Rest well, Neera girl

Neera

June 5th, 2011 - February 20th, 2013

Neera died yesterday. It was sudden and unexpected.  The night before she was playing and scuffling with Rula over their chicks.  Then, when I went to check on them in the morning, I saw Rula at the plexiglass, jumping jumping jumping.  But no Neera.  Which was strange.

I went into the room calling her, and still no sound to let me know she was waking up.  I started walking to the cage and my heart just sank.  I opened the top half, their sleeping section, and I saw their sleepsack had a bulge.  I called her again, and with hands I couldn't hold steady for the life of me, patted and shook it.  Nothing.

I opened it up, saw her body, so still and rapidly losing the last bit of heat, and I was stunned.  She had no outward signs of anything amiss.  It was as if she had went in to take a nap and never woke up.

She was 1 year and 8 months old.  A baby.  Rula's best friend, her godsend.  She held me captivated by her personality and by her looks.  I never, never, never expected to lose her this soon; I never expected Rula would lose her, and be so bereft.

More than anything, Neera, I want you to be strong and sure and happy until the day you have your girl back with you.  You were her friend, her gentle leader, and she misses you.  I miss you, and I wish you never had to leave us.

We love you, little girl, and we will always remember you.

DIP

tubbies attack! (except not)

This morning I went to go let my dog out, and saw Anya was awake.  So, after Ben went outside, I decided to let Anya explore the rest of the downstairs (except the storage room, which has the chest freezer and fridge/freezer combo, which I don't want ferrets messing with).  She stayed out for about 30 minutes, and  behaved herself.

I also, one by one, brought out my big guys to see her.  I held on to them, but let Anya roam as she would.  Yogi - smelled Anya, Anya smelled him, neither one too interested, at that moment.  Sian - ignored Anya completely, Anya looked but didn't bother coming to sniff, either.  Hiko - Hiko was VASTLY interested in Anya, not unexpected.  What that means (whether friendly/dominant or too aggressive/dominant) we'll see in later sessions.  Anya, though, she was extremely interested in Hiko, too, which I wasn't expecting.  So, hmm.

But, even Hiko, is huge compared to Anya, oh my god, but especially Yogi and Sian; geez, they're like ... chubba wubba monsters or something.  They could, if they wanted, totally decimate that girl before she even knew what hit her (at least by looks).  I'm holding out hope that once I really introduce the babies to her, they'll eventually get along.  Seems more like a fair bet, since all three are roughly the same size.

We'll see, we'll see.

meh.

Say 'ello to my mom's feetsies - she helped corral the three big guys on our "walk". Thank god for extra hands!

Feeling better ... well, okay, I still feel like crap, but "crap" is about 100% better than yesterday, to be sure.  I managed to get Rula and Neera outside (separately, as I only have the one harness that fits my teeny girls - Rula, Neera, and Anya).  They enjoyed that.  Now all I've got to do is get them put up and get Anya out.  I'm hoping I can dredge up more energy from somewhere and get her on a walk, as well, today.

My mom took pity on me yesterday, too, and went to PetCo and got Anya more food (since she was reaaally low).  Also picked me up an air-tight container for it, so I don't have to worry about humidity and the like getting in there and ruining the kibble.  Although really, reading the damn ingredient list (chicken by-products as the first ingredient, herring meal, dried brewer's yeast, dried beets as some of the very.  first.  ingredients?  Not much there to ruin, tbh, it's already a pile of crap.)  

Oh, the joy of feeding kibble.  Can't you tell how happy I am about it?

Ugh.  Anyway.  Vet appointments Friday, ahoy!

(the end.)

ETA: and I did manage to take Anya for a 30 minute walk outside this evening - go me.  She even let me get the harness neck hoop over her head without help, the sweetie.  We only went inside when she got lost in the strawberry planters and slipped loose of the harness and leash :)

daily peek-a-boo

Neera: "I don't have a lazy eye, I was winking at you!"  And where mama goes, Rula's not far &heart;

What I've done:

- Ordered more rats, mice and chicks from American Rodent!  It's nice to pay $150 and have it be just for food, not half of it being shipping!  Value for money spent - what a wonderful thing!

- Cleaned up little miss Anya's mess before putting her up for the day!

- Took Rula and Neera for 15 min. walks, separately!  They loved it so, so much, and I am getting a kick out of it, myself.  I'm going to try daily walks, rotating the groups (The big guys one day, and then Rula+Neera, and then Anya [might try Anya on Rula and Neera's day, but that might be pushing it since, for now, she is separate])

- Failed to clean rooms OR cages!  YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY.