Goodbye, Phoebe

[jeannie]

Little Phoebe has now joined Phoenix in heaven. Her health had been declining, and the vet was unsure what was wrong other than old age and some sort of neurological disorder. Last night when I got home from work, she was hiding by the side of the tank in an area where she usually didn't sleep. I noticed her breathing was labored, so I picked her up. Here eyes were caked shut and her nose was dry and dirty. When I would hold her, she would still run from hand to hand and also dig, but it seemed more involuntary because when I would put her down, she would collapse.

I gave her a dose of antibiotics, but it seemed that the problem was more serious than just a respiratory infection, because she seemed to have lost control over her body and could no longer walk. She declined over the night, and this morning was just hanging on by a thin thread, constantly sleeping and in a state of delirium. Not wanting to prolong her suffering, I took her to the vet. She was euthanized at 12:30.

Phoebe was the most tattered little friend I ever had. She had ripped up eyelids and swiss cheese ears from being attacked by the other hamsters at the pet store. She was also the feistiest of the gang.
She had so much fight in her that when she lost her front teeth, she would gum me. Despite her physical handicaps, Phoebe was very healthy and never got sick. She was always very strong and a true fighter, up to the very end. She may have been the smallest, but her personality was the largest of all the little critters I have known.

The last of the hamsters in MsChiefmaker Haven, Phoebe's death signifies the end of an era. Goodbye, sweet Phoebe. Have fun in heaven with Phoenix, and give him a kiss for me. At last you two will meet.

[Die Fledermaus]

So sad.

Condolences.

I'm sorry to also read that this also ends your hamster era, Syrian or dwarf. That is really too bad. We accept the fact they have short lives no matter what we do sometimes, and I still believe you have had some bad luck with an unusual number of infirmaties requiring prolonged vet care. I'm accepting the death part better now, although Princess's sudden stroke still would have been shocking if it happened now. As I look back on them, and realize where they could have gone, they were a very lucky bunch of critters to be here - and yours were especially blessed.

Do you have on your site any kind of photo gallery of them? I am a little busy to search it right now. How about a single Memorial Gallery (as I put together) for all your departed ones? It would be so nice, and it is to have mine in one quiet reverential place.

Yes, I'm busy. I just finished rescuing three dwarfs who were headed for the snake bin: they had been dumped off in a filthy cage to the woman I know in the pet store associated with that rescue group I've mentioned; she works in the pet store as boss of exotics and birds, but her boss wanted the dwarfs OUT. The head of the rescue group, Sean Casey, was in last Saturday's Daily News complete with photo of a python.

So I had to clean their cage and make some adjustments to it as the 45 degree plastic ramps they don't seem able to handle. Plus, I rented "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" an hour ago, and tomorrow I have a special Green-Wood Civil War tour. (Will review the movie).

This has been clearly been a sad time for you what with her and losing the others. I do hope you get some other pets, maybe rescue a bunny. Maybe birds? (the sound of them in the bird room can really be loud). The macaws are so smart and can really bond with a person - a young one will outlive you, also.

So sorry about Phoebe.

[jeannie]

Thanks very much. I actually was a sucker today and got a new hamster. I seem to need at least one hamster.

You can see all my little ones, alive and deceased, at the following link:

www.mschiefmakerhaven.com/Performers.html

Congratulations on saving the dwarfs from the snakes!

[Die Fledermaus]

That made me smile, about getting a new hamster. He/she has no idea how fortunate he/she is - but will figure it out. Photos soon, I hope.

I will bookmark the link later, but I have a DVD to fire up.

The new dwarfs' tank is odd. Very tall with two levels that have ramps at almost 45 degree angles. I don't think they can handle it. But we shall see. One needs her nails clipped - she looks like a Mandarin dowager with those things. ;D Photos and names in due course. They seem to be getting along fairly well.

BTW, the Sean Casey mentoned above only feeds pre-killed frozen feeder critters to his snakes.

[jeannie]

Well, this sucker went to Petco and saw that this little guy's hind feet were bleeding. He has a nipped ear and a bite on his back, but is really sweet. No nipping, plus he sat still in my hand, which is not common with dwarfs. They told me he was a month and a half - and an accident. He is much smaller than he appears in these photos. It's nice to have a new little guy around. His name is Adonis, because he is so handsome.

Re the snakes, that's the best way to do it!

[Die Fledermaus]

Ah, nice little fellow! He will soon learn how lucky he is.

Been a busy day for me with a lovely G-W tour; football games on TV; seeing "Eternal Sunshine"; regular rodent servitude; and a quickie at the gym, but I have taken photos of my new extremely TAME dwarfs, and will post photos soon. I will likely have to move Jerry out of his Habitrail (with three add ons) and move them in - the more room the less chance of fighting. It is cool to see a group of dwarfs together! Jerry will make do in the tall cage they came in - a cage with ramps I am not sure any dwarf can use (?). It has less floor space than a ten gallon tank. But I will try to keep Jerry happy; he will have to make the sacrifice for the safety of the new three.

Best to Adonis. I will name mine later (seven young Syrians and three dwarfs!).

[jeannie]

He's as sweet as Puck was, with a very similar temperament. He has a habit of emptying his pouches in my hand, which means he feels at home with me and considers me his territory.

I'm glad yours are tame too. I've never had a mellow dwarf before, and it's a nice change.

[Die Fledermaus]

None of mine have ever emptied their pouches on me!

Glad you're getting along. Dion is sneaky, though. He pretends to be calm and slow walking around out of the cage or on me. . . and then all of a sudden will dart for freedom! I get mad, and then he comes back over to me later, having made a boob of me again. It's a game he plays.

The stories of bitey and wild dwarfs stopped me from getting any for awhile. This trio does not even run from me when I pick them up even from above.

Last time I got a real bite was way back when Zeb sunk his choppers in me, and then sat there watching the scarlet geyser. ;D I have never pinned all his legs after that, and he has never put his teeth on me again.

I got a bottle of digestive aid drops today with bacteria and enzymes for all the critters. Put it in some waterbottles, and directly in some mouths. It is mostly for the bunny, but all can use it. Maybe I'll have a swig myself. ;D