So how's Rizzo doing?

Three days before Oscar's vet appointment (it was just suppose to be a normal follow-up) I have been at work of my last day of 72 hours. My friend who was watching my boys back home called me at the hospital, in tears, trying to explain to me in layman's terms - Oscar isn't doing to well, what should I do? I did the best to comfort her with Oscar and was lucky enough to go home that morning and spend time with Oscar and Rizzo together.

Oscar (on the left) passed away a little over a week ago - I don't make mental death date notes, for the reason it's too depressing - having to euthanize him due to what the veterinarian believe was a metastasizing cancer mass. Oscar was 2.5 years old, loved and respected until the very end. Yet I have to share that something odd and special happened whenever Oscar passed away that I wasn't prepared for compared to the past rats I had owned.

Whenever I am pulling long shifts my boys are either being watched at my boss's home where I can visit them in the evening from work, at the EMS station with me, or I have a good friend/EMS buddy who actually goes to my place and let the boys out to play. So Oscar and Rizzo have been not only been cared for, loved, shared, and watched over by me - but really with a whole swell of people. Oscar and Rizzo has been my PR (positive report) on rats since working in EMS. My boss and many others never thought of pet rats, but until they met mine and how Oscar and Rizzo's personality were totally different. My boss and like many others, were as sad and remorseful like I was whenever Oscar died. It should have occurred to me that while they played, fed, and watched my boys as I worked that the sitters would become attached. Well I guess I was aware really, whenever Oscar and Rizzo would travel with me I would say to them, "So who wants to visit Aunt/Uncle/Brother/Grandma or pa so and so...?" But it really didn't hit me until Oscar's death with me having to share the news to so many people, and to have the same concern of - So how's Rizzo doing?

Of all the warm sympathies and comfort over Oscar, what hit me the most was the worry of Rizzo's well-being. Well overall since Oscar's death, Rizzo has not changed in food intake or behavior. I have noticed though that he has been less active once put back in his cage after playtime. I can just tell that he misses his old buddy, not knowing what to do with himself alone. I trying to mimic rat stitching by my hand on him, and poor guy freaked out! He pushed down my hand and re-cleaned the spot I just stitched as if saying, "NO No no, you're doing all wrong. Now I have to fix it. Thanks for the effort, but humans can't do it right."

I recently went to Fort Worth and picked up two young male rats from a rescue - PocketAngels. I will update more later, I really hope the three will become good pals.