I’m glad my husband stopped reading my blog…because there are some things he’s just better off not knowing.
We have pet mice. I’ve written all about them. First there were three girls, somehow they had babies, we neutered the male we didn’t know we had, somehow they all died, I immediately replaced them with four more, and of those four…two remain.
Don’t be grossed out…they’re sisters. It’s a beautiful thing. But the black one will not stop scratching herself. She has horrible cuts across her neck from scratching. I pointed her out to Pat and was all, “doesn’t that just make you feel awful!?! When you see those cuts on her?” and Pat was all “No not at all…it makes me want to throw it in the garage for the cats.”
But when I see the cuts on the mouse I cringe…just like when I see open soars on my son after he’s been scratching at his eczema. I love my son more then the mouse (one would hope right?), but I feel sorry for her.
I told Twitter about my problem and she was all “take your mouse to the vet and have her put down.”
So I did.
The daycare kids had no idea that our little “field trip” was actually a “death march”, but you know…it’s the cycle of life.
So we drop it off at the vet and are told to return in 15 minutes for the body.
I know.
I grieved with my tall caramel latte after swinging through the local Starbucks and then returned to the vet for my mouse, feeling partially sad that it had to be killed and partially relieved that it was out of it’s misery.
But when I got there the giddy doctor came back and was all, “I think we can save your mouse!!” and I was all “oh. So it’s…alive?? What great news!” and she was all “Yes! Your mouse has mange…which are mites…and she will need three treatments. Come back once a week for the next three weeks and sterilize your mouse’s cage!”
And this is the part where I’m glad my husband no longer reads my blog…
I paid $20 for the mouse’s little treatment. In three weeks I’ll have spent $60 on saving this black mouse.$60 for a mouse that would cost about $2 to replace.
I’m ignoring the fact that the doctor advised me to bring the sister in for treatments too since this “mange” is contagious.
$120 on two mice?
I know.
The white mouse is not scratching like the black mouse is so I’m just going to let her go on and do her thing. But my conscious won’t let me NOT treat the black mouse.
My Dad once lectured me on “God’s Creatures” after I dumped a coffee can of potato bugs I’d been collecting in the middle of the yard. “They’re just bugs!” I said. But then he said the words that I’ve carried with me for the rest of my life, “We’re all God’s Creatures…even the little bugs.”
I probably would have forgotten that lesson if my Dad hadn’t gone and died a year later. But because he died I took every important lesson he taught me and made it my life’s mission to live accordingly. It’s why I’ve never attempted to smoke a cigarette and refuse to experiment with drugs. I’m holding on to those few lessons I was lucky enough to receive from him. (My mother is doing the sign of the cross right now…”thank you Jesus”.)
Which is why I cannot let this mouse die…it’s God’s Creature. I will either go straight to hell OR I can save it and God will greet me with a crown of roses at the threshold of heaven’s gates for helping his mouse.
Which would YOU choose?
$60 to save a mouse or a crown of roses at the gates of heaven? The answer is clear, no?
Missy says
you are a good person, no matter what anyone says about you. ;)
I however, am going to hell. I found mouse in my house tonight and I don’t think it will still be alive in one week, depending on what the exterminator says. oy. Good luck with YOUR mice. :)
Kristin says
I am of the opinion that if you bring an animal into your home then you are responsible for it. If it gets sick, you should take it to the vet and have it treated or humanely euthanize (depending on the problem) so I would absolutely get the mouse treated.
That being said..I shuddered at the picture of your daughter holding that mouse. They make my skin crawl.
Jacki says
I completely agree with Kristin and applaud you for treating the mouse. They rely on us for food, shelter, and healthcare (as well as love) and if we are going to have pets, we should do everything we can to help them.
I once worked at an animal hospital and a gentleman came in with his son and dog and wanted to euthanize the dog because he needed a nail trim and had flees. Unfortunately, he also wanted to be in the room, so we couldn’t sneak the dog off to a new home. As he was leaving, he actually told his son they would go out and look for a new dog.
And for those that say that mice don’t have personalities, they do. If my lizards display very distinct personalities, then mice have got to have them as well. I know that my rats did (crappy, mean, and grumpy personalities)
Mama Kat says
Jacki that is SO sad! You actually had to euthanize his dog?? I can’t believe that! That guy just sounds like a creep!
Jackie says
OMGesus. It’s a tough call.
I have a conscious. I get it. I’m down with G-O-D (that was a little throwback to Sister Act) and His creatures. But here’s how to solve that problem in the future.
Step 1: Accidently leave out the “note you wrote yourself” while talking with the vet about how much the potential charges would be if you brought the mouse in. [It doesn’t hurt if you’re a habitual underliner or tend to overuse highlighters on words like “HUNDREDS of dollars.”]
Step 2: Wait for nosey husband to read note and approach you.
Step 3: Once he brings it up, suggest to him that you just don’t know what else to do. It’s not like you’d CARE if the thing ran away but as long as it is under your control and it’s your responsibility you’re going to do the right thing. [Insert God’s creatures story from childhood, because let’s face it… that’s classic.]
Step 4: Mouse magically diappears.
Step 5: Go buy yourself something pretty.
The. End.
JHS says
If we were talking about a cat or a dog, it would be an easy discussion. Because, after all, those animals have personalities. They communicate. They comfort. They run the house. My Sophie is practically perfect in every way and virtually human.
But a mouse? I just don’t know how one gets attached to a mouse. It has no personality. It can’t communicate. It’s a rodent for which one calls an exterminator. Or beats it over its little head with a shingle, like my mother did the mole she once found in our backyard. Mice are, unlike dogs or Jinxie the cat in “Meet the Parents,” completely interchangeable.
The difference between you and me is that there would not have been mice in my house in the first place. Hence, no decision needed.
Good luck.
Mama Kat says
You sound like my husband…to which I say…really? You don’t think even mice have little personalities and families and feelings? Am I five years old? Because I TOTALLY do!
Nadia says
xsunkistxangelx, July 20, 2013 at 12:35 pm Well if you see the cat killing the mouse you can obsviuoly put on some gloves and get rid of the mouse before the cats eat it. Other then that, cats have a natural instincs of killing and eating mice. And no, cats cant guard other cats from chasing mice either. Sorry! (:
Jessica says
I have spent more money on my dogs than I care to admit so I would have also spent the $120 on the mice.
Lau says
I am so happy you did the responsible, compassionate thing for the black mouse!
I loved my pet mice as a child. I prefer pet rats because they are more intelligent and affectionate (and they smell nicer), but I remember the personality of every mouse, rat, and other pet I have owned. Mice have personalities, and awareness. They feel fear and discomfort. They know their humans. There are plenty of studies that support these facts, even though it may make some people uncomfortable.
Taking on the responsibility of a pet is a drastically different undertaking than protecting your home from a wild animal. Domesticated mice are very different from wild mice, they are no more interchangeable than wolves and dogs.
I hope your mice have long, happy, healthy lives. :-)
Mama Kat says
Bravo! Well said and thank you! I feel very good about my decision when I have all these mouse lovers supporting me. :) And great point about wild versus domestic!
Lau says
You are welcome, and you deserve the support!
I forgot to mention, to prevent future infestations many rat/mouse enthusiasts put every bag of bedding in the freezer for 24 hours to kill any mites/render the eggs inviable. The mites that infest mice are not known to be “contagious” to humans. Switching to an unscented newspaper based pellet cat litter like Exquisicat or Yesterday’s News is another way to limit the risk of mites without involving your freezer. The newspaper pellets usually work out to be cheaper than a quality wood bedding, like aspen chips. Pine and Cedar cause respitory damage in mice and rats. Mice and rats from private breeders tend to be healthier than their petstore counter parts, just like a dog from an ethical breeder tends to be healthier than one from a puppy mill.
http://www.rmca.org and http://www.afrma.org are good souces of information on mouse and rat care, and if you were interested in finding a breeder near you at some point, you might be able to find some listed on those sites.
Best of luck!
Scary Mommy says
I just paid $300 to get my mice exterminated. I swear, we’re, like, the same person!!!
OHN says
You are a good mom. Crazy, but a good mom. (one thought just popped into my mouse sized brain—-is mange contagious to humans? ewwww)
Mama Kat says
Ew is right.
And I hope not.
Suddenly feeling very itchy…
Amy says
I remember the time my dog ate rocks. We’re sitting in the vet and they come back with the xray – “stomach full of rocks” was her official diagnosis. They sat there looking at me for at least 5 minutes and finally I said “um, am I supposed to say something?” and the vet said “a lot of people just take their dog home and hope they can live with the blockage or will throw the up. It’s almost $1000 to do this surgery… but we can’t guarantee anything else will help.” I was flabbergasted that people would choose to NOT save their pet. Of course I left her there. I came back the next day, paid a bill that, at that time, was nearly equal to one of my take-home paychecks and then asked “can I at least keep the rocks?”
The moral of the story – I totally support you!! Save all the mice! :) (PS – she doesn’t eat rocks anymore)
Mama Kat says
Awwww…I would have saved the dog too. I don’t think I could sleep at night knowing she had a belly full of rocks. SO glad she stopped that habit though. That’s one hefty bill!
Kelly G in ATX says
OMG, that was too funny. I grew up on a horse farm where we slaughtered our own chickens and cats and dogs met their dooms regularly, so I learned not to get too attached to pets, but I totally get the bit about God’s creatures! You gotta do what you gotta do! And you know what, it’s a good lesson for your kids too on responsibilities to others.
Her from @6degreeslove says
I would pay it….IF I could get away doing it without Him knowing. If He knew, I’d be screwed and couldn’t in my conscience pay that money. Poor little mouse.
Christine King says
Geez I hate to sound like the non mouseketeer person here but it would be bye bye mousey. But I will defend to the death your right to..maybe not but I would put up a good argument for your right to..
Chris
Mama Kat says
You can join ranks with my sister then, who no doubt, vomited after reading a post about mice. LOL
KIr says
IF I had a mouse in our house (IF, IF, IF) I would have to pay to save it, my Catholic Guilt would never let me allow that mouse to die. GEESH.
I am so wearing that crown of roses!
Jennifer says
I’m with Pat.
Mama Kat says
Oh BOO to Pat Supporters!
;)
Christi says
I think I would just take her to the nearest field and set her free. I would then walk away, humming “Circle of Life”, while a lone eagle observed from a distance, biding his time…
Mama Kat says
Haha! “And the sun rolling high…through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless rooound!!!”
But she would be so SCARED out there all by herself!
Kara B. says
I have absolutely no room to talk since I paid $300 for my cat to have a blood transfusion when I found out she had leukemia. She only lived for another couple weeks, but it gave me long enough to say goodbye. I understand the whole “Father’s words of wisdom” as the reason it was so hard to let this cat go was because it was my first year away from home (for college) and this was my childhood cat (got her when I was 7). My father also passed away (when I was 12) so giving up my sweet kitty was also kind of like giving up that part of my life with my family (Dad and brothers and sisters).
I hope your mangy mouse is feeling better soon. :)
Kara B. says
Oh also, my kitty I got when this one was gone killed mice on a regular basis and would bring me their bloody heads each morning as a prize for her MASTER. To each his own!
Mama Kat says
A kitty blood transfusion? If that’s not just the saddest thing EVER!
And mouse heads?? Ew!
jade says
You make me laugh so hard!! Yes, it’s a good thing Pat no longer reads your blog…your struggles are all to familiar to me!
Patrice says
Okay it was not a $2 mouse but I have taken our $20 parakeet to the vet three times for respiratory troubles. For better or worse animals are part of the family. After the second time my husband quit complaining and even warmed the snow covered Jeep up so she would not be chilled on her way to the vet. I would of been guilt ridden for the rest of my life if she died for my lack of trying to get her better.
Mama Kat says
Yeah, I’m pretty sure when these mice die my husband will forbid me from replacing them. :) He had no idea what he was getting himself into!
Dana K says
You don’t even want to know what I spend at the vet each month with 3 huge dogs & two cats. They all have medical &/or behavioral issues.
I would go ahead & spend the money & treat the other mouse. She may have it & not be bothered by it but your currently miserable mouse will start having problems again. Then it’s going to be $120 plus the $60 you’ve already spent. The contagious mange is nasty. People can get it, too, which is another reason to treat both mice. Imagine that doctor visit… ;-)
Daisy says
You could keep the “sister” apart from the ill mouse until the treatments are done and she’s no longer contagious. It’s worth a try.
Tori Nelson says
Your dad would be proud! A little money isn’t so relevant if it goes to save a living, breathing thing :)
Mama Kat says
Right? A little money is just dust down here…
Desi says
That’s a tough call. I blame the vet. I mean, what were you suppose to say after the alleged good news? “Um… yeah, actually we want you to go ahead and kill it.” I don’t think so. Well, I might have said that – but I have a seat saved in hell.
Mama Kat says
Haha! I was thinking the EXACT same thing!! She was so excited and she had already treated it…I really had no other choice but to take my little mouse back and hope for the best. Thanks Doc!
Tina says
Me? NEVER have mice in the first place. But now they have mites? Contagious? Kids holding? Me holding? Where else are the mites now? GONE GONE GONE…all of it! :o)
A Mommy in the City says
As much as mice make my skin crawl, I say pay the money and keep the mouse.
Gerri Curless says
I remember driving like a crazy person with a hamster in a box between my legs at 10 pm to take it to an emergency clinic – $60 we didn’t have to have it put out of it’s misery. I still cried like a baby LOL. Since then we’ve had rats – yes rats – and I don’t even want to tell you what happened to two of their tails!
Mama Kat says
And I’m not going to ask!
But $60 at 10pm to an emergency clinic with a hamster? Totally something I would do!
emily @ the happy home says
yup, i’m just that crazy, too. $2 mouses are just as important as any other family member. the things that stay with you as a little kid!
laeci says
Okay, reading this I totally had flashbacks to when I took my ($5) sick pet rat into the vet to put down… and then, when they asked what to do with the body, I PAID $40 FOR A “COUNTRY BURIAL” (not even sure what that is, but it’s better than the dumpster, right?) My husband thought I was crazy, but after seeing my extreme distress (Question: who cries that much over a rat? Answer: me) he decided not to comment…
Alicia says
We’re not big pet fans over here but we do have a chinchilla. I think part of being a pet owner is being willing to take care of the pet… is that not common sense? We wouldn’t get a pet and not take care of it. But HECK, that’s expensive.
shafeena says
dont look at me ! i actually had my cat shipped from london ( where we got her from) to the UAE which cost me $250 :) … i am biased
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation says
I just still can’t believe you have mice…as pets….
Miss Angie says
I rescued two little rats from being Snake Food, just to find out that one was a boy and one a girl, but since I had fallen in love with them by then-and they were so sweet together, I couldn’t get rid of one. I paid $170 to fix the boy. I felt the same way $170 for a RAT?!?!?! What? But I still love him, so it was worth it.
Cole says
LOL…this is hilarious. THis is definitely something i’d do! FOR SURE!!! My husband would kill me…and i would have to do it behind his back. I can’t see anything suffer…especially if it’s a pet. My husband has a Bearded Dragon, and i can’t be in the same room when he feed’s it crickets. CRICKETS HAVE FEELINGS TOO! Although, they creep the crap out of me…and i don’t know of anyone who has crickets as pets….ok, nevermind. LOL
Kris says
I’ve had about 20 rats in my lifetime, and when they were sick, they were treated. My husband once drove us about 45 minutes to Toronto to a special vet to have 3 of them treated for myco. The vet was awesome, and I only had to pay for 1 instead of all 3. My cat developed mammary cancer, and it was almost 2k in total for surgery and treatment. It gave her another 10 months. People had their opinions, which they had no problem sharing, but I really didn’t give a rat’s hiney. I had her for 14 years, she was like my best friend. After she passed, we adopted a kitten from the shelter. He has half a tail from where they had to amputate from damage he had living outside when they found him. After all the vet bills with my other cat, we continued the pet insurance after the free trial was up. It was a good thing too. He had to be treated for two parasites, developed a 2.5 month long ear infection that required 5 different medications, and on his 1st year visit, it was discovered he has a genetic heart condition that will eventually be fatal. He requires two pills once a day, forever. Without them, he may have passed away months ago. And if you look at him, you would never know anything was wrong. He’s as happy as any other cat, half the time people ask us how he’s doing before they ask us, lol. Some people throw tons of money into their cars or other inanimate stuff but no one says anything. I’m an atheist but I feel like if something is in my care, that its my responsibility to do whatever it is I can to help it. There is no such a thing as a throw away pet. Scratching can also be due to the bedding, or reactions to food. Try to stay away from cedar, its harsh on animals and people (and makes that animal pee smell much worse). Don’t feel bad saving the mouse, I’m sure the mouse and your kids appreciate it!
Cam - Bibs & Baubles says
i’d totally save the mouse too. it’s a steep price to pay – but it’s not some unwanted creature. it’s your pet. i’m a sucker for God’s creatures too! :)
Spokenfor says
Your first and biggest mistake was saying you’d come back for the little critter’s body! lol I have worked in a vet clinic so I have seen how hard it is for some people to deal with the issue of “can I afford to save my pet”. It’s a hard place to be in. I am an animal lover too, but I wouldn’t take food out of my kids mouths for medical treatments for one of my animals and I have seen people make that choice. I’m glad you didn’t have to make a choice like that….
Tara says
So glad you were able to help the mouse! Saving Animals is always worth it.
Jen says
Really?! This is what you have been doing. Why not flush the mouse and spend the money on wine?
kisatrtle says
I think it’s cool you are saving the mouse.
Amy ~ Eat. Live. Laugh. Shop. says
I would have offered the vet an additional $100 to keep his trap shut and kill the mouse.
But you are sweet and clearly deserve the crown of roses!!
Stacey says
That’s a tough one. But I’m with you on the “glad my husband doesn’t read my blog part!” Good luck with your mouse. I honestly hope the other one doesn’t have it too!
Erin says
I had a rat once…..well two rats turned into 24 at one time…..but anyway, this one….she was my favorite, her name was pink. And I spent probably about $500 on this mouse, she had a brain tumor and I couldn’t just put her down. But I ended up having to, but not before spending the money and then went and spent $15 to put her down….and I was devestated!
So I would save the mouse!
CeCe Hester says
I am a new “commenter”
With $4.15 a gallon gas and 3 teenage boys on my auto insurance I am going to have to appear heartless and say…… this mouse/mice lose get to go to a better place!
vegas710 says
Haha! I read this and told my husband I wanted mice. He said NO WAY. But tiny animals have feelings too. I found a vole hunkered down by a gas pump on vacation and I came *this* close to taking the little guy home, he was so cute!!
Andrea says
I think I might have to re-order checks so I can send you one for 60$ to treat the other mouse. :) Just kidding I haven’t ordered checks in years!