Christmas (Heart)Break and Happy Endings

I got a white, gray-hooded rat for Christmas. Having had rats before, but being to young to know what to do with them, I decided this time I would read about how to have the most fun with my cuddly new pet. Ellie is a very skittish little creature, but I read that rats are braver in number, and I decided to get her a cagemate. After going through three different pet stores and failing to find a smaller rat, I decided to get on of the medium-sized ones that had caught my eye earlier on. I took home my newly purchased, cream-hooded white rat, christened "Pip," and let her become acquainted with Ellie. They took to each other like mice to cheese! However, it seemed Pip was physically impaired, and walked awkwardly on her back paws. Feeling the urge to protect the sweet, gentle little rat, I promised to take special care of her. However, one cannot stop the course of nature. The next day she passed away, and it was a heartbreaking moment. After a few days of healing, I decided to try again, and I bought another cream-hooded rat. She was younger than Pip had been, but I feel she was what Pip would have been, if she had had proper use of her hind legs. Trinket, the newcomer, is very energetic and chatty, sweet, and gets along very well with Ellie (even if not as quickly as Pip had). I believe she will help Ellie to earn some confidence and mellow out. I'm looking forward to the time I'll have with my new friends.