The sad story of Nitley the geriatric hamster...

My friends little girl asked me to watch her most beloved pet hamster for her this week while they are out of town. I agreed. I hadn't seen the hamster in a while but last time I saw him he still looked young and spry. Things had changed.

Monday I went to their house to pick up their dog and the hamster, his name is Nitley. Nitley is probably the most beloved hamster in the history of hamsterdom. She brought out his cage and I took one look at him and thought, "That things is knocking on heaven's door." When I tried to mention the fact that Nitley was looking quite elderly, it was ignored, because the sweet little girl to whom Nitley belongs had come in the room.

I have this Hamster for a week, a FULL week. No way he is going to survive. I don't know if I have some kind of special death meter, I personally believe you would have to be in denial not to have known this thing was on the edge, but they didn't seem to think it would be a problem. I told them he was probably going to die while I had him and that I did not appreciate them pawning off their dying hamster to me, they laughed. Really do you think I am kidding here? Nitley's eyes were sealed shut, you had to give him eye drops, his fur was falling out, he just looked old. I didn't know a hamster could look old, but I am here to tell you they can.

Nitley gave up the good fight this morning, sometime after I left for work, because I checked him and he was still breathing (if you can call it that) this morning. I came home for my break and was told not to go in the bedroom, when I asked why, Jason in formed me of our dear friends passing.

Here is the problem, what do you do with a dead hamster that does not belong to you? I can't really bury him, I don't want to do that without his sweet little owner. She needs to be able to attend the proceedings. So we did the only thing we could do in this situation. We put him in a freezer bag and put him the freezer. I cannot use my freezer for a week now. All of my efforts to make sure he was warm and this is where he ends up. I knew it. I knew this would happen. I called her mom today and gave her the sad news. I don't think they are going to tell Katie until she is closer to coming home, that could make a vacation to San Diego horrible.

All we can do is know he is in a better place. He is a happy hamster who can see. He is in Hamster Heaven.

It was a privilege to know you Nitley.

I was going to take pictures (pre death) but then I thought you really wouldn't want to see the geriatric hamster of doom. Poor thing.

I am going to not think about my freezer, take a bath, and hope I do not get any sicker than I already feel I am getting.