4/19/08 I am overwhelmed by all the notes I have received. Some of them made me smile, some made me cry so hard both for myself and others.
I run Tiny Paws Rescue & Sanctuary, Ltd. in Warren, MI. We rescue the forgotten ones, pocket pets; mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, degus, chinchillas, hedgehogs and rabbits. Because of this, despite my desire for a Flemish Giant, I would not go to a breeder and had to just wait for one to come into the rescue. I waited 12 years and although I 'thought' I wanted a fawn male, one day an albino female 7 weeks old came in. We made eye contact, she presented to me and I petted her and she stole my heart. This little girl would not even eat until she was petted first. She followed me around like a puppy and sat up to beg all the time. I would wake up in the middle of the night to find her snuggled under my arm, her head on my shoulder. Never had I known such peace.

We knew something was wrong since her mother and father were 23 and 25 lbs. and Mouse stopped growing at 14 lbs. What I didn't know what that she was born with dilated cardiomyopathy. I had to run to Indiana when my brother was hospitalized and took Mouse with me. We spent 4 days just the two of us and I drove each way for 5 hours with my hand on her head. She died just a few days later.

I found her lethargic and knew immediately something was wrong. I raced her to the vet, but knowing she wasn't going to make it, she went stiff, made a small cry and died in my arms just a few hundred yards from the emergency vet. I swear she wanted to save me the high fee to just walk into the emergency vet. I have never grieved so hard for a friend. I waited so long and I lost her so soon.

Now I know how many of you out there share my pain and we are all friends through our love for our friends.

Since then, I have lost my 18 year old cat who was born in my home of a stray and delivered by my husband to cancer and kidney failure. Booger, my youngest cat developed FIP and left for the Bridge two weeks later. Mouse and Booger loved each other so I hope they are back together at the bridge.
Thank you everyone for their kind email.