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View Full Version : RIP Pippin: 26th February 2006 - 28th October 2007


Lew
29-10-2007, 01:52
Pippin was one of my original two rats when I got back into rat-keeping back in February 2006. He and his brother Merry were very nervous when they came to me but over the months they learned to trust me (Pippin more than his brother).

Over the past couple of weeks Pippin started to look very old and frail. He gradually lost the use of his back legs and so could no longer get around like he used to. Despite my attempts to help him to eat and drink he gave up the fight today. Pippin passed away in my arms earlier this evening. There's a huge hole in my heart right now. :cry:

http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Ratties%2020060406/0010.jpg

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http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Ratties%2020060422/0009.jpg

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http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Ratties%2020061125/0004.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Ratties%2020070226/0001.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Ratties%2020070309/0010.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Ratties%2020070407/0002.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Ratties%2020070924/0017.jpg

greencreeper
29-10-2007, 02:40
I think I recall you mentioning Pippin in previous posts. Cute little chap. Sorry for your loss. Sounds like you made his passing comfortable.

Cerberus
29-10-2007, 02:53
RIP

Sorry to hear about this. :(

Tinky
29-10-2007, 08:05
:bigcry: Sorry!

zing_deleted
29-10-2007, 08:38
sorry mate :(

Graham M
29-10-2007, 08:44
A pet's passing is always very painful, I really feel for you right now!

TheDaddy
29-10-2007, 09:11
sorry mate :(

Ditto :(

DocDutch
29-10-2007, 09:22
poor Lew :( but Pippin will be in a comfy place now

altis
29-10-2007, 10:11
Blimey Lew - these rats don't last long do they!

Perhaps you should take up clams instead.

Anyway, many condolences to ya.

punky
29-10-2007, 10:13
Sorry to hear that mate :(

Damien
29-10-2007, 11:46
Sorry Lew,

At least you managed to give him a life far better than most of his fellow rats :) He was a very lucky and I bet happy rat :)

LSainsbury
29-10-2007, 12:33
Gone to the big sewer in the sky. RIP.

r00t
29-10-2007, 13:15
Close your eyes now
my longtime friend
and let this
time of suffering
come to a peaceful end.
We'll walk together
soon, I'm sure,
as winter turns to spring
when snow gives way
to budding leaves
and birds begin to sing,
The gentle breeze
shall call your name
along the water's edge.
For what we shared
and what you meant
shall never be forgot.
Your friendship spans
the years behind
your memory ahead.
You'll always be
there next to me
companion and good friend.

bmxbandit
29-10-2007, 14:34
Aww, poor little fella. Hope the others don't get too lonely :(

greencreeper
29-10-2007, 23:51
Gone to the big sewer in the sky. RIP.
I was about to say, "Well, not necessarily the sewer - might have gone to...", and then realised I have no idea about the normal rat habitat, when in the wild :erm: There's one that lives in a small electricity substation near me - seen it vanish under it a few times. Warm and very safe no doubt :)

So no doubt Pippin is with many other rats in the whatever place constitutes rat heaven. Probably involves lots of soft bedding and masses of food stuffs. Though I suppose if you believe in reincarnation, he'll be coming back as a Tory MP, possibly :scratch:

handyman
30-10-2007, 00:01
Could you not get yourself something with a bit more longevity if your going to get attached to them?

superbiatch
30-10-2007, 00:05
Sorry to hear of your loss Lew :erm:

I'm not a rat lover (by any means!) but i've lost two loved pets and its heart breaking :(

joglynne
30-10-2007, 00:15
Lew. Sorry to hear about Pippin .Download Failed (1)

I know from your previous thread how much you care for these small friends and how much pleasure they bring you.

You have some brilliant photos to remember Pippin by, he looks to have been a real character. Download Failed (1)

homealone
30-10-2007, 00:52
Lew. Sorry to hear about Pippin .http://www.istorya.net/forums/Smileys/alive/sad.gif

I know from your previous thread how much you care for these small friends and how much pleasure they bring you.

You have some brilliant photos to remember Pippin by, he looks to have been a real character. Download Failed (1)

a real character was my thought, too, jo, - you had a good life Pippin - hope you can move on up :)

kryogenik
30-10-2007, 01:47
Sorry Lew.
Never spoke, but seen your posts.
Condolences mate - chin up.
x

greencreeper
30-10-2007, 05:26
Could you not get yourself something with a bit more longevity if your going to get attached to them?
So, on that basis, no human should ever love or marry. Wouldn't want to chance losing them. Best to wait for something with a "bit more longevity" ;)

Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.

Lew
30-10-2007, 14:30
Thanks everyone. I've decided to sponsor a block of rosettes for NFRS shows in his honour. Weirdly enough the only variety still available to sponsor is capped, which is what Pip was.

---------- Post added at 13:30 ---------- Previous post was at 13:29 ----------

Could you not get yourself something with a bit more longevity if your going to get attached to them?

Even if they only lived for 6 months it would still be worth it. Rats are such wonderful characters that every day with them is worthwhile. :)

Maggy
30-10-2007, 16:05
Thanks everyone. I've decided to sponsor a block of rosettes for NFRS shows in his honour. Weirdly enough the only variety still available to sponsor is capped, which is what Pip was.

---------- Post added at 13:30 ---------- Previous post was at 13:29 ----------



Even if they only lived for 6 months it would still be worth it. Rats are such wonderful characters that every day with them is worthwhile. :)


Hi Lew sorry to hear off your loss.

Could you post a link to the other photos you posted of your pets some while back..it might remind everyone what is special about them.:)

Lew
30-10-2007, 16:30
Could you post a link to the other photos you posted of your pets some while back..it might remind everyone what is special about them.:)

Here are the other ratty threads I've posted here, starting with the one when I first got Pippin:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/22/45669-i-got-some-new-pets.html

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/22/33611073-i-got-a-new-rat.html

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/22/33613137-more-new-ratties-pic-heavy.html

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/22/33617213-ratty-dreams.html

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/22/33619567-i-lost-one-my-rats-today.html

There are loads of pics on my website (http://web.mac.com/lwernham), although the site is due for an update.

Some videos:

Sam trying to put the toy in his bed, not realising that it's attached to the cage roof (http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/BirdToy.MP4).

Frodo demolishing a loaf of bread (http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Bread.mp4).

Zarniwoop playing with a cat toy (http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/CatToy.mov).

Sam, Frodo, Sméagol and Déagol in the playpen (http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Freeranging%200001.mov).

Burt, Stumpy and Popeye (foster rats) in the playpen (http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Freeranging%200002.mov).

Merry, Pippin and Bilbo in the playpen (http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Freeranging%200003.mov).

Merry "fishing" for peas in the water bowl (http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Pea%20Fishing.mp4).

Proving that they're not dirty creatures, Sméagol gives his tail a good clean (http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pictures/Tail.mov).

Maggy
30-10-2007, 18:05
Thank you.:) seems like you will have lots to remember each of your pets in the future.

Rat watching certainly beats watching TV.:)

greencreeper
31-10-2007, 00:05
Smashing videos. I thought they were supposed to be intelligent! :D What's he doing with the bread - it's like he hasn't realised it's food and is looking for something. And that is a hell of a play pen! I guess it's big with different things for them to explore, so that they don't get bored. The one on the wheel reminded me of the family hamster, Hammy - took him a while to realise the wheel worked better when in it, as oppose to trying to climb on top :D I like the bit where he was on top of the wire - can really see how they use their tails for balance. Fascinating. Can they clean to each end of their tails, or just the tip?

Lew
31-10-2007, 00:38
Smashing videos. I thought they were supposed to be intelligent! :D What's he doing with the bread - it's like he hasn't realised it's food and is looking for something.

He does eventually eat it, but he seems to really enjoy demolishing it so I let him have his fun. :D

And that is a hell of a play pen! I guess it's big with different things for them to explore, so that they don't get bored.

That's the general idea. It's actually a puppy playpen. I need to use it as there are too many places in my room that I don't want them to get into/under.

The one on the wheel reminded me of the family hamster, Hammy - took him a while to realise the wheel worked better when in it, as oppose to trying to climb on top :D

The wheel came with one of the cages. None of them like it though, generally they need to grow up with a wheel or it just frightens them.

I like the bit where he was on top of the wire - can really see how they use their tails for balance. Fascinating. Can they clean to each end of their tails, or just the tip?

They can clean the whole thing, he'd already cleaned most of it by the time I got the camera ready. It's quite amazing how dextrous they are considering they don't have thumbs. :)

Maggy
31-10-2007, 01:20
I forgot to ask...how long did it take for him to give up on getting the toy into his bed?:)

Lew
31-10-2007, 01:55
About 10 minutes :D

greencreeper
31-10-2007, 04:50
He does eventually eat it, but he seems to really enjoy demolishing it so I let him have his fun. :D
Hmmm. Two things come to mind. First, it's a bit like us when we get an easter egg. Have to open it and scoff what's inside. Well I do anyway :D The other thought is that he's doing the natural thing. Large food source. Too large to move, but too good to leave. So you break it down into smaller pieces. Do they function as a social group - do they help one another, or do things that benefit the whole, rather than the individual?


That's the general idea. It's actually a puppy playpen. I need to use it as there are too many places in my room that I don't want them to get into/under
I can imagine :D Friend of my dad's had a Russian hamster accidental breeding programme - and some got out. Never caught them all :erm:


The wheel came with one of the cages. None of them like it though, generally they need to grow up with a wheel or it just frightens them
Fascinating. Suppose it's like life - think you're making progress, but when you stop to take a look around, you realise you've gone nowhere.


They can clean the whole thing, he'd already cleaned most of it by the time I got the camera ready. It's quite amazing how dextrous they are considering they don't have thumbs. :)
I can only imagine. I know Hammy used to sit on his bum, clean his nuts, legs, and ears (lick paw, rub ear, lick paw, rub ear...). Occasionally stopping to spit a pellet of poo out the cage. He had a great technique similar to when you're trying to find the toy at the bottom of a cornflake packet, only he did it with his fur. Spent ages doing it. Bless. If I remember rightly, the rat tail is like a car radiator, so I guess it has to be kept in good condition.

Lew
31-10-2007, 11:23
Hmmm. Two things come to mind. First, it's a bit like us when we get an easter egg. Have to open it and scoff what's inside. Well I do anyway :D The other thought is that he's doing the natural thing. Large food source. Too large to move, but too good to leave. So you break it down into smaller pieces. Do they function as a social group - do they help one another, or do things that benefit the whole, rather than the individual?

They do function as a social group, but generally stash their own food (in the wild this would not be a problem but in a cage it's easy to know where your cagemates' stashes are :D).

If I remember rightly, the rat tail is like a car radiator, so I guess it has to be kept in good condition.

You remember correctly. Rats use their tails to regulate body temperature as they are unable to sweat. They have special blood vessels in their tails that can expand or contract depending on whether they're too hot or too cold.