| WILMA 1 July 2000 - 20 January 2003 |
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| Wilma came to us the day after Jake died. I saw her all alone in the pet shop and could not resist this tiny dark brown hooded doe with the sweetest little rattie face I had ever seen. She was probably too young to be separated from her family, but the breeder who took her to the pet shop said she was putting all the other does in the litter into heat! Hence the pet shop proclaimed her to be a boy and I got her for $2 cheaper than a female. Nevertheless, there was no way she was anything other than a girl! So Wilma came home with me and, yes, ended up on her own in another separate cage. With Lucy so ill, and Holly being what I percieved as viciously territorial, I kept Wilma on her own. She was the cutest baby, and soon became totally tame, sitting in bed with me to watch the TV, licking my fingers and rolling over to have her tummy scratched. After doing lots of reading, I realised that I was being cruel keeping Wilma alone, so I got her a friend, Phoebe. Although initially Wilma beat poor Phoebe up quite badly, by the end of three weeks' careful introductions they were getting on famously, and they moved in to their new apartment together (see Housing and Bedding). Not long after Wilma and Phoebe settled into their new place, I got Sarah. As her introduction to Timmy was a disaster, she also moved in, and the three of them currently live together, taking great delight in trashing their house whenever I'm not looking! January 2003 Though I added Lara, and then the little girls (Ella, Abby, Maggie and Bridget) to the mischief, Wilma continued to be the alpha rat. She always kept everyone in their place, and went to investigate every fight (usually involving Lara!). She remained my special girl, having had almost a year to bond with me before Phoebe came, and loved to get in bed with me and curl up against my side while I watched TV. Her favourite spot was in my sleeve, where she always left a little puddle just to make me go "eeewwww". About a week after Lara died I noticed Wilma drooling and choking. I rushed her to the vet who inspected her throat but couldn't find any matter in there, or bruising to suggest something had been lodged. She had an anti-inflammatory and a course of antibiotics dispensed. The following morning it happened again, but not as badly, and she shook it off. I thought she was doing fine, but on the following Monday night, she choked on her antibiotics mixed in nutrigel. As I watched, she jerked to one side, and I panicked, picking her up and giving her the "rattie fling". She was convulsing, and went limp in my hands after about two flings. I heard air come out of her lungs, but she didn't attempt to breathe in again. She was already dead when I ran into the living room to get my husband. We now realise that she'd had a heart attack. I was devastated, thinking that it was my fault. I realise now that it wasn't, but it still upsets me. I miss her sweet little face hanging over the edge of the hammock. She has joined the others at the Garden of Remembrance, and lives on in my heart forever. I know you shouldn't have favourites, but she was mine. Home |