Good-bye Posy

April 30, 2001 - December 13, 2003
Posy, the oldest rat I've ever owned, finally passed away this Friday. She originally came to me in May 2001. I went by a scumbag Petco store just to make sure the animals had water and food (as often at this one, they didn't). There was just one rat in the snake food bin. It was a tiny girl, about three weeks old, who was running all over the place.  I knew I couldn't leave that little spark plug in that tank all alone to surely be reptile food so I bought her. I had just saved three rats from a lady who didn't want them anymore and they all had flower names so named this baby Posy, keeping the flower name thing going.

Initially, she was supposed to be the roommate for my rat Kirby (who was fixed) who was by himself. But not only was she too hyper for him, she hardly spent time with him anyway, even when they were both in the cage. She was too busy to sit with an old man like Kirby. When the door was closed, she wanted to play and Kirby generally didn't, so it ended up being more of a annoyance for him, instead of a companion. When the door was open, she was all over the place. So she had to be moved in with the other rats.

From baby to midsize to adult




Baby Posy was hyper and very smart. She could get off the couch her first day.





Young Posy was ALWAYS busy.



Always checking stuff out, always got somewhere to be.

Initially, her first best buddy was Golly, my little hyper black berkshire. Posy also got big as an adult, so she lost a lot of the hyperness she had as a baby. She was very mellow, friendly to humans and other rats alike. She never started a scuffle with another rat in her life. She was just happy with occasional treats and back scratches. She also started getting tumors. Through her life, she had three tumor removal operations and had a couple more tumors (untouched) when she passed. After Golly died when Posy was about a year old, Posy's new best friend was Friday. Both of them were close in size too, they were always sleeping in hammocks or on top of rags together. Both were similar in personality too, mellow, friendly, non-combative.

Posy outlived everyone from her original group and many in between. She was one of the best rats I've ever had, a happy, perfect pet who was glad to get scratches and take a nap under your arm. During her last few months, she was able to live free range in my apartment. She never chewed on anything and never destroyed anything, so there was really no reason for the old girl to not be able to have free reign of the place. She had her usual stashing places, as she was the queen of the stashers, and had a big comforter that became "her" blanket. I would always make her her own special plate of veggies and she had her own food and water on the floor (which the other rats would try to take too when they were on the floor). Posy was a great girl and will be missed.


"How come I can't fit in these tubes?"


"Where are the treats?"



Posy inspects her home, yes, it was pretty much hers, I was more of a butler.


Posy's first birthday, she wanted all the cake for herself.
(that's Golly the black one, and Lily the hooded with her)


Daisy, Posy and Swirl lick the frosting off my fingers.



Posy plays with her buddy Golly.



I never knew why, but before she got real big, she used to climb up on my fan all the time.
It was like her lookout. She'd get up there and look around and survey her kingdom.

"Ah, my kingdom."


Posy with her buddy Friday.



Posy with Easter and Willie in October 2003



Nice mess.





Posy runs across the floor. Still busy as an old lady.


She was so comfortable here, she
didn't want to come out like the rest did.


Big girl.


"You looking at me?"


Easter and Posy.


Posy
April 30, 2001 - December 13, 2003

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