Ode to Hammy
The reason why my husband and I decided to let Squeak have a hamster was because we wanted her to learn some responsibility for taking care of a pet and to help her understand death. Hammy our pet hamster died a couple of weeks ago it was a very sad experience for all of us.
Hammy won her way into our hearts just by being so cute. She became a part of the family because Squeak loved her so much. How could we not love her pet to? Just because our hamster was small doesn’t mean she was anything less, she was a loving animal.
Some people might find this funny or silly or even stupid, but when there was a slight hope that we could save our Hammy, I took it, and ended up paying A LOT of money at the vets.
During a week day morning I found Hammy, curled up in a ball in her cage. Not moving but still breathing (just barley), of course Squeak was home and was very upset that she was going to lose her precious animal, whom she loved dearly. I tried to warm Hammy, I tried to get water into her, I really tried everything, and nothing was working. I had to work and I couldn’t bear the thought of Hammy suffering to death. However, did I mention that the vet costs A LOT of money, did we spend it? Yes. And did Hammy die? Um yes she did. But she did not suffer.
That is important for me because I wouldn’t be able to bring her into my office. I got a lot of flak from people, they could not understand why I would bring a hamster that I paid $10 for to a vet to try and save her life. I have no regrets. I am glad I did what I did.
My husband, who is carpenter, made Hammy a coffin and we had a good-bye ceremony. Squeak cried, she had a really hard time saying good-bye. But it was a good lesson for her. She understood what death was and that Hammy would not come back. She was not sleeping and that this good-bye would be forever. My husband and I had such a hard time holding back tears too because we felt so bad for Squeak. Squeak dealt with the loss of Hammy very well and misses her. You never know, there might be another Hammy in the future for her.
Shari Nelson is an advertising sales rep at City Parent and a contributor to the magazine’s social media, including Facebook and Twitter. She has a background in Early Child Care Education, a 4-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old dog. She aspires to own chickens and a goat – maybe a farm one day, a dream she shares with her amazing and talented husband.
