Fat Rat Central’s Memorial

I work at a zoo in Texas and was asked to shadow one of the reptile keepers one day last month.  He, along with the rest of the keepers, took me to a reptile expo about an hour away.  While I don’t mind snakes (or the fact that they DO eat rats,) I couldn’t help but feel bad as I surveyed the buckets of rats with the mere dog food they survived on.  I asked the man behind the counter which size could survive without their mother, and he pointed me to the right bin.  Every rat in the bin was white with red eyes - except one.  As I picked up the black and white hooded rat, I was amused that the pattern of his fur made a black #1 on his back.  I couldn’t bear to see him fed to a snake…I paid $1.40 and took my rat home.

Thomas, the zookeeper, was concerned that he was too young to be sold as a pet, and even told me not to get too attached in case he didn’t make it.  I couldn’t help it, though.  Before I knew it, he had a big cage, exercise wheel, and even wood chews shaped like baby blocks.  Everyone loved him - he quickly won over every person he met - all 3 of my roommates, my boyfriend and his roommate, and even my sister, who swore she would never fall in love with any “rat.”

He refused to drink out of his water bottle, so every day 3 times a day I filled up a 2-liter bottle’s old Diet Coke cap, or he would lick water off of my fingers.  He loved to be held, and would often curl up and go to sleep in whoever’s hand was available.  He liked to be warm, and slept on my chest or in the top of my shirt often.

I noticed he was breathing heavily since the day that I got him, but didn’t think much of it. I cut up fruits and vegetables for him daily to supplement his rat food. He even braved a couple of car rides home to Houston to meet new friends. It did seem to stress him out, however, so when I made plans to go to Austin for two days the following weekend, I asked my roommates to take care of his water and play with him, and left him in capable hands.

Upon my return from Austin, I found Burbank lying flat on his stomach in the corner of his cage with his back legs splayed out behind him and his eyes wide open. I could tell from the second I saw him that he was gone.  After looking online, I think he probably passed from mycoplasmosis, a disorder of the lungs that causes labored breathing, lots of sneezing, and little drinking.  I cried for hours, thinking I could have done something better, and feeling awful that he had passed while I was out of town.  I put him in a shoebox, and my wonderful boyfriend buried him in some Japanese tea gardens by a waterfall next to the zoo where I took him home.

Miss you, little friend. Everyone does.

I got Daxie in May 2007 when I was going thorough some hard times and loneliness.  He kept me company and always put a smile on my face.  I love him with all my heart.  We only had a year and 2 months together and in that time I got 3 other rats, but Daxie was my favorite.  I spoiled him alot.  I always let him have cheese and fruit and he brought so much joy into my life.  I got a kitten a couple months ago and being curious as they are, he tried to put his nose in Daxie’s cage and also bat at him with his paws.  Daxie never backed down!  He nipped right back until my kitten learned not to mess with him.  Daxie was a tough little rat with quite an attitude.  And I loved every minute of having him in my life.  He crossed the rainbow brige on July 9th, 2008.  I miss him so much but I know he is with his “little brother” Benji who crossed just a few months ago and also with my rabbit Rocky who crossed last year.  I MISS YOU DAXIE!!!!!