-
Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
I found a baby...something [rat?]. Help! (Update: Despite best efforts, now passed away)
- Thread starter Buttzerker
- Start date
- Status
You did NOTHING wrong, my man.
When i gave you my vet's indications i omitted one part because i knew you didn't want / need to hear it.
The final part of his text message was:
"Be prepared though, it will have something like a 1 in 50 chances to survive the first two weeks, best of luck!"
So, again, don't beat yourself over it...i know it's not easy, but you did wonderful.
Hugs,
Gabe.
Awwwwwwwww I love how this is inspiring others! <3I went and adopted these two 5-week old rat boys after work tonight:
Mandrake
Console
The big furball under Console is Sisyphus. He's just over 2 and a half years old. His remaining brother (Tantalus) died in his sleep a few weeks ago, leaving him alone -- and I've been putting off getting him some new friends.
Watching Powerhouse, I realized I had not been doing the best I could for Sisyphus -- and hearing the news today, I decided it was time for some new pets.
I'm watching them carefully to make sure they are getting along -- so far so good.
For completeness, here's my favorite photo of Sisyphus (left) and his two brothers, Tantalus (right) and Hudson (bottom):
I was checking this thread daily. Sorry to hear the news.
Makes you wonder if he was doomed from the beginning? I'm not an expert or anything but I think I remember reading that animals can sometimes sense when something is wrong with there offspring and will abandon them or even kill them.
Makes you wonder if he was doomed from the beginning? I'm not an expert or anything but I think I remember reading that animals can sometimes sense when something is wrong with there offspring and will abandon them or even kill them.
I was a lurker until yesterday, had to wait for my account to be approved.
So sorry for you and Powerhouse. We know for sure though that he was happy and safe, and your actions have had a really positive impact on many people. Thank you for doing this!
So sorry for you and Powerhouse. We know for sure though that he was happy and safe, and your actions have had a really positive impact on many people. Thank you for doing this!
Another lurker here, and this thread has been great, it gave me something to look forward to and be happy about during a really stressful week. So sorry to hear about Powerhouse passing away, but like others have said, at least he got to be warm, well fed, and loved until the end. This really was an amazing thing for you to do, an act of pure selflessness, which is really rare.
I'm so sorry OP. The same thing happened to me with two baby orphaned mice I found some months ago. Those were older, had fur and would have had a better chance of survival.
Same as with the little one you found, mine seemed to be doing well too and then suddenly things went bad so quickly there was nothing to be done.
You tried your best, but the chances of them surviving are just so small, that's not something that you did wrong or something you didn't do.
But at least, when it died, it was in a safe place, there was warmth and food and someone who cared and only wished the best.
Same as with the little one you found, mine seemed to be doing well too and then suddenly things went bad so quickly there was nothing to be done.
You tried your best, but the chances of them surviving are just so small, that's not something that you did wrong or something you didn't do.
But at least, when it died, it was in a safe place, there was warmth and food and someone who cared and only wished the best.
Been a lurker as well. Just remember OP, you did the right thing here no matter what. In life, many times it is intent that matters the most. Your intentions here were beyond admirable. My hats off to you and RIP Powerhouse.
OP
OP
Hey guys, a minor update here, and some great news:
I've gotten e-mails from four different households who all went out and adopted mice or rats this week. I can't even tell you how happy that made me hear. A total of 15 lovely rodents are now in loving homes, including the lovely new two posted in this very thread.
I've been having to work a lot to make up for the days taken off, but tomorrow I should be able to update you all about the new family members in our own home.
Again, thanks so much for the support, and I'm excited to make a new thread about this once we've got a livestream going for the new rats. :)
I've gotten e-mails from four different households who all went out and adopted mice or rats this week. I can't even tell you how happy that made me hear. A total of 15 lovely rodents are now in loving homes, including the lovely new two posted in this very thread.
I've been having to work a lot to make up for the days taken off, but tomorrow I should be able to update you all about the new family members in our own home.
Again, thanks so much for the support, and I'm excited to make a new thread about this once we've got a livestream going for the new rats. :)
Poor Powerhouse. You gave him the best chance he had Buttzerker , happy to have been along for the ride.
And you know, I think I might just adopt a rat now.
And you know, I think I might just adopt a rat now.
This is so great. You and Powerhouse have been such an inspiration. Unfortunately I can't adopt any of my own at this point because I have 5 cats and they would be dead pretty quickly (a few of my cats are masters at it). If we're around, we always save the mice they find, but sometimes they find them when we're asleep or not at home. :(
OP
OP
Hey guys, it's done! We now have three beautiful mice named Flow, Powermouse, and Run the Jewels:
https://www.resetera.com/threads/the-powerhouse-tribute-band-live-now.70262/#post-12964621
https://www.resetera.com/threads/the-powerhouse-tribute-band-live-now.70262/#post-12964621
Your kind heart is spreading to others. funny how things work out.
I went and adopted these two 5-week old rat boys after work tonight:
Mandrake
Console
The big furball under Console is Sisyphus. He's just over 2 and a half years old. His remaining brother (Tantalus) died in his sleep a few weeks ago, leaving him alone -- and I've been putting off getting him some new friends.
Watching Powerhouse, I realized I had not been doing the best I could for Sisyphus -- and hearing the news today, I decided it was time for some new pets.
I'm watching them carefully to make sure they are getting along -- so far so good.
For completeness, here's my favorite photo of Sisyphus (left) and his two brothers, Tantalus (right) and Hudson (bottom):
So cute, I love rats.
OP
OP
Hey, I'm good. Got some new mice and welcoming them to their new home. :) Powerhouse inspired me!
Good to hear! I know it can be difficult considering the love and time put into it. Glad to see you're taking on new pets!
What you did, what you wrote, are wonderful things. You make this world a better place OP, and frankly I don't think most people can say that.
I don't think you failed or made a mistake with Powerhouse. Without you, he'd probably had died that same night. You gave it that week, and even though he was never aware of it, you made it experience some kindness in its life. That has great value.
Three weeks ago I found an agonizing adult rat. It was breathing, but other than that it was almost dead. It didn't move, not even when I touched it. Laying in the middle of the road in its own shit. I know most people would have ignored it, but I decided to finish it, because it was clearly suffering a lot. In its final moment, it moved for a second, it fought for its life, when it was too late for me to go back. It fucked me up for a few days and still makes me feel bad, but I think I did the right thing. I showed it mercy, even though it could not understand it.
When I told my wife, she told me it probably had been poisoned. It hadn't occurred to me. What made me feel so bad was the conscious action of another human being, someone from my neighborhood. She then told me that I should have dumped the poor rat in a trashcan, so that other animals wouldn't eat it and get poisoned as well. She told me about how that was a problem for endangered animals in some parts of the world. It didn't make me feel better, quite the opposite, but it gave me a greater understanding of why I'd done what I'd done and why, next time, I'll do the same thing. Hopefully then, instead of ending suffering, I'll be able to extend a life, like OP did.
I don't think you failed or made a mistake with Powerhouse. Without you, he'd probably had died that same night. You gave it that week, and even though he was never aware of it, you made it experience some kindness in its life. That has great value.
Three weeks ago I found an agonizing adult rat. It was breathing, but other than that it was almost dead. It didn't move, not even when I touched it. Laying in the middle of the road in its own shit. I know most people would have ignored it, but I decided to finish it, because it was clearly suffering a lot. In its final moment, it moved for a second, it fought for its life, when it was too late for me to go back. It fucked me up for a few days and still makes me feel bad, but I think I did the right thing. I showed it mercy, even though it could not understand it.
When I told my wife, she told me it probably had been poisoned. It hadn't occurred to me. What made me feel so bad was the conscious action of another human being, someone from my neighborhood. She then told me that I should have dumped the poor rat in a trashcan, so that other animals wouldn't eat it and get poisoned as well. She told me about how that was a problem for endangered animals in some parts of the world. It didn't make me feel better, quite the opposite, but it gave me a greater understanding of why I'd done what I'd done and why, next time, I'll do the same thing. Hopefully then, instead of ending suffering, I'll be able to extend a life, like OP did.
RIP Powerhouse & condolences to OP - you did all you could & so much more. I love rats, super stoked 3 of them will be getting an awesome home!
The world needs more empathetic and compassionate people like OP. Feel like this thread has given me a much needed boost of hope
EDIT: Just saw the new thread and that 3 mice got an awesome home :)))
Last edited:
Oh man OP I'm so sorry, just checked the thread after a couple days and saw the update. Glad to read such nice gestures from people here with adoptions and donations. Hope all is well OP, you did an excellent job caring for Powerhouse and you would make a great owner.
OP
OP
Hey I appreciate it, and from your post it sounds like you'll be happy to know that my roommate and I adopted 3 mice in honor of Power House. I posted a thread about it a little above and I am live streaming them as well!
Oh wow that's great! Will check out the stream here right now.
All right Buttzerker!
Nice update. Enjoy the fuzzies. They'll be well taken care of.
I wonder if they have mice treats?
OP
OP
They do, but fruits and veggies work just as well. Just gave them some blackberries on stream.
Yes, I found my cat crying on the side of the road, at one week old. She was sick and her mom abandoned her. Luckily, it was just a cold and I was able to get her better. I'm sorry for your loss, OP.
Ah yes, nothing like sugar coating how life and nature actually work instead of emotionally preparing someone!
You'd make a great doctor.
"Your loved one has a 5% chance of survival, so get prepared for her to die. Them's the breaks"
OP
OP
You'll be happy to know that I already did!
https://www.resetera.com/threads/the-powerhouse-tribute-band-live-now.70262/
I can't tell if this was a facetious remark or not cause yeah I'd prefer full on blunt honesty when it comes to matters involving health!
As there isn't an entire industry with experience and data regarding the way these things should be approached. Your personal preference is not what matters here. At all.
So you are suggesting health practitioners should willfully deceive their patients and paint a rosy picture of false hope instead of presenting cold hard facts?
This discussion is redundant because OP had already seen three vets before Gabe relayed the message. Furthermore, OP asked how he should take care of the rat/mouse pup; not what its chances at survival were. As such, Gabe under no moral obligation to include that part of the message.
I would even argue it would have been scummy to include it because A) OP already knew the pup's chances, B) was nevertheless scrambling to save him, and C) was annoyed by people telling him the pup was going to die anyway. At that point, you're not helpful by giving 'the cold hard facts' — you're just being an asshole.
- Status