After Hermione passed (and a few others), there was a void left in the rats' homes. Aphrodite, Clover, and Winnie seem to take turns being dominate, Athena was depressed for a while until realizing that Algernon does (sometimes, at least) care about her, and we don't have our three pawed wonder, our singer, our two sweeties, and our young goof (Velvet passed this weekend due to a severe illness, at just past a month old). Being as emotional as I am, I've been taking it pretty hard.
We went up to Superpets again, to see if they'd finally started to sell their rat babies. This was the first one we saw: Frank Sinatra. He has a cleft palate (we think) and his teeth appear to grow out from the front of his head, and one grows normally. It's hard to see in this picture, but more will be coming soon. When we saw him, he was standing at the barriers, looking at the other rats, and wondering why no one would play with him. He started bruxing when I was petting him, but it took him a while to adjust to a new home.
We sent a welcoming committing for him, Ares, and Nova. Bumblebee and Dobby (who'll also have pics soon) immediately made friends with Frank, trying to get him to hide with them. He was the first to eat, and took up a habit when on my shoulder. He will grab the back of my neck, and try to steer me in the direction he wants me to go. He is a tiny sweetheart, with a similar personality to another special needs rat we had.
It isn't that we're gluttons for punishment. We know that he may not have as long as some of the others may have in life. But, here's the trick: doesn't he deserve a good life? Why should he punished because of his genetics? Isn't he just as loving and smart as any other rat? Don't take my word for it, though, look at the pic. He's bruxing!
Ben
