Kiki_3173
08-01-2013, 05:38 PM
As many of you have already read, my little Smudge has passed. I'm still so shocked that I am writing her memorial because she seemed fine a week ago, Tuesday. Never in a million years did I think I’d be burying her that very next day. I am going to try to get through this…it will be hard, but my precious “Silvered Princess” deserves to be acknowledged and our amazing story told. I apologize for the length in advance.
Smudge was absolutely the best hamster to begin my adult hamster owning days with! I couldn’t have asked for a better, fuzzy, companion. I always equate her story to the play “Annie” because my little Smudge went from rags, to riches.
Our story starts back in January. I didn’t intend on getting any other hamsters after Darwin, but I read an article online about a large number of animals confiscated from a house, by the SPCA, in my area. The animals were being used for breeding to sell at a local flea market. There was a link to the SPCA website, which included pictures of all the animals that were being put up for adoption. Curiously, I perused the pictures they had on the website and as I got to the bottom of the page, there was the saddest looking hamster I’d ever seen. She was in a tiny cage that had rusted bars and no wheel. She was hunched in the corner and looked so…alone. I just sat and stared at this poor little ball of fluff and my heart ached for her. She had the most unique coloring…I’d never seen a hamster that color before. She looked all sooty and smudged, like she had run loose through my fireplace. I just HAD to go see her. I jumped in the car and drove the 35 minutes to SPCA. I walked into the hamster room and saw that rusted cage right away (couldn’t miss it). I peered in and there, in her hidey, was that poor little hamster. She cautiously stuck her nose out of her hidey…and I absolutely melted! At that moment I knew she had a safe, forever, home.
From that point on she had me wrapped around her little paw! She was cautious at first, but I quickly gained her trust (on her terms of course) and she became the friendliest little girl. I was attached right away. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She was inquisitive and very rarely afraid of anything…a HUGE personality, in a tiny body. I was obsessed with walking over to her tank and just watching her. Somehow, she always knew I was there. No matter how quiet I thought I was, as soon as I got to her tank she would come crawling up out of her nest to meet me:) I learned, from a great friend on HC, jesselle, that Smudge’s unique and beautiful coloring was that she most likely had strong Campbell’s genes because she looked just like silvered black Campbell’s. From that day on she was nicknamed “The Silvered Princess” by my HC friend DrMcK:)
Around February I had my first indication that she wasn’t completely healthy. She had some bleeding that came and went. We had a vet visit and received some medicine. I prayed it would work, but unfortunately, she began to develop a tumor on her tummy, above her right hind leg. But that didn’t stop my feisty little girl. She just kept on with the same vigor that she always had. There were tons of play times on my bed, in the tub, and in her playpen. She loved to be out and about and on the go!
In April Smudge began bleeding again…by May it was almost daily and I knew my time with her was going to be much shorter than I’d truly anticipated, which hurt my heart! I wasn’t sure how long I’d really have with her so I continued to spend as much time playing and cuddling with her, as I could, trying not to have a heavy heart each and every time I went to her cage. She began to slow down a little, sleep more, and she also began to drop in weight (probably not noticeable to anyone else, but I knew). By this time her entire back had silvered (most likely showing her age). In early June Smudge developed a second tumor on her chest, which grew rapidly and I knew my beautiful girl was slowly slipping away from me day by day. I vowed (as much as it hurt to think of losing her) that I would not let her suffer…and if the time came that I needed to help her along to the Bridge, I most certainly would be there with her until the end. But as a slightly stubborn Smudgie would do…she kept on truckin’;)
All that being said, it was still a heartbreaking shock to see my little furbaby struggling with her breath, the night of June 24th. I took her out of her cage, cuddled her, and talked to her while I stroked her tiny head. I tried to give her some water via syringe and she took a little, but she wouldn’t eat. I checked on her several times through the night and by morning she was struggling just as much. I again tried to give her water, but this time…she wouldn’t take it…and I knew it was time. Again, I held her, cuddled her, and told her that it was ok to go if she needed to. I told her how it was amazing that even though she was this tiny little creature, she had touched my heart in the biggest way! She was still holding on, so I called my vets and made an appointment to help her to the bridge. Little did I know, that Smudgie had listened to me earlier, she just needed to do things on her own time, like always. She passed a little while later in my hands.
Mudgie Moo, I love you so much. More than I ever thought I would be able to love a little fuzzbutt. You were my special girl! All I ever wanted was to spoil you rotten and give you the best life I possibly could. I hope that you are happy where ever you are because that is all I've ever wanted for you. To be honest, I’m not sure who rescued who, but…it may have been a little of both. I was blessed the day you came to live with me! I just wish it could have been for longer. Rest in peace my Silvered Princess. Thank you for the wonderful memories<3
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/Kiki_3173/Lil%20Smudge/DSCF3081_zps4c1b1c2e.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/Kiki_3173/media/Lil%20Smudge/DSCF3081_zps4c1b1c2e.jpg.html) http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/Kiki_3173/Lil%20Smudge/DSCF3394_zpsd9f53a79.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/Kiki_3173/media/Lil%20Smudge/DSCF3394_zpsd9f53a79.jpg.html) http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/Kiki_3173/Lil%20Smudge/CAM01515-1_zps170e7d69.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/Kiki_3173/media/Lil%20Smudge/CAM01515-1_zps170e7d69.jpg.html) http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/Kiki_3173/Lil%20Smudge/CAM01832_zps25ba742a.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/Kiki_3173/media/Lil%20Smudge/CAM01832_zps25ba742a.jpg.html)
And of course...who could forget:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/Kiki_3173/Lil%20Smudge/DSCF3242_zpsa798987d.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/Kiki_3173/media/Lil%20Smudge/DSCF3242_zpsa798987d.jpg.html)
Smudge was absolutely the best hamster to begin my adult hamster owning days with! I couldn’t have asked for a better, fuzzy, companion. I always equate her story to the play “Annie” because my little Smudge went from rags, to riches.
Our story starts back in January. I didn’t intend on getting any other hamsters after Darwin, but I read an article online about a large number of animals confiscated from a house, by the SPCA, in my area. The animals were being used for breeding to sell at a local flea market. There was a link to the SPCA website, which included pictures of all the animals that were being put up for adoption. Curiously, I perused the pictures they had on the website and as I got to the bottom of the page, there was the saddest looking hamster I’d ever seen. She was in a tiny cage that had rusted bars and no wheel. She was hunched in the corner and looked so…alone. I just sat and stared at this poor little ball of fluff and my heart ached for her. She had the most unique coloring…I’d never seen a hamster that color before. She looked all sooty and smudged, like she had run loose through my fireplace. I just HAD to go see her. I jumped in the car and drove the 35 minutes to SPCA. I walked into the hamster room and saw that rusted cage right away (couldn’t miss it). I peered in and there, in her hidey, was that poor little hamster. She cautiously stuck her nose out of her hidey…and I absolutely melted! At that moment I knew she had a safe, forever, home.
From that point on she had me wrapped around her little paw! She was cautious at first, but I quickly gained her trust (on her terms of course) and she became the friendliest little girl. I was attached right away. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She was inquisitive and very rarely afraid of anything…a HUGE personality, in a tiny body. I was obsessed with walking over to her tank and just watching her. Somehow, she always knew I was there. No matter how quiet I thought I was, as soon as I got to her tank she would come crawling up out of her nest to meet me:) I learned, from a great friend on HC, jesselle, that Smudge’s unique and beautiful coloring was that she most likely had strong Campbell’s genes because she looked just like silvered black Campbell’s. From that day on she was nicknamed “The Silvered Princess” by my HC friend DrMcK:)
Around February I had my first indication that she wasn’t completely healthy. She had some bleeding that came and went. We had a vet visit and received some medicine. I prayed it would work, but unfortunately, she began to develop a tumor on her tummy, above her right hind leg. But that didn’t stop my feisty little girl. She just kept on with the same vigor that she always had. There were tons of play times on my bed, in the tub, and in her playpen. She loved to be out and about and on the go!
In April Smudge began bleeding again…by May it was almost daily and I knew my time with her was going to be much shorter than I’d truly anticipated, which hurt my heart! I wasn’t sure how long I’d really have with her so I continued to spend as much time playing and cuddling with her, as I could, trying not to have a heavy heart each and every time I went to her cage. She began to slow down a little, sleep more, and she also began to drop in weight (probably not noticeable to anyone else, but I knew). By this time her entire back had silvered (most likely showing her age). In early June Smudge developed a second tumor on her chest, which grew rapidly and I knew my beautiful girl was slowly slipping away from me day by day. I vowed (as much as it hurt to think of losing her) that I would not let her suffer…and if the time came that I needed to help her along to the Bridge, I most certainly would be there with her until the end. But as a slightly stubborn Smudgie would do…she kept on truckin’;)
All that being said, it was still a heartbreaking shock to see my little furbaby struggling with her breath, the night of June 24th. I took her out of her cage, cuddled her, and talked to her while I stroked her tiny head. I tried to give her some water via syringe and she took a little, but she wouldn’t eat. I checked on her several times through the night and by morning she was struggling just as much. I again tried to give her water, but this time…she wouldn’t take it…and I knew it was time. Again, I held her, cuddled her, and told her that it was ok to go if she needed to. I told her how it was amazing that even though she was this tiny little creature, she had touched my heart in the biggest way! She was still holding on, so I called my vets and made an appointment to help her to the bridge. Little did I know, that Smudgie had listened to me earlier, she just needed to do things on her own time, like always. She passed a little while later in my hands.
Mudgie Moo, I love you so much. More than I ever thought I would be able to love a little fuzzbutt. You were my special girl! All I ever wanted was to spoil you rotten and give you the best life I possibly could. I hope that you are happy where ever you are because that is all I've ever wanted for you. To be honest, I’m not sure who rescued who, but…it may have been a little of both. I was blessed the day you came to live with me! I just wish it could have been for longer. Rest in peace my Silvered Princess. Thank you for the wonderful memories<3
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/Kiki_3173/Lil%20Smudge/DSCF3081_zps4c1b1c2e.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/Kiki_3173/media/Lil%20Smudge/DSCF3081_zps4c1b1c2e.jpg.html) http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/Kiki_3173/Lil%20Smudge/DSCF3394_zpsd9f53a79.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/Kiki_3173/media/Lil%20Smudge/DSCF3394_zpsd9f53a79.jpg.html) http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/Kiki_3173/Lil%20Smudge/CAM01515-1_zps170e7d69.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/Kiki_3173/media/Lil%20Smudge/CAM01515-1_zps170e7d69.jpg.html) http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/Kiki_3173/Lil%20Smudge/CAM01832_zps25ba742a.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/Kiki_3173/media/Lil%20Smudge/CAM01832_zps25ba742a.jpg.html)
And of course...who could forget:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/Kiki_3173/Lil%20Smudge/DSCF3242_zpsa798987d.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/Kiki_3173/media/Lil%20Smudge/DSCF3242_zpsa798987d.jpg.html)