Barry's Animal Stories: 2014

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

Introducing you to Mags, Gracie and Pumpkin!

Hello there!

I thought I'd introduce you to the new family members... Mags, Gracie and Pumpkin. Before I share with you some photo's, I'll give you a little back story...

A few months ago (around August time) I went into the pet shop to get some animal food. I always have a little look in the adoption center and 3 rats caught my attention. These 3 rats were called Mags, Gracie and Pumpkin. Having already had 14 animals, there was no way I could take on any more animals, I don't do the cleaning but that's besides the point!

Shortly after, Twinkle died (I did a post on Twinkle if you scroll back) leaving just Daisy and Lucy. I hadn't thought about the 3 rats in the adoption center for a while until last week I needed some cat litter. I deliberately hadn't been into the pet shop for the past few months in case I saw the 3 rats...

I was saddened to discover that Mags, Gracie and Pumpkin were still there. They looked a lot unhappier than a few months back and were all huddled in a little tube in a glass tank. Previously they had been so lively and very affectionate but it was like they had given up. I had no room and money isn't exactly rolling in but I just couldn't leave them there any longer so I decided I had to adopt them. They're incredibly affectionate and being kept away from Daisy and Lucy. Unfortunately, Lucy has cancer and doesn't have long left but I'm making sure her last few weeks/months are happy for her.

Here are a few pictures of the new adopted family members. You can tell they're incredibly grateful to have been re-homed, I've never known rats lick so much, they're even litter trained!

They are going to the vet tomorrow though as already I can feel 2 lumps in Mags and Pumpkin. Pumpkin also has an ongoing eye infection, probably caused by stress.

Mags (or Gracie) with Pumpkin in the background enjoying some carrot.

Mags (or Gracie) having a rest with me... they're hard to tell apart!

This is on the 1st night they arrived. Mags is on the left as she has a little dark splodge on her back.

Here they are with me during singing practice! Gracie ran down my top and weed. I've forgiven her though!

Gracie is just like Twinkle. She resembles her sooo much!

This is Gracie and Pumpkin resting on the back of my neck in my jumper. They went flat out!

Here I am about to eat Pumpkin, she didn't move!

And lastly, Pumpkin is running down my top!

No doubt I'll be adding more pictures soon!

Hope you're all well,

Barry x

Monday, 22 September 2014

Leo the stray cat!

Hello everyone!

This is my first post from my phone! Reason? Well I'm ill in bed plus the fact the photos I want to share are on my phone! Let's see how it goes...

First of all, I would like to tell you the story about the cat who will appear on the pictures in this post.

Leo is a name we have given to a stray cat who visits us daily. Leo was previously known as "Tuffy". We found out from a neighbour that Leo had been abandoned by his previous owners a couple of years ago. Leo and his sister were trapped indoors for a while. When they were found, the female cat had to be put down and "Tuffy" (Leo) ran away. He's been a stray ever since. He was about 12 then so he'll be around 14 years old now.

He comes for his meal and bowl of milk daily (sometimes twice a day) and then goes off on his travels. He shows no desire to move in and seems fairly content. Here he is on his new chair which is outside the house waiting to be tipped. (Probably the first time he's slept on a chair for over 2 years!)

I hope the pics have turned out Ok and autocorrect hasn't messed up the post!

Bless you all,

Barry x

Thursday, 4 September 2014

MY box (by Zoe Evans)

Hello!

So today, I picked up a delivery including 2 jackets and a pair of trainers. After trying my new trainers on, I found Zoe had found a new bed!

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Look what I found! :)

Go away Smokey........this is MY box.

What's she doing in there mum?

No room for you!

Didn't you hear me? ............

Haha........Katy's looking worried ;)

MINE.

Should I let Nancy in?

NO!

She can sit there as long as she wants!

Like I said........it's MINE ;)

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Hope you enjoyed! :)

Thursday, 21 August 2014

Our furry friends are always good company when we have busy days!

Hello everyone... a nice short post today!

I think our furry friends can be so special and sometimes we don't realise just how amazing they are. We don't have to explain anything to them, they don't care what we look like and they'll stay by our side no matter what.

I've had a fairly busy week running about (not literally as I can barely walk anymore)... you get the gist!

I had a hospital visit the other day for therapy... it went Ok but it's always a long drive there and back. Around 2 hours in total which for me is really pushing it. I avoid going out of town if I can but sometimes it's not possible. Every time I've been to the hospital I'm suffering a fair bit of payback and need to go to bed for an hour or 2. As soon as I got into bed after coming home from my latest visit, Smokey (1 of my cats) jumped up on the bed straight away and settled down. He very rarely sleeps on beds and it wasn't tea time so it just shows they do have a good level of understanding when we're not well.

Here's some pics I took on my mobile:

He's a silly boy but he's lovely! Very loving and loves his cuddles.

Hope you're all having a nice day xx

Monday, 18 August 2014

R.I.P. Twinkle

Hello, I've decided to update this blog for my very special little friend who passed away last week, Twinkle. She was a rat, but a very special rat. Out of the many pets I have owned, I had a connection with Twinkle I've never had with any other animal. She cost a mere £7.95 from the pet shop. That wouldn't even cover a few outings at a coffee shop!

She came with her 2 sisters, Daisy and Lucy. It became apparent that Twinkle wasn't blood related to the other 2. She looked more like a wild rat and was a lot smaller than her "sisters". She had more wild instinct than the other 2 and found it harder than the other 2 to trust. In the end, she relied heavily on me, she really trusted me... trust that she didn't have for anyone else.

Most mornings she would wait for me standing up at the bars wanting to come out, sit in my hood whilst I had my porridge. She used to help herself to a slice of banana and take it back to the hood! A few times, she actually went to sleep in my hood, flat out. She sometimes even climbed into my t-shirt and went to sleep their too. She very rarely had an accident and was a great comfort to me.

Some may think it's a bit odd seeing as she's not a cat or a dog, but Twinkle was very special. She's been buried with a remembrance rose. She had a big tumor in her tummy but luckily wasn't in pain for very long.

Here's a collection of photos to share. :)

From L-R: Lucy, Twinkle, Daisy.

My favourite, sat in my hood eat a biscuit.

She pulled all the kitchen paper into the hammock and made a bed!

She stored the remainder of a take away too, all very neatly in the igloo!

Twinkle on the right, lovely little face.

She liked to snuggle up to her sisters.

Twinkle on the right. :)

Inside my bed!

In the tunnel. :)

Poking her nose out of the cage!

On the right with Daisy.

Will never forget that cheeky little face!

Running about on my bed!

R.I.P Twinkle, gone but never forgotten xxx

Monday, 14 July 2014

The new addition: Zoe

Hello everyone! Apologies for leaving it so long to update this blog...

A lot has happened and my health hasn't been the greatest... but I have a piece of good news...

A new addition to the family, she's been with us for a few months now. She's called Zoe, a little kitten who turned up on our doorstop randomly one Saturday evening! It was very likely she was pregnant and she had no identification whatsoever. Advertised on the internet and also at the local vets but no-one came forward so we decided to have her neutered as it would have been a risk to leave her as she was. She's the most adorable little cat, very small and has the loudest purr you will ever hear!

We later find out from a friend where it's likely she came from. She lived with her sibling in a flat just down the road and 1 of the cats had run off and shortly after the other 1 was locked out. We think the 1 that was locked out was Zoe. She was desperate and so hungry. Her owner didn't want her anymore which is very hard to believe.

Here are some pics...

Hope you enjoyed the pics!

Barry x

Saturday, 1 March 2014

A collection of animal videos: Part 2

A collection of animal videos: Part 1

Friday, 14 February 2014

Rhydian the Hamster

Here's an odd picture I have of my old hamster Rhydian... named after the Welsh singer!

He had continuous fits the 1st night we had him and never seem right since, I'd never seen anything like it. The guy at the pet shop didn't have any idea as to why is happened. He lived for a couple of years and seemed to be a content little hamster although he was a bit bonkers!