Wow. What a shock to the system this has been. Molly, my first rat, my guardian, my keeper. Molly's story began sad and has now ended, happily. For all who has followed her progress, here is the short story. It is important to be told because there is hope for aggressive rats. Molly probably wasn't born an aggressive rat, she was made one through systematic abuse by careless owners. She was kept in a 10 gallon hamster cage, Molly is a large rat. Her cage was never cleaned and she was kept for 6 months with a rottweiler in the house with her. I love dogs, but some dogs do not like rats. After constant torment by the dog, molly's cage was finally broken into. Molly was surely done for, but she is pretty hardcore and cause such damage to the dog that it required vet attention. Molly was going to be euthanized for harming the dog so, until the owners girlfriend talked to me about taking her in. I never had rats. I was a mouse and hedgehog mommy. But we made room and took her in. I bought the biggest cage i could find, toys, etc. Molly could never be touched, she was never socialized. If you got to close, she would get you, it was almost a game. I tried to positively reinforce her and say things like "you almost got me Molly, next time you'll get me" Shed laugh and thats how things went. Soon Waffles and Dandelion came to live with Molly to keep her company. They were babies and molly protected them fiercely. She raised them to be the confident beautiful girl rats they are today.
Thank you Molly for bringing rats into my life, I could never hold you, kiss you, or rub your ears, but you knew I loved you. I never felt I missed out on anything with you, we loved each other from within your comfort zone.
You passed away an old woman rat, just shy of your 4th birthday. Godspeed my darling, daddy has been crying a lot..but do not feel bad Molly, we know we will see you again. Guard my babies in heaven well my angel.

My tribute to molly.

Labels: Molly farewell