RIP Dario [approx 1/7/2014 to 6/10/2016]

[rattfan]

My lovely black rat, Dario, died this evening. I was holding him and his passing was peaceful, at home. Nor was it very long. He went into the terminal stage some time yesterday. A little creature has left a large sadness. He is survived by his brother Barnaby. Both rats came to me at four months old, after being found in a box left in a car park and turned in to Perth Rat Rescue. They began life here being terrorised by the big boys - as young rats always are - but soon moved to the top of the heap, ordering the human around. I've been trying to upload a short video I took of the pair of them a couple of weeks ago but it won't load.

Below is the post I wrote a few hours ago:

My little guy Dario is very unwell now. I'd noticed signs of his slowing down this past week or so and yesterday he demonstrated the clingy behaviour/aimless running about which is bad news to a rat owner. Dario is approximately two years and three months old, as near as I can guess, which is an elderly rat, and he has advanced mycoplasmosis. He's been through all the antibiotics and basically we're now in palliative care mode. He has his brother Barnaby with him, at least. Barnaby isn't a terribly social rat; his focus is on home design [newspaper, newspaper and more newspaper] so if there has to be just one rat for awhile, he's the best one. He's too elderly and cranky himself for new company at this stage, and in any case I had resolved not to get more rats for awhile. This is a very difficult stage for a rat owner, but rats are so engaging and intelligent that they're hard to resist, even knowing the health problems and short lifespans.

Anyway, I now need to do everything one handed - trying to rig a sort of sling here - because I'm clutching a rat. See above for clingy.

Comments

[merilune.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's so hard to lose a pet. You give those rats such a great life though, one that they probably wouldn't have had otherwise *hug*

[ratfan.livejournal.com]

Thanks. This was a better ending than some; I could be with him, had been around for the last two days. It was also quick and he fell unconscious towards the end, but it feels so empty without him. I love Barnaby, but he's not the rat who would trot along the couch to sit next to me and be petted in the evenings. I guess he may become more social now, though.

[ankh-hpl.livejournal.com]

So terribly sorry to read this, especially since he was such a social little creature. Long life to Barnaby, & all my sympathies to you. You've done way more than your share for rat-kind.

[ratfan.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that. Sitting next to me to watch TV was very much Dario's thing; he loved being petted. Barnaby not so much; in fact, you're likely to get ninja-kicked if you pick him up, though I've told him it's his job now to endure this if I want to cuddle a rat. It's a good thing he's an independent type, I guess.

[leecetheartist.livejournal.com]

So good you were able to have quality time with him before he decided to scamper off back to the cosmos. He was lucky to have you.

[vyperdd.livejournal.com]

So sorry to read this!

Losing any pet is difficult, no matter how long they may share their lives with us.

Glad you were able to be with him til the end.

*hugs*