I too don’t think keeping rats is weird. In fact, we just lost our little rat lady Dominique at the beginning of this month and the spouse and I are still upset about it. She had the same sort of thing–respiratory problems. The vet put her and her sister Dagny on antibiotics, and Dag recovered but Dominique didn’t. She died in my hand while we both sat on the floor and stroked her until she was gone. We hope it was comforting for her to slip away in a warm hand instead of in her cage.
Dagny’s doing fine and doesn’t seem as lonely as I’d feared she would be–we give her extra treats now 'cause we know she’s getting old and won’t be with us much longer.
He hung on for 2 days after the vet visit, then keeled over, feet-up dead! The vet was surprised he managed that long. The wife is very nurturing and loving.
if it turns out conclusive that the critters were poisoned, it will be turned over to the proper authorities. it would have had to be intentional, as the dogs were in a large fenced area and could not have gotten out and into any anti-freeze on their own.
enough of this depressing stuff! everybody go home and have a good weekend!
