I tend to agree with what's been said here. I just lost my girl Jackie today. And yet, as much as I grieve her loss, here is my philosophy: when I adopted her and her foster sister, Squeaks, 20 months ago, I adopted Jackie from a home where she wasn't getting the greatest care. She was 6 months old at the time and had been kept in a too-small cage, alone, lonely, the bare-bone basics. I was supposed to 'give her back' to the original owner at the time. Feeling sorry for her, I'd adopted Squeaks (a six week old girl) from a local pet store who delighted in selling rats for feeders, as I'd wanted Jackie to have company: I'd told my family member (who'd originally adopted Jackie) that I would send her back with an adopted sister, and a bigger cage, so that Jackie would have more room, and some rattie company.
Yet, a week into that, I couldn't let myself let them go. I wavered back and forth; I'd lost a lot of rats prior to that (all heartbreaking) and I'd thought: if I give Jackie and Squeaks back to my family member, I won't have to grieve over them later...but I'll always feel badly because I'd know they'd NEVER have the quality care that I could give them. OR, I could keep them and give them great lives, but it would mean me grieving one day when each of them goes.
Well, Jackie passed over today. I miss her a lot; I ache. But you know what? I don't regret it for once instance. It was my part of the bargain; in order to guarantee that Jackie and Squeaks got great lives...spoiled, all vet needs met, outdoor play, lots of TLC, etc., it meant that I had to make that sacrifice; I had to be willing to 'grieve' one day in order to ensure that they had great lives filled with love.
So, as of today, I'm fulfilling my end of the bargain. I'm grieving the loss of Jackie. And yes, it hurts like only rat lovers know. But, despite this ache, I wouldn't have had it any other way. I know that I did every possible thing I could have done for Jackie (as I'll do for Squeaks). I loved her every second; I continue to love her and know her spirit feels that. She had the absolute best that I could give her. She went back to Heaven a loved and contented rat. Maybe her body had broken down (and yes, it was her time to go; I know it, I'd accepted it, as much as it hurts) but I know that her time here on earth was wonderful with me.
Was it worth the grief? You'd better believe it.
My love for her will live on forever. I am so glad that I decided to keep them. I am taking care of Squeaks now. We are consoling each other. But I did my part: I was the best earth mother I could be to Jackie (and many other rats and animals), and she goes back to Spirit a happy rat.
All of us are born on this earth; call our birth 'Point A' and call our death 'Point B'; if the time spent between Point A and Point B can be happy, contented time, then we've had a great life, and we move on into a contented spiritual existence.
I supplied the 'great life' between those two points; if grief is the price we pay in order to bring joy to these blessed little animals, then I'll bear the grief.
Just keep loving them. That's all that counts.
