STORY of the RAINBOW BRIDGE Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... ~Author unknown~ ***************************************** Our Boys who have gone to the Rainbow   ABRY Dash II Dumbo Agouti Berkshire Sire of Celtic Lore and Mythical Creatures litters 12/14/05 - 10/13/07 ( Heart Failure) <3 Dash is a king! and gets treated as so by his human and rattie companions. * 10/14/07 This has been a very rough month here at 13MR. After losing Bri just two weeks ago, we have now lost our dear Dash to heart failure. We love you Dashy Poo! RIP ABRY Legolas American Blue Hooded Sire of The Greys Anatomy Litter 12/15/05 - 1/02/08 (Passed peacefully in his sleep) <3 Legolas is a gorgeous blue boy with a personality to match. If I were still breeding for hooded I would attempt to breed him one last time.  Legolas lived a nice long rattie life and was a wonderful boy to the end. ((HUGS)) 13MR Dylan Blue Agouti Hooded Sire of The Zodiac Litter 5/28/06 - 12/17/07 <3 Dylan is by far my favorite boy. He is SO gental and loving. He will lay on his back in your hand for long periods of time. He developed an inner ear infection which resulted in a permanent head tilt at a year of age.  Dylan had a weakened immune system after his ear infection and lost his fight at 19 mths of age. 13MR Casanova Boy - Dumbo Mink Masked Velveteen 1/26/08 - 2/15/08 *this little boy is failing to thrive and is tiny compared to his sibs. <3 UPDATE: Cas lost his fight just short of three weeks old. Have a blast playing with the other ratties at the rainbow bridge little prince. We love and miss you. Sadly I no longer have a pic of this boy but I want to pay tribute to him here. ********************************** Justice Dumbo Black Irish Born to Syndra of the 2006 Petaluma Rescue Justice was a very special boy who shared a short yet very rich life here with us. RIP sweet boy. <3 Fist Black Hooded Tailless early '06 - 3/30/08 Fist came to us as a rescue. He has hind end weakness and because he was kept alone before we got him he was highly aggressive toward other rats. He is now able to freerange with the other boys for short periods of time without incident and resides with his bff Hodge Podge. I knew before going to bed last night that Fist may not be with us in the morning. Indeed he did pass in his sleep after a long full life. Fist was full grown when we adopted him in the spring of 2006 so although we don't know his exact age, we do know that he was well over two years old. We'll miss your arnery personality around the house, Fist. <3   Johnny Fawn Self DoB 7/20/06 - 5/24/08 <3 Yes, more Petaluma boys. Johnny, James and Orlando were all born a day after Chino amd Cruz. Their mom was a beautiful tiny Beige girl with the most perfect round tulip ears. I don't know how old she was when she came up to live with me but she souldn't have been more that three months old and had a big round prego belly on her. Johnny and James look and act a lot alike. But as time has passed Johnny has lightened up a bit in color. Chino Mink Berkshire DoB 7/19/06 - 5/29/08 <3 Chino was born to Petaluma rescue mom, Padme. He has the cutest crooked little face that he refused to let me get a good photo of. I guess he prefers his profile. =D We lost Chino just days after the passing of his forever cagemate Johnny. It's good to know they are playing together, over the bridge, like young ratties once again.   3GR Frosty Dumbo Pearl Merle DoB 11/21/06 - 6/14/08 (sudden death - cause unknown) <3 Frosty is one photogenic stud of a man. His photo says it all. He's an incredibly mellow boy who loves to spend his evenings munching on popcorn and taking in a good movie with his mommy. GGR Sugar (Pet Only) Mink Hooded DoB 8/19/06 - 7/01/08 <3 Sugar is a wonderful companion to humans but is VERY bossy with the other ratties (he does well with his cagemates), so we made the decision not to breed him.     ABRY Snicker Dumbo Fawn Hairless DoB 5/01/06 - 7/09/08 He lived a good long, happy, healthy life. I love him SO MUCH! Snicker is an incredibly healthy hairless boy who has been an great asset to me current hairless line. He has had very few abscesses in his full life and has produced offspring with very few abscess issues. 7/09/08 - This is a very sad day for 13MR. We will miss this guy dearly.                                 Why Rats Are Only With Us a Short While One day, some angels went to God and asked if they might spend some time on Earth, to learn and perhaps to teach. He answered that some of the people might be frightened of the angels, that His children's idea of beauty might not be His own. The angels replied that maybe those who could look past the differences deserved the blessings that they could give. But God was still concerned. The angels needed Heaven's air to breathe; they would suffocate down on Earth. The angels promised to hold their breath as long as possible, and would return when they could not hold it anymore. God agreed and sent down the angels. Many people were frightened of these creatures, despised them, and tried to kill them in large numbers. However, the few who recognized the angelic qualities in the beings took them in and sheltered and fed them. In return, they received more joy and laughter then they could possibly imagine. But alas, soon the angels could hold their breath no longer. After just a short Earth time, they left to go back to Heaven. But they were sure to tell the next group of angels exactly who to seek out when they went down. ~Author Unknown~