stevietelevision

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Cw: pet death, image of body, minor mention of pet abuse

As mentioned in my last post, it has become tradition for me to photograph my domestic rats post-mortem in a tasteful way to honor my original rescue rat, Venus.

As of January 20th, 2023, I’d had to make the terrible decision to euthanize two of my girls, Saturn and Jupiter, on the 31st of that same month.

Their respective masses (undiagnosed malignant or benign) had grown to a point of either discomfort or risk of rupture, and it was time to let go and say goodbye.

While I’m grateful they were able to be together in their stress at the vet, I was also heartbroken to see them go, as was my sibling @shsl-blunderer, who favored Saturn for her kisses and sweet personality.

Despite this intense grief, we did our damndest to ensure their fun/possible comfort on their last day.

When they were laid to rest, I continued the tradition of their post mortem photoshoot surrounded with flowers.

I hope you find them as beautiful as I found them during their lifetimes.

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Cw: pet death, image of body, mention of cannibalism and abuse

I had to put down my first ever rat, Venus, in November of 2022.

Her story and personality struck me to the core, as did spending her remaining moments with her. She’d overcome adversity I could never imagine.

Around Early July 2021, an old friend of mine, whom I’m no longer in contact with, purchased Venus and her cagemate during an intense manic episode. As they continued to spiral, so did Venus’ and her cagemate’s care.

After two weeks, the cagemate was found dead in the cage, cannibalized by Venus. I’ve researched this topic and found it’s a normal behavior for desperate rats. The cagemate passed from medical issues and Venus needed to keep the cage clean.

Though masked as concern for my friends mental wellbeing, it was purely concern for Venus’ health that I took her in with little knowledge of rat husbandry. I made many mistakes, but Venus was still in a much healthier space than she had been.

I spent the next two years consistently bettering my keeping of rats, and Venus grew to adapt and even thrive in a routine with her new sisters. She’d developed some quirks such as biting faces (and faces only), jumping immediately on shoulders when picked up, hanging out in Her hammock, and ending fights even if she didn’t start them.

She was my girl.

When the parotid gland cancer took over and grew to a point of discomfort, it was her time.

As has become tradition, in honor of her, I took a post-mortem photoshoot of her body surrounded with flowers. It, as well as the photos of her “goodbye” sisters, have become my masterpiece—something very near to my heart.

I hope you enjoy it maybe a fraction of how much I enjoyed the time I spent with this girl.

[stevietelevision]

@pangur-and-grim Meet Kimeko (aka Fluffernutter) who's a purebred Himalayan and the sweetest girl alive

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head bent over, raise your posterior

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me: *is nice* me: *regrets it*