Dasher, Head of the Pompoms

[Pompompoms]

My beautiful Dasher was pts at nine thirty yesterday morning, I was hoping he would pass quietly at home, but he held on all night, making the short trip to the vet the kindest thing to do. He hadn't opened his eyes since about three o'clock the day before, he could only manage a few steps every few hours, was licking a little baby food from my fingers, but not managing any water. He held on all that day, the only indication he was still here being his breathing, I held him snuggled in my dressing gown as he slept peacefully. I had made him a tiny home with his nest from his cage, a little cucumber, and some baby food, but he was distressed not being held, and would fall onto his back, unable to right himself. I held him all afternoon, then all night, Mr Poms held him for a couple of hours so I could have a little sleep. He wouldn't let go my strong little man, I asked him at about five in the morning if he needed my help to pass to the bridge. He lifted his head, opened one eye a little to look at me and squeaked, leaving me in no doubt.
Mr Poms held Dasher for the one minute drive to the vet, I held him again from the moment I stopped the car. Dasher's life ended with a cuddle that lasted 19 hours, I like all my hams to pass knowing they have been loved and cherished, I don't think Dasher could have been in any doubt.

Dasher was born 17/11/10, he was one of six in the first litter I bred, son of my white robo The Cloud, and Tammy's husky lady Bianca. He was the only husky boy in the litter so easily identified from very early on, he came charging out the nest at about twelve days old, strong, determined and friendly from the off.
It was the beginning of December when we had all the heavy snow, there were Christmas lights everywhere, and he looked like a tiny little reindeer with his husky colours coming through, and the way he would be at one end of the tub, then suddenly at the other led me to name him Dasher.



As it should be Dasher's first few weeks were filled with snuggles with mum and siblings, then eating and playing before snoozing off again





Dasher was a big fan of eating, and soon began to grow quickly giving a hint of the big strong boy he would become.



At four weeks old it was time to say goodbye to mum, and Dasher, plus Whizzbit, Digger, and Mini The Cloud all moved in together. For a couple of weeks everything was fine, then as baby robos starting to grow up will do, there was a little wrestling, nothing too serious, until one night it must have all kicked off, and I came in in the morning to see my little husky boy asleep on the spinner away from the others who were all tucked in the nest. He looked up at me to reveal a bloody nose, and must have been feeling very sorry for himself as when I scooped him up he snuggled right into me for some fuss. he had seven bites on him poor little guy, so I decided to move him in with uncle Jam for for a while to heal. Jam as I thought he would took Dasher under his wing immediately, snuggling him up, grooming him, fussing over him. Dasher adored Jam, and was soon healing fast. As a young boisterous boy, as soon as he was better he was tiring Jam out too much as Jam was in his final weeks, so I took Dasher out and took the gentlest of the white boys with the little wonky face, pairing them together. These would be my keepers from this litter, Dasher and Whizzbit.

Dasher and Whizzbit were a gorgeous pair, very happy together, no squabbles through the often tricky teenage phase. Dasher was the biggest, but Whizzbit was in charge, and Dasher was happy with things that way. He liked nothing more than to snuggle up to his brother, and of course was the master of what became known as the SUPRISE GROOM!!!!!!! Sneaking up on Whizzbit's wonky side so he didn't know he was coming, and launching into a huge grooming session .





My boys lived happily together till the summer when it was time for breeding the next generation of pompoms, Dasher was paired with the lovely Daisy from Wessex hams, and made eight babies! Including the lovely Rolo who became a permanent pompom.



While Daisy was busy raising the babies, Dasher made a new friend. Billy the surviving boy from Whizzbit's first litter was old enough to leave mum, and needed looking after. Daddy Whizz was to be busy making his second litter, so uncle Dasher needed to step in. They were absolutely adorable together, little Billy and big uncle Dasher. Dasher was huge by this point, really in his prime. At 48g he was equal to the largest robo I had heard of, and has only been surpassed by Billy since.



Billy absolutely loved Dasher, and although I had planned to keep a white boy, I decided that this was my new pairing, only Dasher wasn't done with making new friends yet. Over the next few weeks, the four boys from Dasher's litter moved in, followed by the two little boys from Whizzbit's second litter at only three and a half weeks following mum Lilly's emergency operation. It was absolute bedlam in there, but completely adorable. A colony of eight with Dasher at the head, and boys ranging from five months to six weeks. Dasher as you might imagine was just a little bit popular with all the little ones, and there wasn't a minute where there wasn't one hanging off him, or snuggled up next to him. He kept order, made sure no squabbles turned into anything more serious, and was always there especially for the littlest when they first moved in.

I nearly got everyone in this pic, it was very hard to capture all eight!

[Pompompoms]

As I said, I'd decided Billy was to stay with Dasher, so when it came time for all the babies to move on, and Rolo to go with Whizz, Billy and Dasher settled down into life together. They were a beautiful pair, and rather like uncle Dasher, Billy didn't stay small for long!



Unfortunately, at about nine months, long after I thought Billy had safely sailed through puberty, he went through a difficult phase. He was bitey, to me, and even worse, he bit Dasher. Luckily for him, Dasher didn't bite back, as being the smaller at the time, Billy wouldn't have fared too well, but I had to take him out while Dasher's wound healed. Dasher decided he wasn't having any of this nonsense, and although he didn't go for Billy at all, when I put him back in, he made it clear he wanted to be lift to his own devices, Billy realised that he was no match for a grumpy uncle Dasher and was pretty worried till I took him out again!

So after a very busy year and a half, Dasher lived a long and happy retirement on his own, he did briefly make a friend in the small yellow horse



It was short lived



It became clear in the summer something was wrong with Dasher, he grew a large lump on his abdomen, initially it didn't seem to bother him, but it was quickly followed by another. He became very tired, and his nightly outing on the sofa became shorter and shorter where he'd tire so quickly. A trip to the vet was a bit of a shock as he only gave him about four weeks to live, but that's when my Dash really began his fight. Far from only living four weeks, Dasher has lived another six months from that prognosis, and lived well.
He was a happy old man, passing his second birthday in November, living out his retirement in his lovely big cage. It was three levels to start with, and went down to one, with continual adjustments for his mobility. Dasher was the same happy, friendly determined hamster that came out of the nest all that time ago, and he has been the most beautiful little life to take care of. He always has known exactly what he does and doesn't want, he would either race onto my hand to come out, and refuse to get off even if I was just in there for a water change, or he would come up to sniff hello and wander off if he was busy. He liked a cuddle, rather like his dad sitting on my chest, he also like brother Whizzbit was obsessed with the table next to the sofa, and even as frail as he was last week was tring to climb up there.

It has been hard to watch my big strong boy deteriorate so much, but it has been a pleasure to care for him while he has. He was held together by tumors and bones at the end bless him, but he was still filled with the same love of life he's always had right up to the final day. That he would only be cuddled for his final day was typical Dasher knowing what he wants and making sure he got it. My lovely sweet little one, it was a pleasure.

The very last pictures will stay private, I'll say he looks comfortable, warm and loved which he was so very much.

A few days ago I took this picture of him eating some porridge, and this little vid, this sums him up, happy and still going no matter what came his way, a brave, strong little fighter, and oh so happy being a pompom





Play well my beautiful, join the pompom hamily at the bridge. You will never be forgotten, none of you will. Watch over the babies for me, they are nearly ready to come out of the nest. In a few weeks, any boys will be moving in with Billy as he moved in with you, he's head of the pompoms now, and so the circle continues. I will chose a big strong boy, determined, and friendly to lead the next generation, I know he'll have a lot of his great uncle in him. Send me a rainbow Dasher Doodles, love you xxxxxxxx

[AnimalMadCait]

aww, sorry for your loss =( x

[Ivora]

Sorry for your loss. What a wonderful memorial. Play hard at the rainbow bridge little one!

[Silver]

Sat here in tears.

Play well Gorgeous dasher

Silver xxx

[evel_lin]

what a beautiful tribute to him. Enjoy rainbow bridge little Dasher

[racinghamster]

Dasher, you were very much loved on here and by what you mummy has just written, you were larger than life itself. A little robo pioneer and fighter to the end.

So sad to hear of Dasher`s passing poms. Having lost my Boris during the night, I can feel that pain. Rest in peace little man. x

[Dandelion07]

I am so sorry pompompoms. I saw the picture of him enjoying his porridge the other day. Rest in peace dasher xx

[Lougarry]

Massive hugs to you, Poms. Darling Dasher, he was such a sweetie. So lovely you had that last night of extended cuddle time. Thinking of you, hun, and of Dasher being reunited with his lost friends and relatives xxxxx

[Michelle89]

so sorry for your loss Dasher was a special little cutie play well at the bridge little one xxx