by Whitewolffie

My first hamster was bought for me by my husband when we first met. I was 19 and into rats. I lived on my own in a not to pleasant situation. I had bought a baby rat to keep me company in my travels and help me to deal with all the bad things going on. I use to carry it every where.

Well I met my husband to be one day and we hit it off. I had moved into a little better place and he would come and visit and really liked my rat Ben. Well we decided to marry but first he wanted me to move in with his folks and him. Well I did. Then I got the news. NO RATS! his father hated rats. Ben would have to go. I cried my husband was very upset but we had no money and no place to go. So Ben left. Also a BIG part of my heart went with him. I missed him greatly he and I had been through the good and bad together. Now he was gone.

My husband (boyfriend at the time) Saw how much I missed my "baby". So he surprised me and took me to a pet store. There we looked around at the birds and fish act. I didn't want to go next to the rodent section. So we were getting ready to leave when we saw a tank next to the register. It had baby hamsters. To be exact they were Teddy Bear babies. They were just 5 weeks old and soooooo cute.

Well we bought one and Teddy came to live with us. I carried Teddy everywhere with me. He slept next to our bed and got the best of everything. When we moved into our own apartment Teddy was the fist to move in. In his roll about ball he was fearless. Checking out every corner under every piece of furniture. And of course getting stuck. Then we added a new member to our family. A rescue kitten. She and Teddy were introduced and became fast friends.

Teddy had a cage that had a wire cover on it and the kitten as it grew to a cat had figured out how to open the top.(Kitten was part Siamese.) One evening My husband then and I were laying on the floor watching TV, when the cat came over and laid down really carefully between our heads. She gentle laid Teddy down next to her and watched as Teddy crawled all around on the floor and over the cat. We were in shock . But When ever we laid on the floor to watch TV the cat would go get Teddy and we all would watch TV together.

Soon a baby became part of the family. Teddy was getting up in age. Teddy had moved from Connecticut to Maine to Connecticut and back to Maine and now for his finale trip to New Hampshire. We had our first child in New Hampshire. Teddy was there for the big event. He came out of his house when all was quiet to say his congratulations. Teddy was now 2 years old. Life had been good to him. But now he was showing age. His eyes were getting cloudy and always getting colds in them. My mother took him to her home to give him 24 hour care as the baby was taking up my time. She would sit in a rocking chair and hold a warm teabag on his eyes. Teddy would lay there quietly and enjoy the warmth.

My father would carry him around in his pocket of his flannel shirt. If you saw my Dad Then you would see Teddy all curled up in his pocket.

One Saturday morning my father went in to check on Teddy. He put his hand down next to teddy and Teddy sniffed his hand but didn't move. It Looked like Teddy had a stroke in the night and couldn't move his back legs or his right front leg. My Dad picked him up and put Teddy in his pocket. Teddy let out a sigh of contentment. Dad puttered around the kitchen. Checking his pocket often. Finally Dad checked his pocket an hour after he had picked Teddy up. He put his finger in the pocket a petted Teddy on the head. Teddy gave a long sigh and a long happy life was over.

Teddy died in his favorite spot. Being the best little buddy anyone could ask for. We Love and Miss You Teddy! Thanks for Being there!