Warning on Pet Rats/Mizu Tattoo

It may sound odd, but when I lost my Mizu a few months ago, I decided to get a tattoo in her memory. I've shared it on the linnie forum, and decided to share it here. I absolutely love it, my artist did such an amazing job with it!

Mizu was my first bird I purchased for myself when I moved out for college. She was also how I discovered Lineolated, on a total fluke! I felt guilty seeing her at this crummy petshop and spent $500 on getting her out of there! She came with cage, stand, toys, food, everything, so for a cobalt linnie it wasn't a bad price. She was so shy and terrified of people, it took months before I was able to hold her and interact outside of the cage. It got to where we were bonded exceptionally close. Whenever I came home at night (i work late nights) she would whistle softly and blow me kisses when I came in the door. If I cried, she would blow me kisses and pace until I gave her kisses and felt better. If I got angry and yelled, she yelled with me. When I laughed, she laughed. I loved her to death and wouldn't have changed her for the world, fear of hands and all. She bonded almost instantly with her mate, Loki, whom I still have. They were inseperable! If he couldn't see her, he would sit there and cry going 'baaaaby! oh noooo! miiiimiiiiiii!' She would have been 3 this year, but I lost her in a tragic accident.

My family left the pet rats unattended with the birds out and she jumped to the table to visit like always and the rats killed her. I know I posted it on the linnie forum, but I wanted to share her story here so no one has to suffer the way I did. She just happened to jump right next to them and before anyone could even react they had bit her neck and she bled out within 2 minutes. I wasn't even home at the time, which hurt the most, I think. But be VERY wary around pet rats and birds - it's instinct for the rats to attack them and they move lightning fast, which no one expects. I love our pet rats, we kept them in spite of it, and things are fine now, but my family learned the hard way to listen to me when I warned to be careful.

On a brighter note, here are some photos of Mizu and the tatto I got in her memory! I also planted a beautiful Gardenia bush on her grave, since they are bird safe, and when it blooms she will continue to brighten my life and her mate Loki's with the wonderful flowers and branches for all to play with.

Thanks for letting me share my story! I know fellow bird lovers will understand where I'm coming from, though not everyone will get a tatto, eh?