R.I.P. Kracker

[frankykeno]

We lost our favorite pet rat (my son's rat) Uncle Kracker tonight. He had been fine though we'd noticed an odd squeek here and there when he wrestled with his cage mate (Kid Rock - Rocky). He just laid down and passed away quietly. He was just a year old and a truely lovely, responsive pet. All we found when we examined him was a small bump on his spine so perhaps a cancer had grown or he was accidentally hurt during the rather rough male rat play.

He's got a quiet spot under a big tree and even though he was "only" a rat he'll be sorely missed by Mike and I and the kids.

Makes it worse as we've made the hard decision to have our elderly cat put down next week and were just trying to figure out when to talk to the kids about it when this happened so it's going to be a hard road losing two pets in a relatively short amount of time.


~~Jo~~

[tigerlily]

I'm so sorry to hear about Kracker and Barney. There's never a good time to lose them.

[frankykeno]

Yep it is hard, especially for our 4 year old with his limited understanding of what death is but our poor old cat is getting worse and is now being confined a lot as he's getting more & more aggressive if any food is in sight. A few days ago he went after a child who was eating a Gogurt. He's always been totally safe around kids but is a big fully clawed male and has the potential to do damage. Nothing happened but it was scarey and after a long talk with our vet's tech we've decided it's kindest (and safest) to take ole Barney on that last ride. I've never believed you can put any pet's welfare above a child's safety no matter how hard the decision is to make.

So for now we are using our last days with him to spoil him rotten and prepare the kid's to say good-bye. They love him dearly even now when he's so unlike his usual self. As long as food is not around he is safe with them (tho to be honest I'm monitoring his every move just in case).


~~Jo~~

[frankykeno]

Darn I just realized I put this under Feeders and should have been under Other Animals as Kracker wasn't a feeder at all.

~~Jo~~

[Ginevive]

Aw, I am sorry to hear about Kracker. I know that rats Can become pets and it does hurt to lose one.
Sorry about your kitty too. My mom had to recently put down our family cat; she was getting incontinent; pills were not helping and she had kidney problems; she was 17 years old. Soemtimes it really is for the best.

[Smulkin]

Darn I just realized I put this under Feeders and should have been under Other Animals as Kracker wasn't a feeder at all.

~~Jo~~

I can relocate it for you.

[frankykeno]

Thanks for relocating this Smulkin. I know it doesn't really matter but Kracker was our favorite rat and I felt bad posting his RIP under Feeders (silly of me I know).

~~Jo~~