tcpip: (Rats)
Diary of a B+ Grade Polymath ([personal profile] tcpip) wrote2008-03-10 09:28 pm

Dead Rat Society

As [livejournal.com profile] caseopaya reported, Rogue the rat died today. It was an incredibly tranquil demise; he spent his final hours resting on her lap, his breathing increasingly shallow and with greater intervals until, at 2.21pm, they simply stopped. There was no pain, no struggle, no fighting for precious moments. It was like he wasn't even aware of his own death; he simply faded away slowly and peacefully, receiving scritches as he went. He'd been taken to the vet the day before who trimmed his teeth a little, gave him a shot of steriods and provided some high protein food, but informed us that basically it was old age and not much could be done. He'd lived to an excellent 3 years 3 weeks (92 on the rat-years scale) and in the most recent months had given every indication that he was more than content with his long and very active life.

I remember collecting him as a youngster all those years ago. This tiny runt of pink-eyed white rodent scampered into view with the cheekiest countenance. The first night at home he lived up to his name escaping behind a bookcase. It would be the first on many head-shaking and sometimes worrying acts of mischief the little guy would get up to, as his sense of adventure far outweighed his otherwise quite acceptable intelligence. Getting into a knot-hole of tree and entering a (thankfully unused) hornet's nest; scampering up a palm tree until he suddenly realised he'd reached a height that he couldn't get safely down from (and later, doing the same on the tallest bookcase in the house); dashing under an 8 foot high wood and wire fence to end up face-to-face with a big ginger cat; getting drunk on champagne and falling off the mantle piece; and, perhaps most notoriously, splitting his head open whilst in a scuffle with our other rats.

Whilst not always as sociable as his brother Vagabond (his poor eyesight caused him to be a little scared of too many feet), he certainly had his charms, such as delighting locals in St Kilda on our evening walks as he insited on sitting on top of my beret like a pom-pom. He also had this most amusing trait of rolling on to his back to have his belly scritched, which from all accounts requires an incredible degree of trust from small animals. He was an affectionate, content and happy bundle of trouble to his very last.

Well, time for the burial. Nothing else to be done. Valedictions, Rogue.

[identity profile] the-shadow298.livejournal.com 2008-03-10 12:12 pm (UTC)(link)
sorry to read that, my friend.

all the best in this sad time.

[identity profile] montensem.livejournal.com 2008-03-10 12:51 pm (UTC)(link)
:(

[identity profile] lindsay40k.livejournal.com 2008-03-10 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww. He clearly had a really full life with a really loving family. I can't think of anything more he could have asked for. *hug*

[identity profile] cluebyfour.livejournal.com 2008-03-10 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry to hear that, Lev. At least he went peacefully.

[identity profile] mia76.livejournal.com 2008-03-10 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
i'm sorry for your loss. =(

[identity profile] madame-mage.livejournal.com 2008-03-10 06:41 pm (UTC)(link)
*bites lip*

Im sorry, seriously, the down side of having Ratties is their short life span. this hurts, a lot!

*fires up a little candle for Rogue to find his way back to you both some how*

(can you tell I actually believe their little spirits can find us again? you bet! I never ignore those in-your-face signs)

[identity profile] synabetic.livejournal.com 2008-03-10 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
My condolences on your loss. Sounds like he was one heck of a rat.

[identity profile] lula-neith.livejournal.com 2008-03-10 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww. Sounds like he lived a long happy life. Rest peacefully, Rogue.
redcountess: (Default)

[personal profile] redcountess 2008-03-10 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I am sorry for your loss, but happy he had such a good life.

[identity profile] severina-242.livejournal.com 2008-03-10 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
I have fond memories of him giving me a sharpish nip when I surprised him once, and then scampering off with placatory food. Cheeky bugger he was.
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[identity profile] 17catherines.livejournal.com 2008-03-10 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry for your loss. Sounds like Rogue had a good life.

[identity profile] taavi.livejournal.com 2008-03-10 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Rodents aren't really my thing. But I'm very sorry for your loss. Makes me think about how sad I would be if my dog died.

[identity profile] mr-figgy.livejournal.com 2008-03-11 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
I know so many rat fanciers, it's stunning; clearly the critters have charm.

'Course they tend to ask me why I ever chose a hedgehog, but I regret nothing.

*hug* Sorry for the loss, man. And if anyone gives you a cheesy Rainbow Bridge metaphor, try to take it in stride.

[identity profile] tempusfrangit.livejournal.com 2008-03-11 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
Hopefully Rogue finds the Hoodrat Clan up there.. and they wait for us. Wherever "there" is..

I know how much this hurts.. Love to you.

[identity profile] angel80.livejournal.com 2008-03-11 11:17 am (UTC)(link)
It may be old in a rat's life, but it's too short for my liking. Sorry for you and caseopaya.

Have you got a next generation?

[identity profile] amazinggoatgirl.livejournal.com 2008-03-11 11:42 am (UTC)(link)
Awww... condolences.

P.S. You could be a professional eulogy writer. Like whoa.

[identity profile] ninboydean.livejournal.com 2008-03-11 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry, brother. Animals are great, and it's good that you had such a great relationship with Rogue. I'd light a candle like madame mage, but all my candles were stolen from me.

[identity profile] theamaranth.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
what a sweet baby.

[identity profile] luciusmalfoy.livejournal.com 2008-03-13 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
My condolences. :( He does sound like he was a very exciting wee character.

[identity profile] maxxxie2.livejournal.com 2008-03-17 08:53 am (UTC)(link)
Very sorry to hear of Rogue's passing. May he enjoy many chocolate mousses in ratty heaven.