R.I.P. Pouches

Pouches · 03-26-2013, 10:57 PM

I can't believe I'm posting in here for the 2nd time in a month. Tonight was a bad night.
Pouches and one of her sisters got into a scuffle tonight, I separated them and in the process she latched on to my finger. She got a hold of me pretty good, I tried to get her off but by the time she let go she had bloodied my finger pretty good. I flipped her into her cage, and she landed against the cage and a chew log. She was on her back and flailing around trying to right herself so I picked her up and put her on her stomach, when she didn't move I knew something was wrong. I picked her back up and I realized that she was dying. I didn't realize it but she had broken her back, she looked at me as if she was asking why, and then she was gone.
I can't believe I was so careless. I never meant to hurt her, I just wanted to get her into her cage and get to the bathroom before I got blood everywhere. Now not only am I nursing the swollen finger, but I have to bury yet another hamster.
When I buried Melvin I promised I would take care of his children, I've let him down, and I'm ashamed of myself.
I'm so sorry Pouches, please don't hate me and I hope you play well at the bridge.

Eriklover555 · 03-27-2013, 12:38 AM

Oh, sweetie, it was an accident! These things happen - you didn't mean to hurt her. When you're in pain, it's hard to calm yourself down because of the rush of adrenaline. You probably didn't even realize the amount of force you used. If you had known what would happen, you wouldn't have done it.

StuCil · 03-27-2013, 01:25 AM

I'm sorry for your loss, you didn't mean it. We all make mistakes

Pouches was given much love, it's just something that you can't predict. She's now resting well up there.

Play well, Pouches xx

The Hamster's family · 03-27-2013, 10:22 AM

Very sorry that this hapenned to you... I hope you don't blame yourself too much hun...

Play well at the Bridge, little one... Blow a kiss to your mommy if you can...

Annie xx

Pouches · 03-27-2013, 10:42 AM

Thanks for ya'lls kind words.
I had to take one of Pouches' littermates to the vet this morning, so while I was there I asked the vet what she thought might have happened. I explained exactly what happened, and expected her to tell me how horrible I was.
She explained that it was a normal reaction, and what most likely happened was when Pouches hit the cage she went into shock. It's a slight comfort knowing that she went quickly and wasn't in pain, but it doesn't ease the grief, and that I feel completely responsible for her death. I know it was an accident and I didn't intentionally do anything to hurt her. But as I told the vet, I should have known better. I should have put her in her cage, like I had done plenty of times before with other hammies when in similar situations.
For whatever reason I didn't this one time, and I lost such a beautiful hamster because of it.

Lougarry · 03-27-2013, 01:43 PM

Oh, how awful, what a tragic accident. I'm so sorry for your loss x

shiny · 03-27-2013, 01:54 PM

So sorry

she was a beautiful girl

Pouches · 03-27-2013, 02:00 PM

Yes she was, I'm fortunate that she has almost a twin sister. The only difference between them was that Pouches band was broken between her shoulders, whereas Oreo's is not (hence their names)
She also leaves behind two other sisters(Mitzi and Mindy) and three brothers (Larry, Moe, and Curly) who all look like this.

Arraminta · 03-27-2013, 02:19 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss! Try not to blame yourself.. It was a horrible accident and totally horrifying for you!! Try not to beat yourself up too much!! We've all dropped a hammy from time to time and 99% of the time they are ok.. But an accident is just that!! An accident.

Big hugs for you and play well at the bridge pouches!!

Arraminta x

Pouches · 03-27-2013, 02:40 PM

I fully posted this expecting to be ostracized for what happened. I know I shouldn't be hard on myself, and maybe it's not warranted but it was a lapse in my judgement and like I told the Vet this morning; I pride myself on how well I take care of my hamsters. I can name every hamster I have had the privilege of owning, and even the ones who were in my care temporarily in order. I have meticulous records of which ones I bred together and what the resulting pups looked like, even right down to which ones were healthy and which ones needed extra care. I may not be the most compassionate person, but I do my best to take care of my babies, and if you ask some of the people that truly know me. Most of the time, my hamsters live better than I do, in fact I have a friend who got into owning hamsters because of me. She told me that when she dies, she wants to come back to life as one of my hamsters.
This whole thing, just goes to show how bad things can go wrong when you get complacent. I guess it's not just a lesson that can be learned when it comes to hamsters, but anything in life to be honest.
I was feeling really low when I made the original post, I still feel really crappy about it. However nothing can change what has happened, and I'll get nowhere by dwelling on it.