Jayda

[pigsmakemesmile]

Jayda was a small female rat that someone had brought to Petsmart because they no longer wanted her. She was a young blue colored little critter who hadn't done any harm to anyone. Petsmart told my daughter they were gonna just give her to one of their large reptiles for food. Of course, Sarah couldn't tolerate that notion being that little animal wasn't given any fairness in defending itself. I do believe snakes need food, however, in the wild they can prey. In captivity, I choose frozen.
We recently discovered she escaped as I found her under my cabinet, I also realized there was a container of poison left there from several years passed that was untouched. My heart jumped and I quickly scooped it up and out of her reach. Then retrieved Jayda and returned her to her pen. This happened last week.
I've kept a close eye on her for signs and symptoms of poisoning. Last night her face was swollen, we discovered a dead hornet in her pen. I think she was stung but not sure, so this morning my daughter took her to the vet. The vet didn't know the source of the swelling, she had bruising but she was also weak and somewhat lethargic today. My other concern is a possible fall as she was always climbing out of her pen from between the bars. Sarah was embarrassed to tell the vet about the poison, she was afraid the vet would think she was a bad petowner and she felt bad enough as it was.
My daughter didn't want her to suffer and had to make a very, hard, difficult decision to euthanize her. I'm not in favor of euthanizing yet
We couldn't afford expensive tests, my husband wouldn't hear of it...although I felt we should at least try to help her in someway. She feels pain no different than any other living being.
Jayda had it rough from the beginning. She was brought in- in a cage meant for a hermit crab, living in filth and underweight. My daughter was trying to socialize her, fostering it until we can find a new home for her.
Jayda, I'm sorry what happened to you. I wanted you to know I respected you and cared about you as much as much as any friend I had.
I'm sorry your fate was determined by finances. I wish I had the money to diagnose you and give you the proper treatment. You didn't ask for this type of life and it's not fair. But life isn't fair. Where's there's life there's death, where there's joy, there's sorrow. You brought us joy for the short time you were with us by the twitching of your little nose, the flutter of the bedding you hid under, the cuteness of the little house you made for yourself. I wanted to right a little memorial. I'll always remember you.
I hope your new life is happy, warm and free. Please forgive Sarah and I for not doing or giving you enough.
Godbless you little girl.
Love mom and sarah.

[trump_cinnamon]

I'm so sorry for your loss. This actually brought a tear to my eye.

[Amsley246]

That definetly brought a tear to my eye as well! I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. You did what you could for her, and that means more then some people will ever know. You were her angels that took her in when it seemed like she was on her last legs, so that really means something. You gave her a good end to her life, if that makes sense. She could have gone the snake root, but she ended up in a loving home instead. At least she died a painless death, where as some animals don't get to have that. My sympathies to you and your daughter.

[blessedbeingmom]

That was very sweet. I'm very sorry for your loss.