25
February
2008
I had five new little foster boys arrive bright and early yesterday morning. They’ve come to me from Furryfriends rescue having recently been handed in by someone who’s pet mice had unexpected litters. Given that they’re only babies they aren’t too hard to handle but three of them are a bit skinnier and scruffy looking than I’d like so feeding them up will be my focus with these guys. There is also a bit of disharmony in the group which I’m hoping might just be them settling after their journey but we all know the score with boy mice so I’ll be watching out in case things escalate.
Anyway I had the boys out for a play and explore last night given they’d had the whole day to get used to the new cage so am pleased to say I already have some piccies! Two of the boys have very similar face markings but the others are easy to tell apart. Aren’t they gorgeous?! 
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23
February
2008
OK so he’s not actually that old and its not exactly a trick but I’m impressed non the less, Mercury (one of the 3 long stay lodger boys) has out of the blue and for no apparent reason taught himself to use a water bottle! This is quite significant because when I first had them their Mum explained to me that none of them would use a bottle and that they would need a bowl for water. This is obviously what I’ve always done but I’ve always provided a bottle too, basically because it felt weird not to lol!
Well all this time the bottle has gone completely untouched so imagine my surprise to suddenly find Mercury drinking from it as though he’s done it all his life, I actually did a double take! Then I panicked in case the boys had somehow emptied/tipped their bowl over and were going thirsty but nope it was still full and clean so Mercs is just being delightfully random! What a clever boy.
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22
February
2008
My old girl Angel passed away last night. I went to feed the big group only to find her quite literally curled up in the food bowl looking for all the world as though she was asleep. I couldn’t help but smile through the tears when I realised she was gone though as, bless her she loved her food and I really can’t think of a more fitting place for her to fall asleep for the final time. In true mousey fashion the others were picking up grain from around her little body as if they thought she was just lying in the way lol but I know Emily will miss her. She and Angel had been together since tiny, as this picture of the day they arrived here just over a year ago shows. I’ve also added a more recent one of my gorgeous girl….sweet dreams baby. 
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16
February
2008
I’ve been struggling for a week to get this diary entry written as very, very sadly little Paradox didn’t come through his surgery. 
The operation itself went smoothly and he was stable throughout but just before they were ready to bring him round he stopped breathing and they couldn’t resuscitate him. After so many successful surgeries the vet was visibly gutted, the only mouse she’d been fearful of losing was Felix when he bled quite heavily during a lump removal yet he was fine within a few hours and such a straight forward procedure ended so tragically for Paradox.
Now I know if he’d been the first boy I’d had neutered I’d be put off for life and I must admit that my initial reaction was ‘not risking this again’! However now I’ve had time to come to terms with what’s happened I know that myself, Paradox’s owner and the vet all made what we felt was the best decision for his future happiness. That this led to his life ending so prematurely is a very difficult thing to get ones head around but I couldn’t in all honesty say that I wouldn’t have felt equally, if not more guilty watching that little man live out his life alone. I have seen many times over the change in a mouse when it has settled with friends after a long time alone. Without exception they have become more active and playful, started demonstrating more normal mouse behaviour and learnt how to interact with their cagemates. They actively seek an already inhabited bed to sleep in (where as mice who have always had company will sleep apart from the group on occasion) and the way they react the first time another mouse grooms them is just indescribable - I know deep down I couldn’t feel comfortable with denying a single mouse the chance to experience this.
Of course as I always have done I will continue to try every other avenue before resorting to having another boy neutered and I’d be lying if I said I will find the decision easy to make next time, not that it ever has been even with all the successes so far! However I do think it would be a tragedy to allow one bad experience to outweigh the many, many good ones when there is every likelihood of this being a complete, albeit tragic, one off. As for little Paradox, I so so sorry it turned out this way sweetheart but as your Mum said recently at least you had a chance of happiness.
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4
February
2008
Well I’ve finally got around to putting up pictures of my little dumped girls. They are both doing so well that I’ve made the decision to introduce them to my main group sooner rather than later. Dot no longer has the hunched up look that worried me or the scuttley little run that earnt her her other name and both girls are putting on a couple of grams a week and getting much bolder and more outgoing.Intros haven’t gone as smoothly as I’d hoped but we’re getting there now and they will really appreciate all the space and company being so young. 
In other news the newest of the term time lodgers now goes by the name of Paradox and he’s going in for his neuter tomorrow so everyone keep things crossed for us. He’s so sweet and I really can’t wait to see him settled with a group of friends, bless him.
Otherwise things are pretty uneventful here (well mouse wise anyway lol!) so without any further ado can I please introduce to you Poppy, Dot and Paradox in that order.
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