Goodnight, three lil loves

greysome · 09-17-2016, 11:47 PM

I've been missing from here for quite some time since RL got all crazy on me but had hoped to be able to get back on a happier note.

Tonight, I found dear little Chublet, my long-haired male 'black bear' in his den when I went to check on him (my second youngest syrian, he would have been two on Halloween) since he failed to make an appearance. I have had him since he was three or four weeks old (some might remember he came from a situation where the family thought syrian hamsters were social) and he has always been a delight and good for a chuckle. He was never the most active hamster but had definitely slowed down in age but as he was the second youngest of all my syrians, I didn't think I would have to say goodbye to him just yet. I'm choosing to be thankful he left peacefully.

Finding him just compounded my sadness as two days ago, I noticed Hazel Nut, my very first hammie and whose adventures/spunk has been posted here and there in this forum, had not touched any of her food, including her scattered food from the night before, which never happens. Now Hazel Nut is two and particularly in the last couple of weeks have slowed down considerably and already given me one false scare previously (which is why I didn't check on her the night before--the false scare had me digging up to, and almost into, her burrow, which woke her with a start). With the weather changing, all my hammies have begun sleeping longer into the night but Hazel Nut has been noticeably (possibly because she had been so feisty beforehand) been slowing down and showing signs of her age in particular these last couple of weeks.

Lastly, but most certainly not least, there is Patch, the little robo who had been bullied by her sister, that I took in before Christmas of 2014 and came from a neglectful situation (I still don't understand how her previous owner could have had her and her sister for six months and not have either named them or bothered trying to sex them!). She passed away late July and was found in one of her dens (she had two she alternated between depending, presumably, on her mood). Like Chublet, I am thankful she went peacefully in her sleep.

Pebbles82 · 09-18-2016, 01:26 AM

So sorry for your losses. Three hammies going is very hard. The nights are drawing in and it's getting cooler and it sounds like it was their time to go. Big hugs xxx

cypher · 09-18-2016, 02:33 AM

I'm so sorry greysome, losing three hams in a short period of time really is very hard.
All hams age differently so it does sound as though it was just their time & all went quickly & peacefully, they had a great life & lots of love with you although it's so very sad for you that all have gone so close together I hope you can take some comfort in that.

Run free & play well at the bridge Chublet, Hazel Nut & Patch.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 09-18-2016, 06:34 AM

Sorry for all 3 to pass close together. Must be very sad.

badwolf · 09-18-2016, 12:17 PM

Between the mice and hamsters, I have a lot of small furries and so will have a lot of loss to deal with eventually. It will be devastating when it happens, but what helps me now thinking about that is that I helped them have a good happy life. I hope that can be of some comfort to you xxx

flowerfairy · 09-18-2016, 01:57 PM

Sorry for your losses. It sounds like you had a nice connection with all of them. It is amazing what an impact such tiny creatures can have on our lives.

BluerayDarkes · 09-18-2016, 02:59 PM

I am sorry for your losses, I lost both my males this year.

Thin Lizzy · 09-18-2016, 10:14 PM

My heart goes out to you, losing so many in a short time is so heart breaking.
Sending you big hugs xx

greysome · 09-19-2016, 05:05 AM

Thank you everyone. I know you can never be prepared for losses but I had hoped, rather futilely, that knowing they were such short-lived beings from the get go and that they were very well cared for and loved might help stem the surprise and grief. I just heard that Chublet's sister and litter mate passed on Sept 2 (I cared for her for a period but she did not adjust well here and was extremely stressed--thankfully, she immediately clicked with her mommy after me and was very happy in her home) so I wonder if there may have been some genetics at play in terms of timing/age there (they would have turned two on Halloween), especially since they were the result of a brother/sister pairing.

Thin Lizzy · 09-19-2016, 07:51 AM

Sorry to hear about Chublet's sister & litter mate passing. It does sound like it could be something to do with the genetics.