DoktorNein
07-12-2008, 02:08 AM
My first rat and the best pet I've ever had died on June 30th. He had mild lung problems for about a month prior, but couldn't pull out of it. I had left for a few days and while I was gone my dad took very good care of him, and made sure he was comfortable. The first thing I did when I got back was check on him, which is what I would have done anyway, sick or not. But when I saw him, his head was swollen and had quite a bit of fluid in it. All I could do was sit there with him on the couch and cry until the vet opened that morning. Those hours were torture. I knew he wouldn't be coming back with me, so I made the rest of the time I had with him very comfortable.
The vet was very kind, and handled Willard very gently. He told me his organs were failing, which I already knew. I gave Willard a kiss on the nose and told him I'll always love him, then handed him over to the vet for the last time.
This must have been the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I felt so horrible that I couldn't have been there sooner for my baby. I was rarely ever apart from him, and took him everywhere. Though he didn't have a cage mate, he was always a happy, social, cuddle-bug and a very smart little boy.
I'd let him run free around my room, everything always rat-proof, and he'd sit on my foot and wait for me to lift it so he could get onto my desk. I'd leave his cage open, and he never went potty outside of it. At night, he'd sleep curled up by my face, sometimes waking me up with kisses on my nose. He knew his name, and would come running (well because he expected food or a tummy rub lol) to me and climb right up onto my shoulder. He never bit anyone, not even on accident. I couldn't have asked for a better rat.
But yesterday, I bought two new babies using the money left over from the vet bill. Kinda like a symbol, it might have been an end for one, very spoiled rat, but the beginning for two new little ones. I'll be sure that these rats will have wonderful happy lives, just like Willard did.
The vet was very kind, and handled Willard very gently. He told me his organs were failing, which I already knew. I gave Willard a kiss on the nose and told him I'll always love him, then handed him over to the vet for the last time.
This must have been the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I felt so horrible that I couldn't have been there sooner for my baby. I was rarely ever apart from him, and took him everywhere. Though he didn't have a cage mate, he was always a happy, social, cuddle-bug and a very smart little boy.
I'd let him run free around my room, everything always rat-proof, and he'd sit on my foot and wait for me to lift it so he could get onto my desk. I'd leave his cage open, and he never went potty outside of it. At night, he'd sleep curled up by my face, sometimes waking me up with kisses on my nose. He knew his name, and would come running (well because he expected food or a tummy rub lol) to me and climb right up onto my shoulder. He never bit anyone, not even on accident. I couldn't have asked for a better rat.
But yesterday, I bought two new babies using the money left over from the vet bill. Kinda like a symbol, it might have been an end for one, very spoiled rat, but the beginning for two new little ones. I'll be sure that these rats will have wonderful happy lives, just like Willard did.