Rory 💕🐁11/15/13 -10/20/16
It’s taken me a long time to write this. I’ve been through so much with not just Rory but all of my rats. They were with me through so much, from college to moving across the country to Seattle. Rory’s passing symbolizes an end of an era. He was the last one, they’re all gone now. I could never thank them enough for being there for me. College was such a lonely time for me but they were always there. I don’t think many people understood why they were a huge priority for me or why I took them with me to Seattle rather then rehoming them. I just could never imagine leaving them or being without them. I took them in and made that commitment to care for them, they were my responsibility and if I had to wait to move or figure out accommodations for them I would and always did. They were immeasurably important to me. I was never a perfect owner but I always did my best. And now they’re gone, one by one they left me and now the cage is empty. The curse rat lovers must face is that rats have such short lives, but they shine so brightly before burning out.
I knew they would all leave me before the holidays. Rory was the last one standing. He had to be because he was always one of my favorites. I asked him to please survive the longest and he did. He would have turned three years old on November 15th. He had a good run, I couldn’t have asked for more. Rory was a small rat, the runt of his litter. A group of rats is called a Mischief and I think it’s rats like Rory who give it that name. His small size meant he was quick to escape and squeeze through the bars of his cage. This caused some stress but I loved him so. His name was originally Denis the Menus and it wasn’t long before I understood why. He was independent, an explorer. His brothers were big rats who were more reserved, Cloud and Manhattan had to be dragged from the cage, while Rory always wanted to come out. If I wasn’t careful he would leap out the open door, even as he grew older. I’m fortunate he was never injured by it. In his old age Rory spent alot of time eating cookies and sleeping on the couch. I knew when I had to put him to sleep, he was getting sicker and his loud personality was gone. It was hard, in saying goodbye to Rory, I'm also saying goodbye to all my rats, who were always there for me. I had been dreading the day they would all be gone, leaving me with an empty cage. Through life changes and traveling and growing up. Here’s to these small creatures that made a huge impact.
Rest in Peace, I will always love and remember you 💗
