These are some images and remembrances of our dearly departed past rats which form a brief history of Rodents of Unusual Sweetness. Though they are all dearly missed (except possibly Smapdi), they live on in their memories and in their offspring, many of whom still live with us today.
Dearly Departed Rats in Chronological Order of Their Passing
Nico 1995 - 1999
Nico was our very first rat. He came to us from the Reed College psychology department and was used in behavioral psychology experiments. He was well loved and well kept and trained by Becca, a friend and classmate of mine. When Becca moved to Colorado, she adopted Nico out to us, or rather, to Wil. I was not in great favor of keeping rats, but my attitude soon changed as I got to know Nico and the rest is history. Bet Wil now sort of wishes he'd passed on Nico...
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| Rupert 1998 - 2001 | Rhubarb aka House Mouse 1998 - 2001 |
After Nico passed away, we happened to be in Petco one day and there, in the small animal tanks, was Rupert, looking for all the world like the tiniest polar bear cub ever. Wil realized that either Rupert came home or I just stayed in Petco forever. Clueless rat newbies that we were, we took the clerk's word for it that Rupert was a girl and Wil selected his sister Rhubarb, later to be known as House, as a companion for Rupert. Once Rupert surprised us a few days later by sprouting a pair of unmistakable family jewels, we separated the two until Rupert was old enough for neutering. After he was disarmed, we reunited the two and began to see exactly why rats should be kept at least in pairs. They were such a perfect complement to each other: Rupert was rather a timid, gentle soul and House was the naughty mischief maker. As shy as her brother was, House was bold and brave - the spunkiest little agouti cutie imaginable. She was always very diminutive, but her slight stature never hindered the large amount of mischief she could get up to. She would even chase the cat around in her big blue rodent ball. Though we always liked Nico, Rupert and House were our first real introduction to the total hold that something so small as a rat can have on one's heart. This dynamic duo was a total delight from day one and we miss them both very much to this day.
Maisy Moo 1998 - 2001
The delightful Miss Maisy Moo was the rat equivalent of Patty or Selma from the Simpsons. Though wary of humans at first from not being handled a lot as a baby, Maisy evolved from a nervous nellie into a confident boss of the rat cage. If rats could chain smoke and drink whiskey, Maisy undoubtedly would have.
Beezil 1998 - 2001
Beezil was the original goth rat. He was a velveteen by breed standards, but I prefer to use the term "plushious." Beezil's great curse in life was that he was so handsome and cuddly and soft looking that people would want to touch and snuggle him, which is not something a goth rat wants. Beezil's favorite activity was to climb to the top of the rat cage and moodily brood as he lurked over the edge like a fuzzy gargoyle or possibly Batman. I am fairly certain that Beezil would write bad depressing poetry at night in his nesting box while listening to Bauhaus on a tiny radio.
Zero 1998 - 2000
Zero was one of the greatest rats I have ever known. He was a rescue rat that had been dropped off at Petco and the moment that I laid eyes on him I knew he had to come home - it was ratty destiny. It was honestly like having the Buddha around in rat form. Zero was so filled with grace and love and kindness it broke our hearts when he left us after all too brief a stay in this world. Zero would sit on your shoulder and just press his cheek into yours and brux contentedly. He was the dearest sweetest little man in all the world and we are so blessed to have known him even for the short year that we did. When you meet the ratty buddha on the road, give him a peanut.
Lenore 1999 - 2000
Lenore was found in a feeder bin, nearly dead from an upper respiratory infection. We took her and her brother home and did our very best to heal them. Unfortunately, Lenore's brother did not make it, but Lenore pulled through and, though she was somewhat frail during her all too brief year of life, she nevertheless lived with all the gusto a rat could muster. A lovely, graceful creature, Lenore was a joy to have around and particularly enjoyed grazing like a little siamese cow in her catgrass windowbox.
"G" 1999 - 2001
G was hands down the strangest rat we've ever had the pleasure of knowing. S/he was a hermaphrodite and had no tail, just a tiny stub of cartilage at the base of his/her spine. S/he was always rather small and was wily and clever as the dickens. On one occasion, Wil found him/her shoving bits of lab block into the disk drive on our old computer. We honestly believe s/he was trying to save data onto them as part of his/her plot to take over the world. G was one of a kind in so many ways and we truly miss him/her, although our current tailless menace, Gawn, appears to be following in G's behavioral footsteps.
Blodwydd 1999 - 2002
Blodwydd was our fiery redheaded lassie. She also came from a feeder bin, but we could not resist her flaming red hair and bright pink eyes and had to take her home. Blod was the boss of pretty much everyone, especially her daddy Wil. She took crap from nobody and that included humans!
Beatrice 2000 - 2002
Beatrice was an absolute ratty angel, lovely to look at and sweet as the day is long. Like Lenore, she was also found in a feeder bin, hours away from death by respiratory infection. Wil did not believe she would make it through the night, but I insisted on taking her home to try to save her or at least give her a warm and loving place to spend her last hours. Thanks to antibiotics, fluids and Wil's special rat oxygen tent, Bea pulled through and lived to be nearly two years old. Not only did Bea's start in life resemble Lenore's but it was as though Lenore had reincarnated into Bea, they were that similar. Bea had her one "trick" where she would stealthily sneak down the stairs to the living room until she heard "Ahem, Beatrice!" come from the office above and then she run right back up to where she belonged, hanging her head and refusing to make eye contact with her chastiser. Eventually, all you had to do was just clear your throat and she'd come right back, always with that hangdog expression on her face. We aren't sure to this day if she was sorry for being naughty or just sorry that she got caught!
BlooBeE 2000 - 2002
Our dear little teeny tiny BlooBeE had a heart as big as a whale. BlooBeE was a rescue rat who was dwarfed from early malnutrition, had a permanent head tilt and had to have one eye removed at about six months of age when she developed a tumor in the socket. Throughout it all, BlooBeE was a fighter and went on to amaze our vet by not only surviving surgery, but thriving for another 9 months afterwards. Though her life was short, BlooBeE packed in as much living as she could and was never afraid of anybody. She could hold her own with rats twice her size and took no lip from us silly giants either.
Isabel "Smapdi" Ratty 2000 - 2002
This odd little creature had two names because she was Isabel when she was good and Smapdi when when she was crazy. Unfortunately, she was Smapdi much of the time. Poor old Smaps had something seriously wrong with her ratty brain chemistry that would cause her to randomly bite, occasionally hunker in a corner and scream for no apparent reason, and to generally behave in a bizarre fashion. I finally found her a buddy that wouldn't either avoid her or pick on her in the person of Grendel, our half wild boy. Wil and I miss Isabel, but we can't say the same for Smapdi, though we do wish her to rest in peace.
Mycroft "Big Mikey" Madrat 1999? - 2001
Mikey was another rescue rat who I took in along with his brother Montague who, unfortunately, didn't make it. Mikey was never the most people oriented rat as he was shy and easily frightened, though he did enjoy snacks and treats and runs outside his cage. The bookshelves in Wil's office were a special favorite hideout for him, so I figure he was, in his own fashion, quite the bibliophile.
Jerome "Silvy" Silbergeld and Moon 2000 - 2002
Silvy and Moon came to me when a rattery in eastern Washington had to close down temporarily. Amy, their first owner, purchased their mother from a petstore and was shocked when the very young rat had babies several weeks later. Most of the babies in the litter had health problems of one kind or another possibly due to much inbreeding and the very young age of their mother. When Amy had to find homes in a hurry for these rats, she made sure to find these two a home where she knew they'd have access to a good rat vet. Dr. Deeb once again worked a miracle by removing poor Silvy's badly infected uterus. Silvy made a full and complete recovery and became quite the plump and roly poly little butterball. Poor Moon was never as robust as her sister was post-op and passed away several months before her sister. Despite their delicate health, both these girls were a delight to have around.
Harmony 2000 - 2002
Harmony was one of Kerrie's rats from Bobbie. She lived to be quite amazingly old and was a tough old girl to the very end. She loved to eat, as most rats do, and to hang out in her hammock with her cagemates. In the above photo, Harmony is the rat to the rear and her hairless buddy is CWR Fry.
OFR Mouse March 2002 - November 2002
Sweet Mouse was with Kerrie for too short a time. He developed a tumor on his thyroid and passed away after less than a year of age. During that time, however, Mouse lived to the very fullest and was a delight to everyone who met him.
RSCL Keoki April 14, 2000 - November 14, 2002
Keoki was one of the sweetest, kindest, dearest beings I have ever encountered. Without his inspiration, Rodents of Unusual Sweetness Rattery would never have been formed, nor would Ratapalooza occur every year. I feel so very lucky to have had Keoki as a part of my life and to have been there for him throughout most of his. His children and grandchildren continue to enrich my life, and the lives of those who have adopted them, throughout the Northwest and beyond. Simply put, Keoki was one of my very best friends and the fact that we were so unalike in species and size made not one bit of difference. You touched my life so very much Keoki and I will love and miss you always.
Grendel March 2000 - November 2002
Grendel was our dear old wild man - the product of an accidental breeding of a domestic mother and a wild father. Rescued from a feeder tank at a few weeks of age, Gren proved to be a challenge in his early months, but gradually he became mostly tame and was quite the cuddlebug in his later days. Handsome, clever and with that touch of feralness, Grendel was a very important ROUS. He was neutered and spent much of his life with his "harem" of ladies, zealously guarding his food dish.
Secret Spring 2000 - January 2003
Sweet Secret was a feeder rat rescued, along with her sister Sunshine, by my friend Danielle. Secret struggled with breathing problems in later life, but was undaunted by her lack of robust health and continued to run around as friskily as she could. She was the "nanny" rat for several of our young girls and was always sweet and gentle with the little ones.
Sugar 1999- January 2003
Sugar was one of the meanest, rottenest, most evil rats in the known universe and I loved every wretched inch of him, from his fearsome fangs to his whiplike tail. This bad boy lived to be so old due, in large part, to his natural orneriness. I was his third home and I hope that he had a great time here, chasing the cats, biting people foolish enough to put their hands in his sacred cage, and whipping the other rats into a frenzy of meanness. To his credit, Sugar was always sweet to me and was surprisingly good at the veterinarian's office. He was a local legend for his unsurpassed longevity and feisty personality. My husband Wil, of whom Sugar was jealous, cannot be counted among his mourners, but the Booger most certainly left him and many other people marks to remember him by!
Stumpleton J. Nudebody ??? 2000 - January 2003
Sweet Stumpy was a rare and exotic beauty. Some called her ugly, funny looking, weird - but to me she was gorgeous. She came from a horrible place where rats were bred by the hundreds and her stubby tail was the result of her inhumane breeder cutting it off so as to be easily able to identify her as a female. Ayri of Whispering Wise Rattery in BC rescued her and rehabilitated her and then sent her to me. Stumps was a marvellous friend to humans and rats alike - she was the only rat our cranky Miss Lilly could live with harmoniously. We will forever miss our sweet and strangely beautiful Stumpy. Good night, Stumpleton Rumpleton Funny Little Bumpleton.
ROUS Scooter Thanksgiving Day 2002 - Valentines Day 2003
Scooter had a genetic defect known as megacolon which caused his colon not to form properly in utero. He required medication, belly palpation and other indignities to pass stool and live as a mostly normal young ratty boy. He took all of his many treatments very much in stride and forgave us for the things we put him through. He lived his life as happily and robustly as any other rat and gave out way more love than seems possible to contain in such a tiny, frail body. As sad as it was to know his time would be brief, we are so happy to have known this cool brave boy for the time we did.
One-Eyed Willie the PiRat Early April 2000 - February 16, 2003
Our sweet Willie was the apple of Wil's eye and truly adored by all who knew her funny, feisty ways. Willie was born with only one eye but that never hindered her one bit from being all she could be. In fact, Willie killed a snake as a tiny 5-week old baby, bought by a macho man at the Petco feeder bin and dropped in, unattended, with a snake too small to eat her. She was summarily returned to the store, and when I heard her story, I knew she had to come home. It was love at first sight for Wil, who dubbed her the PiRat Queen and set about photographing her with "gold dubloons" as you see in the above photo. Willie was kind and good to all the rats she ever met, had an unbreakable habit for chewing everything that got within range of her teeth, and was unfailingly disgusting and cute at the same time. We know our dear old PiRat girl, named for the captain in the movie "Goonies," is now out sailing the seas of cheese, looking for booty with her beloved "sister" Beatrice.
Sunshine Spring 2000 - February 24, 2003
Sunshine, Secret's sister, was a very hardy rescue rat and survived a tumor operation to live another six weeks before succumbing to cancer. She was a bit of a curmudgeon, but always a very loveable one. Sunshine loved to eat peanuts and would steal them from her cagemates and stash them among the bedding in her nest box. Clever and tough, Sunshine was a delight to have around and was a perfect foil for her gentler, more delicate sister.
Pez Late 2001 - March 2003
Pez was rescued by a very nice breeder in BC who found her, very pregnant, in a bad petstore and brought her home to have her babies in a safe place. Pez, though understandably a bit shy and cautious, was nonetheless a very dear girl underneath it all. She grew to trust us and was a real member of the family by the end of her days. She passed away very suddenly in March, possibly from stroke or a heart attack, and is much missed.
HTR Blaze Early 2001 - April 2003
Blaze was a kind, easygoing gentleman who came to us later in his life. He was a gentle and dignified old soul to the last, never prone to fussing or fighting. He liked his snacks, as you can see by the fistful of gouda he's holding in the photo and lived a very quiet existence, often napping in his hammock with his buddies. Though he was not a flashy fellow, his absence is definitely felt now that he is gone.
ROUS Mazel • April 16 - June 9, 2003
Mazel was with us only a short time, but made a big impression. She died very unexpectedly from a foreign body infection in her throat. She was just too small and too young to survive the delicate surgery. Though her passing was profoundly sad and sudden, her life brought us joy and we were glad to have known her in her brief but full life.
SPR Monty • Fall 2001 - June 11, 2003
Dear Monty was soft to the touch, easy on the eyes and warming to the heart. Monty's favorite pastime was napping in his beloved hammock, which he is buried in. He was generally a gentle soul, but could put up a heck of a fight when confronted with nasty medicine. He was good natured to the last and passed away in my arms after suffering a stroke the day earlier. Monty was much admired in life and will be missed greatly by Kerrie and Michelle at CWR and his first "mommy" Becky.
ROUS Andre • September 4, 2001 - September 26, 2003
It's so hard to write about Andre as I miss him so very very much. He needed nursing care for the last six months of his life, which he responded to very well, and we bonded so closely during that time. It's the whole story of not knowing how much you love someone until you know you could lose them. His page pretty much says it all about him and I don't think I could write a better eulogy for him. He was a gentle, sweet, simple soul who was so patient and dear, with funny little quirks that I loved. Simply stated, I loved him.
ROUS Moby • September 4, 2001 - December 28, 2003
Wherever Andre was, so was Moby, so it's fitting that big Mobe would follow his brother's passing pretty closely. Moby was such a big, robust boy in life that his stroke, about three weeks after his brother passed, was so hard to deal with. He got on pretty well despite being fairly paralyzed on one rear side of his body and pulled himself along in his one-story hospice cage with his forelegs. His appetite never waned, up to the end, and he rather enjoyed, I think, his special softer meals. I knew that Moby would survive his stroke when I found him ripping open a peanut in the shell just two days after it happened. I placed his younger half-sister, Bleu, in with him when he moved into the hospice cage and she was a wonderful nurse and companion to him. Moby went peacefully at home, as I held him. My dear, half naked, funny double rex man, I will miss you so, but am happy you are at rest with your dear brother Andre.
RSCL The Vicar • May 28, 2002 - December 31, 2003
My dearest ratty boy was taken too soon from me, quite suddenly, due to bladder cancer. I loved this boy like I loved his father, Keoki, and losing him so young and unexpectedly was really rough. Despite that, I don't regret for a single moment opening my heart up completely to him. The Vicar was my companion, my comfort, my ratty ambassador and one of my dearest little friends in all the world. Goodnight, sweet prince and may flights of angels sing you to your rest.
SRR LMR Rigel • December 23, 2002 - January 14, 2004
Rigel left us far too soon due to a heart and lung defect. He fought very bravely against it for the last several months of his life and was the most patient of patients through all the vet visits, oral syringes full of funky goo and stinging injections of rescue shots. Rige was a brave, tough, handsome boy and made me proud to have known him, even for the short time we had together.
RSCL Zeek • May 28, 2002 - January 19, 2004
Zeek was a big, gentle, amiable gent whose main hobbies were napping and snacking and snuggling with his rat buddies and his humans. Not a bad set of priorities! Zeek left us far too early due to the same cancer that claimed his dear brother The Vicar. Zeek had a bleeding disorder which contributed to his death and led to a couple of memorable races across town to his vet when he'd rip a toenail, but he was a lovely, perky, very positive member of our rat family throughout all of it. Be at peace, Zeek, and run with your father, mother, brothers and sisters.
Toby • Spring 2002 - March 2004
Spunky Toby came from a feeder bin at Petco - the only dumbo we'd ever seen there. He had funny elf ears and a silly, sunny disposition. Toby fought with respiratory illness his whole life, but his spirit never failed him and he made it to two years of age, which suprised us all. Be well now, my funny, spirited little fighter.
Franc • 2001? - March, 2004
Franc was a laboratory rat used in the psych department of Western Washington University. Though never as sociable with humans as the rest of our gang, Franc and his brother Mozart, nonetheless charmed us with their funny ways. Goodnight, big white guy.
RSCL Bowie • May 28, 2002 - March 8, 2004
My darling angel Bowie flew away from me due to the same cancer that tragically claimed his brothers Vicar and Zeek. I loved my dear cotton candy man more than I can say. He was so beautiful and gentle and dear, with funny little quirks and a loving spirit. Simply put, Bowie was a little piece of ratty heaven on earth and will be dearly missed forever.
ROUS Marty Pie-Face • September 5, 2001 - March 22, 2004
Dear old Marty was a sweet, silly, slightly dim fellow who was always a happy, active boy, even when he was at the ancient end of his life. Marty was our silly clown who never had a cross word with anyone, rat or human. He even put up with our cats! Marty never failed to cheer you up when you were down - that's the best eulogy a rat like Marty could ask for.
Mozart • ??? 2001 - April 20, 2004
Mozart joined his brother Franc at the big hammock in the sky when he was put to sleep at the vet due to renal failure. Mo lived a very long time, like his brother, and, though he never quite got entirely used the concept of being a pet, not a lab animal, he was nonetheless a real member of the family. Nicknamed "Reverend Jim" for the character on the old sitcom "Taxi," Mo was quite an eccentric fellow who puzzled, annoyed and mostly amused us with his unique behaviors. Be at rest and join your brother, Mo.
AVR Shazza • February, 2002 - April 28, 2004
Sweet silver queen Shazza left us after a surgery to remove a mammary tumor. As she had been losing weight over the last couple of months and had been a very robust girl up to that point, we suspect there was some other medical issue going on. Shaz was the kissiest girl we've ever known who would absolutely throw herself at you when you'd approch the cage. Shaz was a big, sweet darling love and we miss our silky silver queen very much, especially at mealtime, which made her so excited and happy. May your afterlife be filled with copious snacks and your food bowl never be empty, kissy girl.
Manny • Early 2002??? - May 10, 2004
My dear old Paddington Bear ratty left us very peacefully. Manny fell into a coma and slept the last few hours of his life in a towel, next to me. He was such a dear, funny fellow who always brought a smile to the face of everyone who met him. We were Manny's third set of owners through no fault of his own and feel quite priveleged to have been his forever home at last. Manny had many admirers and people who mourn his passing. Sleep well my big velvety peach boy and dream of your darling Goldberry.
SAS Charisse • May 27, 2003 - May 24, 2004
Sweet Charisse left us far too soon and far too suddenly. From fine in the morning to gone at night, the poor sweet girl had a massive internal hemorrage. She was a beautiful girl with a beautiful personality and we miss our sleek little lovely girl.
ROUS Hisvet • March 22, 2003 - May 27, 2004
My darling, rotten Hisvet will be missed always by me, the only person she ever really liked. Hiss was quirky to say the least, but would never have bitten a soul. She was a difficult but rewarding rat and I will miss my Hissy Fit's patented stinkeye daily. Rest in peace, Miss Hiss.
MAR Hugo • July 9, 2002 - June 2, 2004
Dearest Hugo was the best couch rat I've met, next to Zero, of course. He was my favorite couch potato companion for watching CSI. I'd have Pyxel the cat on one side of my lap and Hugo on the other. He would actually stare at the screen like he truly was trying to figure out whodunit. Sadly, my dear big boy developed a difficult to remove and treat tumor in his last month or so and passed after a surgery to try to remove it. I will miss my big blue boy, particularly on Thursday nights at 9PM when CSI is on.
ROUS Clover • September 21, 2002 - June 13, 2004
Sweet Clover left us after a battle with head tilt. She was one of my dear Naughty Redheads and was so active and full of life right up to the end. My beautiful little red robin was very beloved of not just me, but her mother, sister and neice who were her constant companions.
The Annals of Ratstory, Page 2
The Annals of Ratstory, Page 3