Assata passed away yesterday
Animal Stories from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Abhijit Em
March 2018

After losing many friends to death, I know I must be used to this shit by now, but I don’t know, how can one come to terms with losing someone like Assata?

Assata Mouse

I know I haven’t talked much about her here and it feels deceitful to tell her story now, but I believe that everyone deserves to have their story told, especially if they’re as special as Assata is.

Assata’s mother, Emma, was rescued from an “art” display, where she was kept in solitary confinement. She was pregnant when she was rescued and gave birth to Assata in foster care.

Assata got used to human company in very little time. Her squeals of excitement at anticipation of food or of new toys were some of the most exhilarating sounds ever. Less than a week ago, she was her happy little self, sprinting on her wheel and snuggling with the others; and now she’s gone.

The night before her death, when we noticed that something was really wrong with her, we had nowhere to take her because, unlike with humans, some animals do not have access to emergency medical care. I held her in my palm and she clutched onto it, breathing very hard at times. She took comfort in my arms, but I knew she was only getting worse. Part of me knew that this was my last time with her; and it was. She did not want to go back home, clutching tighter when I tried to put her back in.

We found her body the next morning. After losing many friends to death, I know I must be used to this shit by now, but I don’t know, how can one come to terms with losing someone like Assata?

I will cherish the final moments we spent together and maybe, that’s how I will always remember her. Or maybe, I will remember her exploring her new home with her sister. Or maybe, I will remember only her lifeless body, shriveled up in the corner of the same home, one that will never be the same again.

Assata Mouse


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