Today I have no babies scampering around the extra bedroom, there are no more water and food dishes, no more treat trays, no more toys and sleeping facilities. Nothing! The silence is deafening the heart break is terrible. From a max of 18 personal kids down to my last four, I realized that age and the things I have put my body through over the years were taking their toll as it was getting harder for me to get down on the floor to clean cages and pick up papers. Then one day I found my little girl Olive barely alive and of course rushed her to the vets but it was the end of time for her on this earth she was eight years old, then two weeks later I found Ringo he was two years old and his time had come as well, another three weeks and I found my big, dark, old man lacking two months of being 10 very sick and of course his time as come as well leaving only my 5 year old Pepper. I took this boy to our shelter and ask Deb to take care of him until he too crossed the bridge, gave her all the "stuff" including cages, food etc and told her that any medical bill would be on me as even though he no longer lives with me I will always be his dad and will love him forever. I have buried so many little ones and have wept over each and everyone of them and I do miss all of them. I will always have my memories and of course pictures of each and every one. I know they are on the other side of the bridge, young and healthy and having a wonderful time, waiting for the day I join them all but until that day, my heart is heavy, my house is lonely and just too quiet so until that day comes for you that you cannot take care of your babies properly, love them, hold them and above all enjoy the time you have with them. Thank you all for coming into my life Patrick [Posted in FML 7476]