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With warm, loving memories of the Rat Terriers whose final days were spent in New Rattitude foster care.

Bugsy

Bugsy was just five months old and almost finished with treatment for Demodectic mange when he came to his final foster home. For two weeks he thrived, spending time playing with his two foster sisters, tearing around the yard, and finding the last sunbeam of the day for naps. He had become a beloved member of the household and was almost ready to be adopted to a home with a little boy he should have grown old with. But while being treated for mange, Bugsy had also been exposed to the distemper virus before he was fully immunized. His young age and compromised immune system couldn't overcome the disease, and despite a week of prayers and the best care he could receive, sweet Bugsy died a peaceful death in his foster mom's arms on 8-14-09.

Davey

Davey was a 9-week-old pup who spent his final week of life getting constant love from a 12-year-old girl whose heart he melted from the time she picked him up at the airport to take him to his new fosterhome. He got to sleep under the covers at night, to receive loving "pettins" any time he asked, and to feel the wind against his face as he ran laps through the grass. Unfortunately, this spirited pup couldn't outrun the nasty parvo virus to which he had been exposed. He became very sick and died from the disease on 10-24-09.

Macon

Four-year-old Macon was starting to come out of his shell in fostercare when he suddenly began showing strange medical symptoms. A variety of causes were suspected then ruled out as the vets tried to get his condition stabilized. Diagnostic testing pointed to severe liver disease with pancreatic involvement, and the next three weeks were a roller coaster of ups and downs as Macon tried to deal with the pain and debilitation. Finally his foster family and vets concluded that recovery was highly implausible, so his torment was ended on 10-24-09.

Mitch

Mitch was just a 9-month-old puppy when he was found as a stray. He loved to wrestle and play with his foster siblings and cuddle on his foster mom’s lap. Mitch had an unusual physiological problem with his "man parts," which required multiple surgeries. Although he seemed to otherwise be in good health, Mitch's little body couldn't withstand the rigors of his last surgery, and he died on 8/8/09.

Kewpie

Kewpie was a 4-month-old female Rat Terrier who loved to pounce, run, and lie in the sun. She could hardly wait for her daily walks, and even the rain didn't bother her. But Kewpie came to rescue with a dreadful secret... she had been exposed to the distemper virus before she had received any vaccinations. When she got sick, the bounce went out of her step and she was unable to fight off this dread disease, despite prayers and best wishes from around the country. Tragically, Kewpie's neurological function became so severely impaired by the virus that she had to be euthanized on 08-07-09.

Callista

Callista had only a short time in rescue before getting very ill with neurological seizures, but she was there long enough to know love from her foster mom. Though the Emergency vet tried all they could, the neurological problems got bad enough that the muscle relaxants weren't helping for very long. Her foster mom was able to hold her for a half an hour before she passed. She wagged her tail and licked her hand. It was the first time she had held her without feeling Callista's skittish fear of humans. She was held by her foster mom when they administered the dose, giving little Callista some final peace. 07/11/09.

Archie

Archie came to rescue after spending time on the streets, fighting to survive by scavanging whatever food he could find. Shortly after transport to his foster home Archie began showing signs of distress. The vet did what he could to determine the cause for Archie's trouble and was preparing for a morning surgery if he showed no improvement but sadly Archie did not survive the night. It seems he had picked up more than just garbage during his time on the streets. Archie was released from pain on 04/14/09.

Rosie

Rosie was only 1-1/2 years old when she was rescued from a California shelter just before Christmas. She came to rescue ill from a bite wound, anemia, worms, and recent surgery for a retained fetus and nearly perforated uterus. Although she began to recover from those problems in her loving foster home, Rosie's weak body started being wracked with seizures that could not be abated with medication, and tests revealed that she probably had contracted the distemper virus. Rosie was given peace on 01/23/09.

Luna

Luna came to rescue in intense pain with her right front leg swollen and tender. At the ER she was quickly started on treatment for an enormous abscess, likely the result of a poisonous bite, but the infected area continued to spread despite best efforts. The necrosis (muscle and tissue death) soon extended from the elbow up to chest and shoulder, and then this tiny girl developed seizures as well, and tragically could not be saved. 01/11/09

Milli

Milli was only 3 years old and painfully thin. Worst of all, she was high positive for heartworms. She started heartworm treatment in early December, but within days totally lost her appetite and began having difficulty breathing. After 3 weeks of being in and out of the ICU, Milli went home for Christmas. Her breathing was still labored and her heartbeat a little irregular, but her tail would wag 90 mph. After a few glorious days of being warm and loved, the lung congestion and erratic heart rate were more than she could overcome, and she slipped away peacefully on 12/28/08.

Calleigh

Calleigh and 2 other Rat Terriers were picked up by Animal Control following a 911 call reporting a dead person in a house. The two girls were in awful condition, having been left outside without food or care for an extended period. Calleigh spent a week in intensive care at the vet's, trying to overcome a severe respiratory infection, pneumonia, and the debilitating effects of neglect, but unfortunately wasn't strong enough and died 11/10/08.

Ike

Ike was heartworm positive when he was pulled from a Texas shelter. After coming to rescue, he was discovered to have Caval Syndrome and was in kidney failure. He enjoyed a month of loving care, but this little 2-year-old's body began to shut down and breathing became hard for him, so he was put to rest on 10/15/08 to end his suffering.

Nautica

Nautica was found as a stray in north Georgia, taken to a kill shelter, and rescued by New Rattitude on 2/9/08. She was 6-8 years old and a social, feisty, easy-going girl. Nautica had spay surgery 9/8/08 but did not recover, for unknown reasons.