Rizzo

Rizzo - November 2011 to March 25, 2014 :'(

The last of my Pink Ladies is gone. It was unexpected especially right after losing Clare. I am still in shock.

The Pink Ladies were picked up and fostered by Lizmo, who kept them for me until I came out of my quarantine. These girls were being given away as pets/food and this person had rescued them from a girl and her bf who were going to dump them at a horse barn. I guess they didnt' want them anymore. There was 5 girls and when I asked after them there was only the 3 left that Liz went and picked up that night. There was tiny skinny Marty, softer middle girl Frenchie and my tough gal Rizzo.

These girls loved each other. They piled on top of each other in the hammocks and never had a scratch on their skin. They never fought and took care of each other. Little Marty was the first to go...she was never well and left us soonest. Frenchie sadly developed PT and when she left I was very worried about Rizzo. She was a standoffish girl with me, and I was so worried that she would be lonely without her beloved sisters. I tried intros and she did damage to the other rats. So I started having her out at night to keep her company. This was It for her. My tough gal's heart of gold came out. She and I bonded so deeply and she was good for me as much as I was good for her. She softened unless there was other rats around, then she would attack...and if my hand smelled like one of these rats she would fly through the air to attack it too...I have a few scars from my Riz. :P

Rizzo Time was incredibly special. She loved to curl up on me, on my side, on my neck, or near me if I was too restless that night. She would go for a toddle around and then come back, nose her way under the blankets, plant her cold feet on my bare skin and curl up on me to sleep again. If I took too long to come to bed she would come looking for me...and would climb up my leg...which was my signal to reach down and lift her up to my lap, where she would cuddle up and brux then go to sleep.

My standoffish girl had become a wonderful lovebug. My neck is once again bare and lonely since she had to leave me today. Time marches on and no matter how much a rat and a woman love each other, you cannot stop it.

All the Pink Ladies (Frenchie, Marty and Rizzo)



Rizzo just before Frenchie left us



I left the cage door open for Rizzo when I was home. She would climb up to the top of her cage for a snack



Doesn't she look proud of herself LOL




She inherited the holey base as she would not try to escape...these holes were there to watch me through, and ask to come out  If I put my hand out she would climb over to me in a flash. At this point she was an older gal but it never stopped her. :P

Time to come out??



But the best times were the sleepy times...she was so comforting to me. She would roll on her side while I stroked her...she loved to sleep with her paws and her chin resting on my hand as she slept. Total trust.





Tonight will be a hard night, no Rizzo Time.