Dot

NARR: None - rescue/pet only Color: Black Ears: Standard Coat: Standard Markings: Variberk with headspot D.O.B. 8/23/2009 D.O.D. 6/14/2012 Cause of Death: Euthanized due to failing quality of life Breeding Status: Pet Only, Spayed, Never Bred Show Results: Not Shown Notes:Dot is one of the rats we had at school for our Veterinary Technology program. She and her siblings were kept for a semester so that students were able to practice handling, medicating, sexing, taking the temperature, and other skills. At the end of the semester the animals are adopted out to students, and Dot is coming to live here! She will be spayed before being allowed to interact with her brothers, as she is NOT intended for breeding. She is a friendly and adventerous girl who is also a bit of an escape artist at school, usually one of the first ones to try and get out of her cage! Dot is definitely the boss of her cage with her and her brothers, deciding what gets stashed where, and being the first in line for scritches and treats. She's quite the character and a fun girl to watch run around! Dot is a real trooper, not letting things get in her way. She faces any challenges head on. Even into her old age, Dot makes a point of climbing around her cage, getting in her wheel, and coming over to check things out. She has shown no signs of hind end weakness, but she does have a problem with overgrowth of one of her lower incisors, which requires occasional trimming. She's lost a bit of weight but stayed relatively fit and active, and loves her extra food and treats! Sadly, shortly before hitting her 34 month mark, Dot took a downward turn, lost quite a bit of weight and lost her energy and drive that had kept her going for so long. We made the decision that it was time to let her rest. She FAR outlived her littermates, with her one brother living 32 months with us, another living 21 months, and her other 5 siblings living 22 months, 18 months, and 2 only about 15 months. We are happy she had a good long life, and was very active right to the end - we have a photo of her in her wheel looking up at the camera that was taken only a week and a half before we made the decision to euthanize her due to her failing quality of life. No necropsy was performed. Dot is back with her brothers and other siblings and ratty friends again. Rest well sweet girl!