Warning: This is a little morbid....

....but I just had to share Clay's love and care of animals.

Clay wants to be a veterinarian and he LOVES animals, so he spent much of the night before Dobby died trying to nurse him back to health. The next day he told us he would "take care of" Dobby and get him ready. And, he did. Clay made him a little casket in his food bowl and got him ready. (Maybe Clay is prepping for a career as a mortician instead...yikes!) But, it was so sweet how much care he took of little dead Dobby.

We did ask him if he had changed his mind about being a vet and he gave us a firm "NO". He says that it made him more determined so that he could save other's pets and take care of them.

So Long, Little Friend

We have had a death in the family.

After several "he's gone" and "nope, he's rallying" comments yesterday, little Dobby finally died sometime during the night. Clay tried his best to keep Dobby alive by holding him, giving him home-made vitamin water and loving him, but after reading on the internet, Dobby was probably 70+ years old (he was already one or two -- in human years -- when we got him back in August) and just too old to keep going.

He had a wonderful little life with us for the past few months. The boys adored him, even Ron. And, he had great fun being "spider hamster" and climbing to the top of his cage only to let go and fall in the shavings....much to our amusement. And, Ron and Clay will forever wake up with "Dobby-look"!

Good-bye, sweet, little Dobby! We're going to miss you!

Dobby's New Doo-Dad

Dobby's new ball allows him to get some excercise and be a part of the family!

Dobby Comes Home!

Even though I'll be at the school for a while tomorrow, I promised Ben that Dobby could come home with us for the weekend today. And, Clay loves him, too! They've been playing and he seems content to play and sleep in his cage on our desk.

I read that they love toilet paper rolls....here you can see Dobby trying his best to squeeze himself into one.

He's a little too big for his wheel, but he loves to try and run and then fall out. Its quiet funny!

Caught! He was, literally, playing in his food!

This is my absolute favorite Dobby picture....he looks so cute, so funny and so pitiful all at the same time. Of course, seconds later, he rolled himself out of the opening and onto our desk where he hid behind our "inbox"! You can just tell he has a great personality and that he is a sweetie!

Ben's New Friend

Ben went with me to my class today and he LOVES Dobby!

I love this picture of Dobby...it looks like he's being knocked over by his wheel...in fact he was just trying to get in his house.

And, then Dobby goto so tired he had to take a nap!

Meet Dobby!

He got a little thirsty as he settled into his new home.

Dobby will be spending the majority of his time in my classroom, however, he will ocasionally join us here at home. (About which Clay is really excited...."I can practice my vet skills," says he.....Maggie, on the other hand, not so excited, I'm sure.) He's a cute little guy who appears very friendly. ie...he hasn't bitten me.....yet!