Where do I start with this special girl? The beginning of course! Ashe and her daughter Tonka arrived and set up camp in my heart as adults. Her daughter was an enduring spirit even with her many medical woes and she and Monkey were extremely and always bonded. When the time came, I had to let Tonka go on the same day Monkey had a tumor removed when she was 31 months of age. I told my unsure vet (since Monkey also had an inguinal tumor) that I only wanted 2 more months with her, and I got it in spades!! :D
Monkey was MY girl…I could fall asleep on the couch, and she would sleep in the box at the end of the couch on the ratty’s end table. I would call her name and her little monkey face would pop up and then she would run to me. She loved pats and scratches and made happy monkey faces of joy :D She would sleep on my neck when I was sick, and comfort me when I was sad. She was a true strong-minded character, and was a bit of a bully with other rats…her head would drop down and she’d arch her back and start pushing them around…no biting just bulldozing and pinning, she was my Alpha :D She stayed Alpha til almost the end. She terrorized big Taltos, making him squeak, just by being relentless…following him around and shoving him into corners and then deciding he was HER boyfriend and forcing him to sleep with her. Not a scratch on him but he was totally intimidated…
We weren’t sure of the surgery but it felt right to me, so I convinced my vet to go ahead. Tonka’s internal abscess had returned for a 3rd time and this time her condition wasn’t strong enough to take another battle, so Monkey and Tonka were gently put under anesthesia together, then Monkey went to the operating room. The surgery was a total success and Monkey was thrilled to be without her “little friend” and stayed joyous and bouncy for ages. Finally age started to really catch up, and instead of bouncing it was more wobbling around the couch, getting her nightly syringe-fed ensure (she was quite capable of drinking it from a bowl, but what fun is that!), then scratches, rubs, support when she groomed herself, and then sprawling over my neck and chest for long snoozes as I kissed her and stroked her to sleep. This was our Monkeytime, and I am sure we will both miss it.
Sadly she developed malocclusion and I knew Monkey just wouldn’t be able to handle the every 2-3 week anesthesia to get her teeth done…so I took it as my sign, for my lady to exit the world with dignity. My bully girl actually cuddled up to and took care of another strange girl who was being pts as well…they left together.
I am sure she is happy with her daughter again, but I shall miss her for a very long time.
Meeting them at Alicemcmallis’s…I didn’t mean to bring them home.
The first of many Monkey-faces caught on camera…I think she was made of rubber
Someone loves her ear rubs
The night of her tumor removal at 31 months...I always think of curious George when I see this.
4 days ago - my sleepy girl who wakes up really fast when she hears the words “Is it Monkeytime?”
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