Rest in peace, Juno

[Little Hammy Moon]

It’s been a long time since I’ve last poked around here, but I still want to share my dearest Juno’s departure.

Yesterday, Juno was laying on her side under her water bottle. She had very rapid breathing, and didn’t seem too well. Not long after, she went back to her burrows. I had a bad feeling; it felt like an omen of sorts. And then she made no noise that night, which is an unusual occurrence for her.

Today, I found her after digging a bit in her bedding. She had peacefully died in her sleep, and rather recently because rigor mortis hadn’t set in yet.

I’ll be honest, it doesn’t feel quite real yet. I know she’s gone but it’s as though she’s just doing her Juno things, and I’ll see her some time next week.

She was born on October 10th 2023, so she was 2 years and 8 months old, an old gal!

She was my first hamster from a breeder, my first healthy hamster and my first ghost hamster. She did her own things without us interacting, and always did them with a sort of confidence. At first she was rather nervous but as time went on noise or movement didn’t bother her anymore. She adored gerber puffs, black fly larvae, and dried corn (she went crazy for those!)

Whenever she was accidentally woken up, she always looked so scruffy and drowsy (a silly sight to see). As if aware of her dignity, it wouldn’t take long for her to start cleaning herself.

I’ll miss her. I’ll miss seeing her run on her wheel, not understanding the concept of water bottles, or witnessing her viciously attacking a chunk of dried corn. I’ll miss the rare occasion where I get to feel her soft fur. She was my friend, and I truly do love her.

Rest in peace, my gal.

[CallaTheHam]

i’m so sorry for your loss, juno was such a sweetheart. she had such a good long life, i know she was thriving through every bit of it i hope you’re doing alright.

it’s great to see you again, though i wish it weren’t such poor circumstances. rest in peace juno we will always remember you!