Many of you have inquired about the status of my rats, prompting me to add this update information! Ms. Briz - (Dec. ?/95 - Jan. 7/99) - I did get my wish, Ms.Briz did make it to Christmas, and on Christmas morning was spunky and playful, every bit the rat she always was. She had the time of her life watching the events of that morning and getting into ribbons and paper. It was so good to watch her behave like a much younger rat, something we had not seen much of in the weeks leading into Christmas. She also made to the New Year, which really surprised me since this marked her age at over 4 years! She had good days, and she had less than good days. We had to continue to clean her and sometimes had to hold her and hand feed her or give her water. For this she gave us 100% cooperation, and had become so loving and affectionate, never missing a moment to show us how much she appreciated what we were doing for her. On January 7, 1999 Ms. Briz passed away peacefully during her sleep. If she was suffering, she did not let it show - there was no indication that she was in pain, which would have prompted me to have her put down as humanely as possible. It was an exceptionally teary-eyed day for the entire family, but knowing that she had hung in there for us, and with her having lived a year longer than expected, we were grateful that we got to share in the life of a truly unique rat. Still today she is sadly missed and her memory will remain with us - forever! Quaddot, Roseanne, Rosie - (July '96 - July '99) - offspring of Ms. Briz and Nicodemus these girls were as playful and entertaining as their parents had been. All very affectionate and well behaved. We knew we were going to lose them when they approached the three year mark, they could no longer jump up on stairs and were avoiding climbing on our entertainment unit as they had in the past. Quaddot, who had been spoiled, continued to show a constant need for affection and insisted on taking her mother's place in my office. Roseanne and Rosie were less aggressive and preferred to spend much more time in the security of their cage - almost as if they feared they could not get back into the cage if taken out. All three girls passed away peacefully within a week of each other, breaking our hearts and leaving us feeling devastated and lonely. Life without the rats running around my house was going to be a hollow existance, they brought life and laughter to our household, and that laughter was fading away with the passing of each rat. This left poor Hobbes, the passive rat, the one that never really did much on her own initiative although she would follow the lead of her sisters... we worried for her, would she be the next, was she lonely (like we were), and how much of her mother's genetics did she inherit. Hobbes - (July '99 - Jan. 1/2000) - initially lost without her sisters, Hobbes grew closer and closer to us, although she had never been inclined to be close before. Now, the last remaining rat, she was the center of attention (and our universe). Unlike her sisters, she had not shown the same signs of aging and could still climb the stairs or entertainment unit with ease. Her favorite past time had become getting up to the Beanie Baby shelf on the entertainment unit, then squeezing herself between the Beanies and laying perfectly still - camoflage! She immediately filled the roll that her mother and sister had before her, taking up being my office companion and spending her entire day being close to me. I never expected this from such a withdrawn and timid rat, and did not believe that their personality could change that late in life. She had become more active and aggressive, and was enjoying all the attention she was getting - even though she was not inclined to behave this way while her siblings were alive. Once again, as Christmas approached, I had only one wish and that was for her to live to see another Christmas... and if possible, to experience the New Year. My eldest son had been away and was devastated by the news when Quaddot died - she had been his pet while he was home. His one desire was that Hobbes hang in there so he could get in one last visit with the rats before they were gone. He arrived home Christmas Eve and was so happy to see a happy rat... but by now she was showing the same signs of aging that her sisters had displayed, no longer inclined to jump or climb, she was dependent on us to pick her up. The entire family understood the signs of an aging rat by now, and did not hestitate to take advantage of every minute with her they could. My son visited frequently and while discouraging as a parent, his visits were mainly to spend time with the rat. On New Years Day he came by the house, Hobbes had not moved, she just layed there and although awake and alert, she no longer had the energy to move. New Years Day my son spent holding her and talking to her, giving her water and keeping her warm next to his body... but the hour soon arrived that he had to leave and he passed her over to me. Shortly after he left, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, and within an hour she gave out one last deep breath and was gone. I softly announced to the family that the last rat (which I still had not let go of) had finally passed away. I had been asked to update this information by my visitors for some time now (since Ms. Briz passed away), and I have made several attempts... I could never get this page done, it was too difficult to have to reach back for these memories, it was breaking my heart. I thought I was seriously ready to upgrade the information now, thought that the grieving had to be over, I was wrong... since losing my precious girls I have never felt so lacking, so lonely for their companionship, and in doing this page it brought back all the memories, and the tears. To get me passed this the family got me an usual species of cat (Lynx/Ragdoll) in May, she's a kitten, and while she has been entertaining and like the rats, spends her time in my office with me... she's just a cat, and I have been unable to bond with her like I had with my rats. Thanks to loving hubby and close friends, my loneliness for these creatures will soon be remedied. A transport cage has been prepared and is on it's way to an area where rats are legal and a breeding pair of babies is being smuggled back to me. I look forward to having rats in the house again, and this time am prepared to put a rat cam on them to share with all of you, plus will post video of some of their antics. Thank you all for your interest in my page and pet of choice, and for sharing your stories with me... it has eased some of the heartbreak just knowing that I'm not the only one who loves these animals so dearly. Your stories and mail have kept my spirits bouyed, and your continued support of this page keeps me involved while being rat-less myself. You have all been so wonderful!