Today Pea's health declined rapidly. She was in a lot of pain and wasn't doing very well at all. I had to make the decision to put her to her eternal sleep.
I just wanted to remember Pea because she's been my little girl and my best friend for the past year and a half. A year and a half is considered a long life for a hamster. She was elderly, yes, but I wasn't ready to say goodbye.
I got Pea around January 2021 as a Christmas present to myself. Or technically a birthday present since it was my birthday in January. When she came home, she immediately dug herself into the bedding of her tank and fell asleep, probably glad to be out of the pet store where it was bright and noisy! When she woke up, she greeted me as if to say, "Thanks for bringing me home!"
She didn't start off with the proper care. I had her in a glass aquarium that was too small for a hamster. I had no idea, I thought it was big enough, but it was too small. Thankfully, she wasn't shy to tell me she hated it and started trying to find ways to escape right away. She chewed at the lid and clawed at the walls. After a week of bringing her home, I switched her into a bin cage that I made myself. It was still too small for a Syrian hamster, but since she was just a baby, it was perfect for her at the time.
She eventually grew bored of the bin cage and started to escape! She escaped many, many times but I always found her every time. I eventually switched to a different bin, this one was bigger with taller sides so she couldn't escape. She liked this one, but still would occasionally paw at the walls. I knew that this wasn't what I wanted for her, so eventually I tracked down the biggest bin I could find on the market. I made it into a bin cage and she was happy for a while. But ofc, she eventually grew tired of it and started to chew on the lid. Thus, began my search for a permanent home for Pea.
I wanted to get a Niteangel hamster cage, but I ended up going with the Pawhut wooden cage. It is HUUUGE! Not my ideal cage, but it was perfect for Pea, who stopped trying to escape.
Pea was spoiled, she went through maybe five different wheels because she wasn't happy with one, so I'd buy another. At the time of her departure, she had three wheels. She loved eating, Pea's favorite food was chicken. She would go absolutely crazy for a piece of chicken! Pea was a very lucky hamster, she had plenty of gourmet meals including a shrimp dinner with angel hair pasta. She tried chicken, shrimp, pasta, and even had some Thanksgiving turkey for the holidays. Pea was an adventurous hamster too. She loved car rides and was curious all the time.
Pea Pea will be missed by everyone in my family. My mom, who doesn't even like animals, LOVED Pea! She loved Pea's determination to do things, Pea taught me to never give up. When Pea put her mind to escaping, there was nothing I could do to stop her from escaping.
Pea used to even sleep in my bed sometimes. She was so calm and well mannered around me that she would just fall asleep on my lap sometimes or in my hand. My mom used to beg me to let her babysit Pea, that's how much Pea changed my mom's mind on animals. It got to a point where my mom is asking me, "Please get another hamster! They are so sweet and funny!"
Pea Pea, I'm glad you're no longer in anymore pain. Be good across the rainbow bridge... I hope to see you again when it's my time to go too. Say hi to Beans and Cookie. My rabbit and chicken, your sister and brother. I'll miss you my funny girl. Fly high.
