tenzing

Chopper and I made the extremely difficult decision to put Tenzing to sleep last night.  He’s been steadily declining over the past few months and while he has had moments and days of happiness — like polishing off a nice dinner of fried chicken and green beans from Jestine’s tonight — he’s had a number of ailments that have been causing him discomfort.  We’ve been very concerned over the past couple of days and he took a turn for the worse Thursday night.

He was almost three years old, and we’ve known him since just about the hour of his birth in our living room.  He was the only hedgehog in a quite unexpected litter to a rescue girl (Lovey Junior) who we were helping transport to Florida for a forever home.  He was unquestionably the sweetest tempered hedgehog I’ve ever known.  I’ve got, of course, lots of photos of our dear boy online.

Thanks for your well wishes and support … We’re missing him terribly already and expect to hassle poor Dexter with a lot of attention (and most probably, lots of treats) in the coming days.

It’s Tenzing’s second birthday.  He has had a rather laid back day - not too different from the ordinary.  In other words, lots of treats, play, and snuggling.  (Yes, you can snuggle a hedgehog.)

I have invested today in playing with WordPress and Gallery and getting the new version of the web site online. I’ve settled everything with the Photo Gallery as well, so check out some new (and old) photos online. I’ll be adding more frequently.

Speaking of photos, I think this one of Tenzing fairly well sums up his current condition. While he’s not as spry as he has been, he’s pretty chill. We’re feeding him baby food out of a syringe twice a night, and he’s just thrilled to lay on his back and enjoy being bottle fed. Silly little monster.

Dexter is also doing very well. He’s settled into the household well, enjoying time on his wheel and generally being the sneakiest little hedgehog I have ever seen. He sleeps in a fabric hat under a pigloo, and he is very good at not being seen out of said pigloo. I can drop a few treats in a dish, leave the room, and come back to find them mysteriously gone, but no sign of the hedgehog who ate them (presumably).For the curious, no, the boys do not get along. Tenzing is determined to … well … woo Dexter and Dexter wisely is having none of it. He’ll do a header right off the sofa to get away from his dirty minded big brother.

I mentioned previously that Tenzing had some major surgery for a tumor, which turned out to be malignant. I just wanted to update everyone that the little fellow is doing marvelously. He’s a little wobbly when he first gets up, and is definitely slower than before. However, he’s active (wheeling!), eating well, and generally as laid back as any hedgehog has a right to be. Chopper and I are very happy.