and scritch his head, how he would lay down when I did this. I just loved how he seemed to forgive so readily and how great of a rat he was. He just took in life so fully and loved every minute of it. I also loved how he loved the hammocks I made and how he would be so greatful every time I would clean his cage, as if it wasn't done often enough before.

He used to explore everywhere in my room. He was very curious of things.

We had to put him to sleep today. For details see: http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,4038018.msg4385021/#msg4385021

My favorite two pics of him. There aren't that many I didn't get around to it as I only had him a couple of months and had planned on rehoming so didn't get too attached at first. I think my heart had other things in mind and convinced me to keep him. I'm so glad I did:

He wasn't feeling well this day either but it was before we did any meds so he didn't have the ulcer then, he just had the respiratory problems. Still he shone through for the pic.

I love his face here, he really loved getting the string. This was the day before he crashed He was playing so well and looked so good.
And some more:






and when he crashed. I hadn't noticed he was sick I just thought he was being cute here ): I should of known it just surprised me because he was playing so nicely the day before.

I didn't upload it right away, looking closer at it I would of known ):

We did get some play time right before he passed. I told him to come back to me to spend a whole lifetime. I do still believe I will see him, Odin, and Joshu again someday. I look foreward to that day.

Play hard Petey and know you were loved and that I will take care of Dustin for you.

[baschlais]

I'm so sorry for your loss.  Petey was an amazingly beautiful rat.  Thank you for sharing his photos with us.  I am sure you must miss him terribly.
Warmly.
Brenda

[mandycoot]

What a handsome boy! I'm so sorry for your loss.

[dwankrista]

I'm so sorry.    Play hard Petey.  I'm sure he knows how much you love him.

[Nokithis]

what a handsome rattieboy. he knows that you loved him and tried your best for him. play on petey!

[Poppyseed]

Thank you guys. I'm taking this really hard. I lost Joshu about the same time last year (my forever heart rat, my first and favorite). Then I lost Odin in the summer of last year and then Gidgett my ferret later. Now I just had this guy 2 months and I loose him all too soon ): We were just getting to know eachother it seems and he had so much more to show me and I had so much more to show him.

I am remembering how when we were saying goodbye I set him down to say goodbye to Dustin. They were so cute. But Petey walked past Dustin and went into the carrier. I can remember telling him "I'm sorry Petey your not going back" He got more calm after that as if he was trying to fool me into thinking he was all better. I think he tried his hardest to fool me and I was almost convinced. But his paws were cold and pale and after I picked him up his eyes started shutting half way and he calmed down. He really seemed to miss me and Dustin

We slept together the night I discovered he wasn't doing well. He slept with me all night. I enjoyed waking up to him trying to walk around a bit.

I always think of this poem when there is a death. It's not an easy way to look at death but I admire it and try to look at it that way. Yes death happens but it sucks and I personally hate it. I know it helps for you to know what you have and appreciate it more. It's kind of stupid we have to have death to appreciate life but we do. I know after every rat death I take a strive to make improvements in my rat care and socialization. I came home and snuggled all of my babies. That helped a lot.

Dirge without Music
Edna St. Vincent Millay
I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground.
So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind:
Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Crowned
With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned.

Lovers and thinkers, into the earth with you.
Be one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust.
A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew,
A formula, a phrase remains, --- but the best is lost.

The answers quick & keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love,
They are gone. They have gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.

Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.

[TheZookeeper]

I am so sorry for your loss!  What a doll!

[Poppyseed]

Thank you. He was a very handsome boy! I loved the color of his eyes and how they looked like candy. And I loved how he seemed to have dark ankle bracelets and then his feet themselves were white. And his notch and of course that smeezer smudge! I would rub that alot. He loved his smudge rubbed and his head scritched. Not many of my rats appreciate a good scritching. He also loved to lick and wrestle. He was quite the kisser and you could feel all of his kisses meant something. Wish he would have had the energy to give one last kiss at the end He was a snuggle bug and HUGE too for his weight. He was one of my biggest built rats. He only weighed a little over 600 but his body was so big and long. He loved peas and broccolli the most and really didn't care much for carrots. He also loved spagghetti noodles! His favorite thing was to come up to the cage bars as Chris was on the computer and beg to be let out. Chris was getting to love getting him out to snuggle. He really was getting attached to Petey.

But Chris has given Sigmund more cuddle time lately too. I think he's realising he better get his time in now. I think I'm turning my boyfriend into a rat fan.

I don't see how those who rescue can handle this feeling. It's one thing to loose a rat when they've grown old or debilitated due to illness,another to loose a rat you just grew so fond to. Really shows you to cherish every moment with them.

[wonderrodent]

I am so sorry for your loss. You are an angel for taking him in and let him live his life in dignity - like he deserved. At least he had several wonderful months with you and this is what he will remember.
He was a very handsome boy!