Jonah - November 2010 to March 5, 2013
Jonah was a boy supposedly less than a year old (they knew this because they saved him as a baby from the short life of a feeder rat). Sadly they got him, gave him a cage, fed him food, put him in a runabout ball sometimes and forgot him for the most part. They were moving, and decided that since his original purpose was to be food for another animal, it was okay if he was used for that again...as long as he got taken away quick because they were moving soon and couldn't bring him. Grrrr.
While emailing the woman, she said he was friendly, but needed some socializing. When I dug deeper it changed to..he doesn't bite me when I clean his cage or put him in his running ball. BUT I haven't handled him much in a few months. :P
I PM'd Megan on FB and asked if she would pick him up and foster him until I could sort out a transport for him. She thankfully agreed and got him home soon to her place. He ended up biting her, and upon reviewing his behaviours and reactions, it sounded more like he was warning her off, because he was scared of handling. Bu then again, he was supposedly a year old which could also mean hormones kicking in as well.
Megan had to go home for Christmas to her parents in Ottawa and I was having a lot of trouble trying to get a ride for this boy. I posted on FB and then got lovely wonderful Janet (who had met me once and very briefly) offer to meet me, drive us to Guelph, pick up Jonah and bring him home.
When I met him at Megan's she was amazed I just reached into his cage and pulled him out and cuddled him on my arms. Within about 2 minutes he was bruxxing and boggling as I stroked his body. What a doll!! You could almost hear him think..."Ahhh finally someone who understands me". Poor Jonah had mites and an "old" URI as well, one that hadn't been recognized much less ever treated.
Jonah was a little unsure at first and did some test nipping, but I looked him in the eyes and basically said No, you don't need to do that anymore. I took him to my mom's over the Christmas holidays for some intensive one on one and he looooved it :) He became a licky beast...a lovely licky boy :D Also very quickly we discovered there was NO WAY he was under 2 years old from his stance, how he ate, his mannerisms etc. Sigh, still surprises me how people lose half of a rat's life in their memory.
Sadly his lungs and failing body were no match for the URI rampaging through his system and even though I thought he was improving, my poor lad passed in my arms this morning. He had been here just over 3 months. :(
Old boy stance
gNot sure about this shoulder thing
Settling in and being a Happy boy :D
Ohhh that feels good!!!
Getting tired mom :/
A restful Sunday afternoon for all of us
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