The prodigal hamster

Now with some perspective on the ordeal of the lost pet-- and of course, the happy ending-- I can write this post.

Two weeks ago today, just as we were rushing out the door for school, Julia asked the big question: "Mama, where's Butterscotch?"

She had gone to say goodbye before we left and made the discovery.  Our friend was not in her cage and there was no time really to begin a search. As Julia dissolved into tears, we created piles of sunflower seeds to see which room she might be in.  

I made a quick call to the school to let the teacher know of our lost pet -- I'm sure the school answering machine recorded the heaving sobs and wails of Julia who was really heartbroken. It broke my heart to leave her at the before school program, still crying. I got two calls later in the day to say that Julia had rallied and had stopped crying. The hamster had been prayed for in the daily intentions and a shout out to St. Anthony, patron saint of lost things was made.

This was the note she left for Butterscotch. Doesn't that just pull at your heartstrings.

We came home that night to no sign of Butterscotch -- more sadness and tears, but this time coupled with a quick request for a new hamster.  Talk about moving on -- I tried to help Julia understand that we would do all we could to find her - and to reassure Julia that her pet was having the time of her life roaming the house, footloose and fancy free.

Thank goodness for the internet -- no shortage for tricks and tips for finding these pesky creatures.  And during the course of the next week we tried many of them.  But this was the one that brought us success after a week of the hamster missing. A staircase with treats of increasing desirability on each step, with her favourites in the bucket.

The next morning I was greeted with a little face peeking up at me from the bottom of the bucket.  I couldn't believe it ... she was back.

Got her back in her cage and she was dying of thirst -- couldn't suck the little bottle fast enough so we went for a more direct approach.

Just dive in -- she was slurping up that water like there was no tomorrow.

It was a wonderful family reunion -- Julia and I were both thankful and relieved.  Funny how quickly you get attached to little buddies like this. Welcome home, Butterscotch.