RIP Apple

Apple, one of the girls that I started my rattery with has passed away today.

When I started my rounds to feed everyone today and check on rats and babies, I noticed that Apple was dying. Apple was a beautiful black bareback with a head spot top ear rat. We retired her after only one litter because of health issues that arose after the birth of her litter. Those health issues have finally claimed her life a year later.

Apple was only 8 weeks old when I got her in Feb of 2009. She has always been housed with Taffy, who I am assuming said her goodbyes before I found Apple. Apple, we believe, wanted to spend her last few hours with humans, as she was at the top of the cage, where the rest of her colony was at the bottom.

I took Apple out and left my husband spend some time with her while I finished filling food bowls. Then I took over caring for her and keeping her calm. I know it is rat nature to panic in those last few moments, so I held her, kept her calm and spoke with her. Tell her that I loved her and that I will miss her, but it is her time to go. I told her that it was ok for her to let go and I told her about how beautiful the Rainbow Bridge was.

I told her that Lucky ad his 3 sibs that were lost in litter were waiting for her. I told her that her son Gizmo, who died from conplications with megacolon was waiting for her and I told her that Coco, who she was close to and died during a neuter surgery was waiting for her too. I told her about all of her friends that were waiting for her as well, like Smudge, our 2 legged ratty, and Squeaky, my husband's baby, are waiting for her as well. Not to mention all of the rescues that we have lost over the past year. Apple has been fighting for the past year with resp issues and we knew her time was coming. I saw the signs over a month ago that she was losing her battle with it, but we kept her as comfortable as we could.

Apple died at 4:02pm on Saturday, May 8th. She is survived by her cage mate and long time friend Taffy. Her other cage mates, Donna, Fawna, Squeaka, Harmony, Charisma, Dash, Jess, Simi, Summer, Autumn and Misty will miss her greatly, I am sure. She was the defender of the cage and when I introduced Summer and Autumn a few days ago and Apple did not bother to even check them out, I knew her time was limited.

Apple has a wonderful, sweet personality and she will be greatly missed. We will be burying her on Monday in a shoebox wrapped in fleece, to make her journey over the Rainbow Bridge comfortable. She will be missed


Tami
Social Rats Adoption and Rescue