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Pompompoms
12-11-2013, 11:51 AM
Oh dear, the sixth memorial I have had to do this year, I was so hoping my little Rolo would hold on into the new year, but the pull of the bridge was too strong for my little old man, and he went to join his pompom hamily, health and vitality restored.

Two years, four months, and one day ago precisely, on the eighth of August 2011, I wandered into the hamster room at six in the evening to see how everyone was doing. I had paired Dasher my lovely husky boy with Daisy a beautiful pure Agouti from Wessex hams, about six week before hand. Dasher was from my second generation, and Daisy's pure Agouti line stretched all the way back to the first robos to come into the UK in the early 90's.

I knew Daisy was heavily pregnant, and had removed Dasher a couple of days before as she was getting a little tired of him. Although he was doing his absolute best to be an attentive dad to be, his attentions, the heat of high summer, and carrying a litter had seen Daisy chase him off a couple of times, and make it clear she would take things from there!
For the first time, and the only time so far, I saw a litter born. Daisy chose to give birth out in the open rather than in the nest she had prepared, so at a safe distance I sat in complete silence not even breathing in the same direction as her, and watched eight new little lives enter the world. Daisy was sat upright, she would contract, out would pop a tiny pink pup, she would sniff it, make sure it was ok, and gently move it to one side. She did this eight times, then when she was done, gently moved each one into the nest. It was the most amazing thing to witness, and I still feel so lucky to have done so.

Sadly one pup was lost on the first day, but the remaining seven stayed in the nest for nearly two weeks, with my anticipation at seeing them growing by the day. Even in the heat of August Daisy make such a huge nest they were completely covered no matter how far they wiggled!

Finally on day 13, out they came, including this gorgeous little guy

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/twoweeks_zps7eb7b754.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/twoweeks_zps7eb7b754.jpg.html)

The litter were just beautiful, I'd watch them for hours, playing, giddying about, and snoozing away. Daisy was a very relaxed mum and happy for me to interact with them, she was attentive to them and always kept them well groomed, well fed, and in check. You can just about see all seven here with Daisy sat while they all snooze. They used to pile in this bowl which was one of their sand bowls, all squishing together

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/HC_zpsa843a382.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/HC_zpsa843a382.jpg.html)

Rolo got his name as I knew I was only keeping one from the litter, to me the babies were like the most adorable little chocolate buttons, when I gave them millet they would all line up along it and look like a packet of Rolo's, my little guy was my last Rolo, and I didn't love anyone enough to give them my last Rolo.

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/216_zpsceee812c.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/216_zpsceee812c.jpg.html)

At four weeks old it was time to leave mum and move in with dad Dasher for a while. There were four boys, and their cousin Billy who was just three weeks older, another six weeks later they were joined by Billy's younger brothers so for a while there was a colony of eight, you can see seven of them here, three Agouti, three husky, and a white.

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/BillyBday_zpsc5c1f667.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/BillyBday_zpsc5c1f667.jpg.html)

One of the boys had always been very shy, he stuck to Dasher like glue, and it led to me getting one of my favorite pics as I managed to get Dasher, Billy, and Rolo in one shot. You have Dasher snoozing on the left, Rolo glued to his side as usual, and Billy launching himself across the top hehe.

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/1791119-1_zps258a999e.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/1791119-1_zps258a999e.jpg.html)

I had already decided to keep Billy with Dasher, so when the time came, I decided to pair Rolo with Whizzbit who was his uncle, as you can see he was still quite small still when he went in with him at three months old

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/Bannerpics14_zps0a94085f.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/Bannerpics14_zps0a94085f.jpg.html)

However that didn't last so long, as you can see by pancake day in February, at six months old Rolo was rather large!

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/1424_zps2e86c5b1.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/1424_zps2e86c5b1.jpg.html)

He had also started to change colour, Rolo's colouring was a source of fascination to me through his whole life as he went from chocolate brown to looking like a red toned husky, I even made a thread about it!

http://www.hamstercentral.com/community/dwarf-roborovskis-hamster/40307-evolution-rolo-look-agouti-dilution.html

Rolo adored Whizzbit, he was actually completely obsessed with him. Everywhere Whizzbit went Rolo was, his little shadow, then his huge shadow, grooming him, snuggling up to him, following him about. He'd sit patiently by the wheel while Whizzbit was wheeling waiting for him to stop so he could follow him about again. Uncle Whizzbit was the most laid back relaxed happy little hamster so it didn't bother him at all, I think he was probably the only one that could have coped with such all consuming affection! Rolo was however painfully shy with people, he often had to decide between his love for Whizzbit and his terror of me, Whizz was like all the other poms, bouncing up when I put my hand in the cage hopping on for cuddles, Rolo would go back and forth, not brave enough to approach me, but not wanting to be so far from Whizz, he ended up going in little anxious circles till Whizzbit hopped off again, and Rolo would subject him to a particularly drawn out groom!
They lived happily together till Rolo was just over a year old, Rolo had got braver and was just about able to come and take food from me, but he still mostly just enjoyed hanging out sharing things with Whizzbit

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/554_zpsf28bb488.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/554_zpsf28bb488.jpg.html)

Inevitably Whizzbit was getting older, and started to have a few health issues, including a tumor which would eventually see the bridge call him on. Rolo had sensed there was something wrong, and he would constantly groom Whizz where the tumor was, the more time passed, the more relentless with his grooming he became. In the end it was making Whizzbit sore, and was stressful for him so reluctantly I removed Rolo and put him on his own.

I wasn't surprised that he took it very badly indeed, any confidence he had gained was gone, I would see him shoot off as soon as I approached, he would never come out for treats, he lost a huge amount of weight, and was sadly very unhappy for quite some time. Finally he settled a little better, still very shy, but able to take a treat, and be out and about while I talked to him.
So different from my normal confident poms, I adored this quiet little guy, and every step he took toward being more relaxed was so rewarding. A lot of the time our relationship looked a lot like this

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF3183_zps05321050.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF3183_zps05321050.jpg.html)

but I felt he was happy, and therefore I was happy too.

In January this year, Billy and Tallulah produced a lovely litter of eight pups, two of the little boys fell out at seven weeks, so although he wasn't originally staying, Paddington became a permanent pompom. I decided to see whether Rolo would like a little friend, I carefully introduced them as Pads was on that cusp age for baby introductions, but Rolo was thrilled with his new little friend.

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF3076_zpsb1fad0a7.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF3076_zpsb1fad0a7.jpg.html)

Paddington helped Rolo become even more confident, he was more relaxed than ever, and back to the heaviest he's been since leaving Whizz. Pads didn't stay small for long, he was soon second only to his dad Billy in size, and him and Rolo made a beautiful pairing.

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF4055_zps3a600804.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF4055_zps3a600804.jpg.html)

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/194_zps44b3b9be.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/194_zps44b3b9be.jpg.html)

Pompompoms
12-11-2013, 11:51 AM
It was while he was living with Paddington that Rolo at the grand age of a year and eight months finally climbed on my hand, it was so ridiculously special to me, I had to try not to get too excited so that he'd stay there. He only did it a few more times, but knowing how shy he was it made me so happy each time. He never sat for a cuddle, well so so nearly never, but he was happy to potter about on me, and be out on the sofa of an evening too.

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF6618_zpsaa6a3e34.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF6618_zpsaa6a3e34.jpg.html)


When Rolo was 20 months I took this snap of him and Pads, and noticed how much smaller he was starting to look. Pads had grown even more, but Rolo was starting to fade a little with natural aging. Unfortunately i also found a little lump, which for a couple of months held well causing no issues.


http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF5720_zps07e147e1.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF5720_zps07e147e1.jpg.html)

At around two the lump really started to grow, and as a consequence Rolo rejected Paddington. This isn't unusual, although very sad for me as I love my little pairs, for them if they are weakening, males especially living with a strong young ham will chose to live on their own.
Rolo lived out his retirement peacefully, he maintained his confidence which was lovely, and turned into a proper little old man completely with little stick legs old robos have. The tumour grew bigger as he grew smaller, but up untill this past weekend had stayed a healthy pink colour, and Rolo was full of life and active as ever.

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF6339_zps0e81aacb.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF6339_zps0e81aacb.jpg.html)

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF6416_zps9f415c50.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF6416_zps9f415c50.jpg.html)

He did become a big fan of the snuggle bag when he was out on the sofa though :grin:

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF6620_zps87ec65b1.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF6620_zps87ec65b1.jpg.html)

On his last day, I already knew Rolo wasn't right. his health check the day before had revealed that the tumour had changed colour, and as it was a Sunday I was leaving him till the next day for a vet visit. On the Monday he was up and running early on, and never stopped. I've seen this before, last huge bursts of energy before passing. i was hoping he would pass quietly when the time was right, but he starting making a constant clicking with every breath, and then abruptly stopped running and seemed to lack the energy to carry on. I took a couple of nice pics of him on his last day before things got too bad, this one

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF6932_zps1c2d1ccf.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF6932_zps1c2d1ccf.jpg.html)

And then this one which isn't a good photo, but my be my favorite ever photo of Rolo as finally, two years, four months, and one day after he came into the world, my little guy finally decided he would like a cuddle. He sat here for about 15 minutes resting peacefully, letting my stroke his head. I wasn't just crying sad tears at his impending passing when he did that.

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF6950_zps22808f47.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF6950_zps22808f47.jpg.html)

In the end Rolo needed a little help with his final steps, I was there talking to him in his final moments, it only seemed right as I had seen him born, and seen him every day of his life. Yesterday I buried his little body with the rest of the pompom hamily knowing that he just didn't need it any more, it was time to be young again.
Play well beautiful boy, lovely shy little Rolo. You have been such a different type of pompom, and I have loved you for all your differences, and so glad I chose you to stay here. Give Whizzbit an extra groom from me, Love you my last Rolo xxxxxx


http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF0248_zps9ea1254a.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Rolo%20Memorial/DSCF0248_zps9ea1254a.jpg.html)

icklemunch
12-11-2013, 12:18 PM
Yet another beautiful memorial.

Rolo was such a special little man and totally gorgeous!!

So sorry he had to leave you.

Sleep tight Rolo x

jesselle
12-11-2013, 12:54 PM
Aw :(

Sleep well Rolo and enjoy your time up there!

evel_lin
12-11-2013, 01:30 PM
A beautiful tribute to a very special boy. Enjoy the bridge Rolo

Charley101
12-11-2013, 01:33 PM
I am truly sorry Pom :( Sleep well, Rolo xxx

Munchalot
12-11-2013, 01:37 PM
Your memorials are always so lovely, I have tears in my eyes!

I'm so sorry your little last Rolo had to leave you. Like all the Poms, he had a fantastic life filled with more love and attention than any ham could wish for. I'm so glad you got that cuddle before he slipped away, it must have been so special. x

Sleep well little one, you were so well loved xx

fluffydd
12-11-2013, 02:00 PM
That was such a beautiful memorial full of wonderful photos and it really shows how much you loved Rolo. I'm sorry that he has left you. *Hugs*

souffle
12-11-2013, 03:09 PM
I am so very sorry Poms. Another life shared, another beautiful little one tucked safe in your heart forever. I'm sure is he running free with the wind in his fur and all the other poms beside him now.
Play well at the bridge Rolo and remember and send her that last rainbow x

Nikkigrace
12-12-2013, 02:35 AM
:( I will miss you gorgeous boy. Run free and have fun with Daddy Dasher and Uncle Whizzbit as well as all the other poms.

What a great life he had with you and amazing journey you shared with him. Big love to the pompom household xxx

starbug
12-12-2013, 02:36 AM
I am so, so sorry for your loss. Play well, litlle Rolo. x

Truffle
12-12-2013, 03:37 AM
The pictures are adorable... I am so sorry that he passed away.

kyrilliondaemon
12-12-2013, 06:15 AM
Rolo... You know I've always had a soft spot for Rolo, loved the way he was with uncle Whizzbit and how shy he was has always made me smile. He had a wonderful life full of family and love and I'm really sorry the bridge has finally chosen to call him.
Play well at the bridge Rolo, and thank you for the countless smiles you gave me

Pompompoms
12-14-2013, 12:54 PM
Thank you everyone, the hamster room is looking a little empty at the moment, the boys especially. It just means that the bridge is very busy with pompoms this year, and Rolo will be safe with his hamily xx

hikaru
12-14-2013, 01:35 PM
He had a wonderful life filled with lots of love.
Play well at the bridge sweet Rolo. <3 xxxx

Biscotti
12-14-2013, 01:47 PM
I'm very sorry that Rolo has left for the bridge. :( Tears welled up in my eyes as I read this. Rolo lived a wonderful live full of love, I hope he is having a good time with the rest of the bridge poms. Play well little one.

kimlck
12-14-2013, 08:22 PM
Play well Rolo Pompom.

Hamtastic
12-15-2013, 01:16 AM
So sorry to read about Rolo's passing. He was an undeniably gorgeous and special boy. I hope he will find my Viola at the Bridge. They definitely shared that wary mistrust of any human involvement but were absolutely adorable to watch from some distance :) (plus the same obsession with their older housemates).

racinghamster
12-15-2013, 01:33 AM
Rest in peace little Rolo, you were so sweet. Really sorry for your loss Poms, your wee ones are so special. When you mentioned that Rolo was racing around before he passed, my Rocky did the same and just wanted to be with me. :( It`s as if he was unsettled in his own cage and when I offered my hand, he just wanted to lie down on my hand and went almost comatose until I laid him down again, when he would start being unsettled again. They live such fast, busy lives. x

ANGELBABIES
12-15-2013, 02:15 AM
I am so sorry you lost your little Rolo. He seems such a lovely little character. Its always said that when the candle finally burns out it gives out a last bright splutter before the flame finally goes. Such is life. I have seen it in human beings too, and so to in the animals. Run free little fluff. xx

DrKMcK
12-16-2013, 08:19 AM
Oh.....I was in tears over Rolo's whole story Pompoms. It's just rotten that they have to leave us so soon. But how wonderful it was for Rolo to have someone understand him so well and accept him as he was. Your hams have such wonderful lives with you. I feel like I know them all well from your lovely threads. Rolo, little love, play well at the bridge with all the other poms who have gone before you. It's just amazing to me how much it matters when one of the HC hams goes to the bridge. :-(

luxbear
12-17-2013, 08:14 AM
Oh no, another little Rolo has passed. :( Well yours is playing with my Rolo at the bridge, I am so sorry for your loss. This is a beautiful memorial. xx

Pompompoms
12-20-2013, 11:24 AM
Thank you everyone, I'm always overwhelmed by how lovely everyone is when anyone here loses a much loved little fluff :)