Etch
the Hamster
(well,
maybe not fear-LESS,
he did live with 7 Alaskan Malamute, but he was cool about it)
Etch lived in Stephanie's room in a hamster cage on a shelf 2 ft. from the ceiling out of Malamute reach. Which is a good thing since any one of the dogs would consider him a tasty snack. He lived on Shadow's side of the house which is also a good thing since the girls tend to stalk little critters very seriously, but Shadow is pretty tolerant and likes them. However, he is a Malamute so Stephanie played with Etch with her bedroom door closed. Etch was the gentlest, sweetest and so calm - he never bit in fear, even when he was severely stressed by the illness that ended his life. One day a few months ago Stephanie was playing with him on the floor with the door closed when I came in. Unknown to me, Shadow followed. Without a sound he picked Etch up in his mouth (ready to swallow!) when Stephanie grabbed Shadow by the neck and told him "Put him DOWN!" and Shadow DID!!!! At first we thought Etch was hurt as for several hours he didn't move a muscle no matter where in his cage he was placed. But he was only playing possum, since the incident he went back to his old self scurrying around the hamster cage. I couldn't blame him for being scared since it isn't often you come so close to being someone's dinner! I still can't believe Shadow put him down - but then he'd do ANYTHING for Stephanie! I do know if that had that been any one of the other dogs they would have quickly swallowed instead!
Etch passed after a suffering a stroke complicated by
a large tumor at 2 1/2.
He may have been "only a hamster" but he was Stephanie's best friend
at that time in her life.
He's now at the Rainbow Bridge with playing with Penny, Nova, Buddy and my gerbils.
Rest in Peace, we love you Etch.