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Requiem
Now playing: Mozart's “Requiem”
It seems a bit silly and I don't really know how to approach this, but Major
Shortwave Beadhead [1] died this morning at approximately 4:00 am.
Around a quarter to four this morning I went downstairs to find Spring [2]
cuddling one very sick looking hamster. Normally, Major Shortwave Beadhead
doesn't like being held at all and will squirt out of your hands at the first
chance he (she? We don't really know) gets. But not this morning.
He was having trouble breathing and would occasionally move his head in such
a way as to give the impression of a cough. Whatever he came down with hit
him rather suddenly. I closed the air conditioning vent, thinking that maybe
he was going into hibernation mode but Spring said his breathing was spradic
and watery sounding.
I broke out the phone book and found a vet with a 24-hour emergency room.
Spring called and found that while we could come in, it would cost $70 for
the visit, and that they really don't treat hamsters at all. Spring was asked
how old Major Shortwave Beadhead was and well, to tell the truth, we don't
know. Hamsters only live two, maybe three years and he might simply be dying
of old age.
I then took the phone and called some more vets and I found out is that there
really is only one emergency pet hospital room that most vets refer to after
business hours. So there wasn't much we could do for poor Major Shortwave
Bedhead.
A few minutes passed and it became apparent that Major Shortwave Beadhead had
slipped this mortal coil and was now sleeping the infinite sleep.
Spring put him back in his cage, and this morning buried him in the garden.
Even though he didn't like humans much (he had a much better rappaport with
Spodie the cat) he will be missed.
[1]
http://connected.springdew.com/c424.htm
[2]
http://www.springdew.com/
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