Cookies joined us, with her sister Cream, in February of 2009. Although I feel terrible about it, they were two rats left in a local pet store and they looked so sad, but adorable, that we simply couldn't leave them there.
Cookies on the night we brought her home:
Unsurprisingly, they were very sick with respiratory issues, and spent much of their young lives off and on medications. When we lost Cream to a PT in August 2010, and we worried about Cookies' health. Thankfully, she continued on with almost no health problems until about March.
Cookies enjoys some time out with her favourite human:
Unfortunately, in March Cookies began to show signs of aging. She went from a gorgeous brown to a muted (although still beautiful!) grey. She started to slow down a bit. At this time, she had been on her own for several months (which we feel terrible about!), and we knew we had to get her some company because it wasn't fair for her to be alone. Her new friends really perked her up, and I believe it helped her to continue on for the rest of the months she was with us.
Cookies takes a nap with her new friends on their first intro:
Unfortunately, Cookies aging continued, and seemed to come on faster and faster. She was treated for an RI in April, and began to show signs of HED around the same time. In late May, her breathing seemed more laboured, and the HED was getting worse. However, she was still full of life and love. She was determined to climb around, give tons of kisses and try to scare the cat. She enjoyed moving into a CN with her new friends, and was always bright eyed and full of love.
In the last two weeks, Cookies had really slowed down. She laid down a lot, sometimes showed signs of breathing distress, and was almost dragging her back legs. Despite this, she still clearly had the will to live, loved her out time and continued to play with the other rats. We discussed what we would do if she began to look ready to go, and the tough decisions we would have to make.
She spared us that hard decision, when last night she climbed out the cage, demanded attention and treats...and passed, what appears to be peacefully, sometime in the night.
She will be forever missed, but we are glad to know that she went when she was ready, that her suffering was minimal, and that we hope we were able to give her a far better life than the one which surely awaited her in the dirty cage in the terrible pet store.
Cookies, say hello to our other lost fuzzy friends, enjoy your reunion with your sister and know that you changed our life, and there is now a hole in our hearts and home that can never be filled. We love you.
Cookies on the night we brought her home:
Unsurprisingly, they were very sick with respiratory issues, and spent much of their young lives off and on medications. When we lost Cream to a PT in August 2010, and we worried about Cookies' health. Thankfully, she continued on with almost no health problems until about March.
Cookies enjoys some time out with her favourite human:
Unfortunately, in March Cookies began to show signs of aging. She went from a gorgeous brown to a muted (although still beautiful!) grey. She started to slow down a bit. At this time, she had been on her own for several months (which we feel terrible about!), and we knew we had to get her some company because it wasn't fair for her to be alone. Her new friends really perked her up, and I believe it helped her to continue on for the rest of the months she was with us.
Cookies takes a nap with her new friends on their first intro:
Unfortunately, Cookies aging continued, and seemed to come on faster and faster. She was treated for an RI in April, and began to show signs of HED around the same time. In late May, her breathing seemed more laboured, and the HED was getting worse. However, she was still full of life and love. She was determined to climb around, give tons of kisses and try to scare the cat. She enjoyed moving into a CN with her new friends, and was always bright eyed and full of love.
In the last two weeks, Cookies had really slowed down. She laid down a lot, sometimes showed signs of breathing distress, and was almost dragging her back legs. Despite this, she still clearly had the will to live, loved her out time and continued to play with the other rats. We discussed what we would do if she began to look ready to go, and the tough decisions we would have to make.
She spared us that hard decision, when last night she climbed out the cage, demanded attention and treats...and passed, what appears to be peacefully, sometime in the night.
She will be forever missed, but we are glad to know that she went when she was ready, that her suffering was minimal, and that we hope we were able to give her a far better life than the one which surely awaited her in the dirty cage in the terrible pet store.
Cookies, say hello to our other lost fuzzy friends, enjoy your reunion with your sister and know that you changed our life, and there is now a hole in our hearts and home that can never be filled. We love you.
