babies

[miriam_e]

Today there was a loud clatter in the kitchen. Upon investigation and it turned out that Mali (the dog) had managed to open a seldom-used cupboard and taken out a baby animal from within. We pulled Mali away from it to see what it was. Then, heart-rendingly as she went to reclaim her prize the poor little thing let out a tiny, horrifyingly human scream.

We rescued it and then found another in some torn up bits of rag. I found some soft towel and nuggled them in it while we discussed what they could be. Were they baby rats? Or were they Antichynus (a kind of small, carnivorous marsupial).

Later in the day I took them to the local veterinarian to ask their opinion. They felt they were not native and offered to take them off my hands. A coward's solution, which I gladly took as I would have found it difficult to kill them and look my niece, Sophie, in the eye again. I would have loved to hand rear them, but doubted my ability to give them the care they'd need at their tender age.

...And I think Julie would have been less than thrilled at me keeping rats in her house. :)

[sigh] I've always wanted a rat companion. They have always struck me as very human.

Maybe one day...