Sleep well, sweet Rookie

[goldenkimono]

Unfortunately, whatever she had, it must've been more serious than we all imagined, because she passed away during the night. She'd been so poorly my wife checked on her around 3am and she was still breathing then, but when I went in around 7, there was no movement, no breathing, we held her to check if that might trigger something but no, and she seems to be going stiff now and her paws are turning blue. I'm assuming that can't mean anything else.

She was the sweetest hamster and I'm comforted by the thought that we loved her very much and she definitely loved us too, but we'll miss her a lot.

And then there's the issue of: what do we do next? We live in a block of flats, no garden or even a balcony, so burying is out of the question. Does anyone have any idea how much a cremation at Vets4Pets would be, just so we're prepared for the options?

We do still have another hammy too, so we'll focus on him much more - which is also some kind of comfort.

[cypher]

I'm so sorry, I was just thinking about her earlier this morning & wondering how she was doing, you really did all you could for her, sometimes it is hard to know exactly what is wrong with them & even then it isn't always easy or possible to treat but you did your very best & I'm sure she knew that & knew how very much she was loved. She is at peace now, try to take comfort in that.
She really was a very beautiful girl, lovely photos for her memorial.

I'm fortunate in being able to bury mine so I don't have any experience of cremation costs, I do know it can be very expensive & it does seem to vary quite a lot too, some other members may be able to help you out there.

Run free & play well at the bridge Rookie.

[Pebbles82]

I am so sorry about Rookie. She is playing over the rainbow bridge now, free from suffering. There are many people who bury their hamsters without having a garden and use a large pot and plant something in the pot. I know Coco has done this and maybe some other members will come along and suggest the best way to do it.

Otherwise there are pet cremation services and you can pay a bit extra for an individual cremation - otherwise it is a communal cremation, if that makes a difference to you.

Is this place anywhere near you? It sounds nice - they have a pet cemetary for burial as well as a cremation service.

https://www.pcsonline.org.uk/crematoriums/leyland-pet-crematorium-and-cemetery/about-leyland-pet-crematorium

It helps when you have had some kind of little ceremony to say goodbye. When our Charlie died we wrapped him in tissue paper and laid him in small cardboard hamster coffin (I was prepared for the inevitable) so he looked peaceful before burial.

There is a thread here with an example of a pot burial which looks lovely and some more info on it on the thread too.

http://www.hamstercentral.com/community/hamster-chat/61427-hamster-burial.html?highlight=Burial

I believe you put some stones in the botttom, then a layer of potting mixture then the burial area then fill the pot with the potting mixture and plant something.

I had one of these pebbles for Charlie - it would sit nicely on the top of a pot on the soil.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pet-Memorial-Pebble-Stone-effect-Personalised-Freestanding-Weatherproof/111666541457?hash=item19ffd83391:g:lDYAAOSwEeFVTok b:rk:3:pf:0

[Coco61]

This is Mocho's resting place
47829

And for Jeeves.
47830

I am so sorry at the loss of Rookie. Serendipity is right. I have used pot burials because although I have a garden, I can take the pots with me as we may well move before too long and I don't want to leave them behind.

47832

Another idea that might help. These are my memorials for my two boys.

[goldenkimono]

Thank you for your kind words. We still miss her a lot, although now I feel like our little rescue hamster Sugar came at exactly the right time. Apart from when she was scared due to the eye drops, she always trusted us and sought comfort in us, so I do believe she knew she was loved. I'm happy she died peacefully, at least, in her sleep.

Thank you for the memorial ideas as well, and the other tips! Perhaps an idea for the future. We ended up getting her cremated in a communal setting, but they gave us some forget-me-not seeds to remember her, which we plan to use for a memorial. She also had a little strawberry house and we might use that for the memorial as well. We really don't want to throw it out, but also can't really bear the thought of another hamster using it, silly as that may sound.

Btw, Coco: those memorials are really beautiful.

[BorisPasha]

I'm so sorry for your loss, it's never easy when we have to say goodbye to them.

An individual cremation tends to cost around £70 but it's cheaper if you don't want an indivual cremation (I'm not sure on the cost, if I remember correctly I think it was around £50).

[souffle]

I am so sorry for your loss. You really did try your best.
Play well at the bridge Rookie x

[Quicksilver]

Dear goldenkimono - I'm so sorry for your loss of your beautiful Rookie. My heart goes out to you.

When our Ralph died we were living in a block of flats with no garden or balcony. We buried Ralph in a specially chosen large pot from the local garden centre so that he could be buried in the soil of the pot with our fern plant. We wanted Ralph to live on through the plant and help the fern grow, and the fern surprisingly did.

Choose what feels right for Rookie, your know what feels best. Friends of ours buried their hamsters with a sunflower plant because the hamsters favourite special treat was sunflower seeds.

Rest in peace Rookie.

Hugs

xxx

[Pebbles82]

The forgetmenot seeds sounds a lovely idea. I planted some in Charlie's flower bed burial place - but they do grown incredibly tall, being wildflowers. A memorial plant that is easier to maintain and longer lasting might be a nice idea :-)

Not silly at all re the Strawberry house. Some things I could never use again - for a long time. And couldn't use Charlie's house again or his rainbow bridge. But in time some things have been washed and used again for our current hamster and have taken on new memories.

[dreamtree1234]

I'm so sorry for you loss of beloved Rookie. She was such a beauty. You did all that you could to nurse her back to health and she always knew how much you cherished her. She will live on in your heart always, and the sweet memories of her will bring you much joy in time. The forget me not flower seeds sound lovely. It certainly isn't silly to not use her cherished strawberry house for any other little one if that is what feels right to you. Whether you never use it again and keep it only for the memories of remembering your sweetheart or whether you decide in time to use it again and give it a chance to create new memories with other precious little ones, it is your personal decision and totally understandable. You have to do what is best in your own heart and what you believe Rookie would have wanted. My heart goes out to you; huge hugs.

RIP, darling Rookie. You will be greatly missed.

[Thin Lizzy]

My heart goes out to you and your wife, Rookie was a huge part of your lifes, and will be forever in your hearts. Your gave your beautiful girl unconditional love and a forever home. Taking comfort in your other ham will help with your grief. I've had hamsters for over 20 years now and each death gets harder, they may be small but they have the biggest hearts xxx

[goldenkimono]

I know it's been a while, but thank you so much to everyone who left kind words on this post; they made me cry again after reading them just now. A lot happened after this (my dad passed away, we had to deal with everything that comes with moving house and are still not done with that entirely, etc) and I think it was also hard to come back to this post because part of me feels guilty for what happened to her, like I could have somehow avoided it.

The strawberry is still unused, but is on display. Still figuring out the best way to form a little memorial, but I think getting some shelves up on the wall might be best for that!

[Ria P]

So sorry for your loss. Rookie was a sweet looking hamster.
Do you have a photo of your little rescue hamster Sugar?

[Josie]

So sorry to hear of Rookie's passing, she was such a beautiful little girl, play well at the bridge Rookie hugs to you xxxx :(

"While we no longer see and hold the ones we have loved and lost, they live with us forever in our hearts and our memories"