R.I.P. Sparkle the gerbil
Anna has had Sparkle, the black gerbil with the white throat, for about two years. Originally, Sparkle and Katie the gerbil lived together, but Katie died a long while back due to hairbrush poisoning and Sparkle has been alone ever since.
Sparkle was never too social. She enjoyed digging and building huge structures out of her litter and the toilet paper rolls that Anna gave her. In the last couple of months, she would come out and look around a lot more, and Anna would occasionally let her run around on the floor some. Most days Anna mostly ignored Sparkle, but she did try to talk to her regularly, give her water and food, and keep her cage relatively clean.
For the past week, Sparkle hasn't been burrowing much. She mostly sat on the surface and went to and from her food bowl and water bottle with the occasional side trip to a cardboard box for chewing. On Sunday, Mommy decided we should clean out her cage in case Sparkle was reacting to the old litter. She brought Sparkle's cage downstairs, where Mommy and Daddy discovered that Sparkle was not doing well at all.
Sparkle obviously hadn't been eating. She was mostly skin and bones. She didn't respond when petted and didn't move much for any reason. She was still breathing, and you could see her little heartbeat, though. Mommy and Daddy told Anna that Sparkle was very close to dieing.
After some tears on Daddy's shoulder, Anna went into the other room and came back a few minutes later with a sign that said, "I love you Sparkle". Daddy and Anna attached it to the side of the cage next to Sparkle so that Sparkle could see it. Anna asked Daddy if Sparkle was hurting and Daddy explained that she was asleep and didn't feel anything at all. Anna covered Sparkle with a piece of cloth and we turned off the lights so that Sparkle could rest comfortably.
Late last night, just before bed, Anna had to see Sparkle one last time. She petted Sparkle gently on the back. Sparkle lifted her head and tried to look around a bit, then tried weakly to jump. She was obviously very sick and quickly settled back down to sleep. Anna cried some more and Daddy carried her upstairs to her room where she cried a little bit and then they read some books together for a while. Mommy helped to snuggle Anna until Anna fell asleep.
This morning, Sparkle was curled up in a ball and wasn't breathing anymore. Anna cried a little bit, but it was better because everyone was prepared. Sparkle looked very peaceful. Daddy will help Anna bury her in the backyard tonight.
Goodbye Sparkle Gerbil. You made one little girl very happy while you were alive and taught her some very important lessons when you died.
Sparkle was never too social. She enjoyed digging and building huge structures out of her litter and the toilet paper rolls that Anna gave her. In the last couple of months, she would come out and look around a lot more, and Anna would occasionally let her run around on the floor some. Most days Anna mostly ignored Sparkle, but she did try to talk to her regularly, give her water and food, and keep her cage relatively clean.
For the past week, Sparkle hasn't been burrowing much. She mostly sat on the surface and went to and from her food bowl and water bottle with the occasional side trip to a cardboard box for chewing. On Sunday, Mommy decided we should clean out her cage in case Sparkle was reacting to the old litter. She brought Sparkle's cage downstairs, where Mommy and Daddy discovered that Sparkle was not doing well at all.
Sparkle obviously hadn't been eating. She was mostly skin and bones. She didn't respond when petted and didn't move much for any reason. She was still breathing, and you could see her little heartbeat, though. Mommy and Daddy told Anna that Sparkle was very close to dieing.
After some tears on Daddy's shoulder, Anna went into the other room and came back a few minutes later with a sign that said, "I love you Sparkle". Daddy and Anna attached it to the side of the cage next to Sparkle so that Sparkle could see it. Anna asked Daddy if Sparkle was hurting and Daddy explained that she was asleep and didn't feel anything at all. Anna covered Sparkle with a piece of cloth and we turned off the lights so that Sparkle could rest comfortably.
Late last night, just before bed, Anna had to see Sparkle one last time. She petted Sparkle gently on the back. Sparkle lifted her head and tried to look around a bit, then tried weakly to jump. She was obviously very sick and quickly settled back down to sleep. Anna cried some more and Daddy carried her upstairs to her room where she cried a little bit and then they read some books together for a while. Mommy helped to snuggle Anna until Anna fell asleep.
This morning, Sparkle was curled up in a ball and wasn't breathing anymore. Anna cried a little bit, but it was better because everyone was prepared. Sparkle looked very peaceful. Daddy will help Anna bury her in the backyard tonight.
Goodbye Sparkle Gerbil. You made one little girl very happy while you were alive and taught her some very important lessons when you died.
# posted by Scott @ 1/25/2010 11:43:00 AM 
