Sailor's hamster, Half-Pint, went to hamster heaven yesterday. He had a hard 8 month life. He was constantly being stalked by 3 big black kitties, his out-of-cage adventures almost cost him his life a few times and finally...what appears to be a stroke, caused by who knows what at 8 months old, he died.
The event began by Chase and her friend, Josiah, going into Sailor's room to play with Half-Pint. He was laying on his back, 4 legs outstretched and mouth wide open (Chase does a flawless reinactment of this moment). He was still breathing when she handed him to me and over the next 15 minutes his breathing slowed to almost a stop. Josh walked in at that moment with the two big kids from school, at which time the bad news was shared with Sailor. She was terribly upset. We put him back in his cage to die peacefully and then the little rascal started moving, breathing and moved around his house. He tried to crawl into another tube but needed a boost because his back legs weren't working (happyhamster.com says thats a sign of a stroke). He never moved again from that spot and finally assumed the "Chase" position mentioned above and died when we picked him up.
The difference between Sailor and Chase. Sailor cried, wouldn't hold him or go out to his burial. Chase cried and then got ultra-curious. She held him lots, explored all of his little hamster parts with her fingers, closed his opened eyes and was the one to finally put him in his cute little coffin she made and place it in the ground for daddy to bury. Hmmm...it'll be interesting to see how these coping skills to death manifest out as these little ladies grow up. Jett was around too. Very compassionate and even managed to touch Sailor's leg and mutter, "It'll be okay, Say."
Chalk yesterday up for a Hamik life lesson. We're taking a break from heart ache but we're willing to replace Half-Pint when Sailor is ready. R.I.P. Half-Pint!
