It all started yesterday morning when we decided to clean Kenna's pet hamster's cage. It hadn't been done in awhile, so I insisted she not just change the shavings, but take the cage apart and hose down all the pieces. We left the pieces outside in the sun to dry and put Pip in a large plastic tub in Kenna's room - absolutely no way he could get out. Well, he didn't get out, but unfortunately the door to her bedroom got left open and the dog got in. That open topped plastic tub was no deterent for Dixie when she saw a potential new toy - an animated one at that! The kids were upstairs watching TV and I was at the computer when I heard a really strange barking. I went to investigate and as soon as I realized that the dog was in Kenna's room, I knew what was happening. I ordered the kids to stay upstairs and went in the room to find Dixie standing over a limp mound of wet fur, seemingly bewildered as to why her new toy was no longer moving. I grabbed a paper towel and put the body in a shoe box. There was no doubt in my mind that the little guy was dead; I didn't even check for a pulse (not that I would know how to do that on a hamster anyway). I put the box in the garage and broke the news to Kenna - much weeping and wailing ensued.
After a short while, I decided leaving the body in the garage in the Texas heat probably wasn't a good idea and I moved him to a shelf in the laundry room. We went about the rest of the day, me feeling guilty about leaving Pip out of his safe cage for so long, just so we could get it "really clean" and also wondering if it was me that left Kenna's door open; and Kenna feeling sad and crying off and on all day.
When Robert got home from work, he went to view the body. He came out of the laundry room holding the box, saying in disbelief, "This thing is alive!" Sure enough, there was Pip walking around, sniffing his new shoebox "home". Seriously folks, you may be questioning my judgement, but considering his condition after the "incident", the thought never crossed my mind that he was still alive. I'm still having trouble believing it.
So, Robert and Kenna proceeded to take Pip to an emergency vet, who checked him over, gave him an injection of fluid, proclaimed that he had probably been in shock, and said it looked like he would be fine. Much rejoicing followed!
Praise God - He cares about the sparrows, and apparently hamsters ,too!
1 comment:
Glad that Pip had a better outcome than our gerbil, Mickey, did back in the day when we were young.
I pointed Kevin's mom over here to read your blog and she was happy that Pip made it through his ordeal. :)
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