Last night a beloved member of our family passed away. Russia (a Russian hamster...thus the name!) was a part of our family for almost two years. Russia "belonged" to Benjamin; she was his first real pet, aside from our family cats. She was a spur of the moment purchase one evening as Benjamin and I were perusing Pet Smart, as she reminded me of my beloved childhood hamster, Hammy. She was an albino, just like he was, and, like Hammy, she loved to climb the walls of her cage and try to cross the top upside down. She earned her nickname, "Rushing Russia", because she loved to run on her wheel--and run through the house on her myriad escapee adventures! She lived to the average age of hamsters, and in people years, was over 70 years old. (That last piece of information, garnered from the internet, really seemed to put her death into perspective for Benjamin.) We all loved little Russia, and she will be greatly missed.
Rest in peace, Rushing Russia!
You can read more about Russia on Benjamin's blog, where he wrote several posts about his special pet:
http://www.brilliantblogbyben.blogspot.com/2012/10/russia-update-in-captions.html
http://www.brilliantblogbyben.blogspot.com/2012/07/russias-demo.html
http://www.brilliantblogbyben.blogspot.com/2012/05/rushing-russia-update.html
http://www.brilliantblogbyben.blogspot.com/2011/12/russias-new-cage.html
http://www.brilliantblogbyben.blogspot.com/2011/10/russia.html
