companion
only
Health: Sato
had average health. She suffered from demyelinization in her
hind legs the last 8 months of her life, yet still managed a quality
life. She also had one respiratory infection.
Temperament: Sato
was a cuddle bug. She would sleep with anyone who was willing
to scritch behind her ears. She gave kisses by pressing her
nose into lips, as well as grooming fingers.
Her Story: I
stopped by the St. Paul branch of the HSCA (I worked in animal care
at the Woodbury shelter) to see what rats were there. There
was only one rat named Cindy. I picked her up and she started
licking my arm. I thought she was a sweet girl, but decided to
leave her there.
I couldn't get Cindy the
rat out of my mind so the next day I decided that I would go back
and adopt her during my hour long lunch break. She came
home and was renamed Misato from the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion
because she loved to eat. She was later renamed Sato when I
told that satoo in Japanese means sugar, and Sato was definitely
sweeter than sugar.
About 6 months after I
adopted her, Sato began to show symptoms of weakness in her hind
legs. Her legs continued to deteriorate over the next 8
months. After a while she would spend her time on the bottom
level of the cage and sleep in the soft cuddle cup bed. She
was always at the door when I came home, and she would actually pull
herself up several of the bars. She continued to live a
quality life despite her disability.
Late on August 14, 2003
Sato was showing signs of her age. She wanted to be with me,
so I made her a bed on a corner of mine and kept my hand on her
until she passed silently into the night on August 15th at 1:19 AM.
She is deeply missed by me and her best friends Mara and Ki.
I'll love you forever.
*Nuzzle kisses*
