R.I.P. Athena

[EasternGirl]

My little baby, Athena, the little scrub I took in last spring...just passed away a few minutes ago. She had been struggling since she was brought to me...found in the neighbors yard. She couldn't shed properly. She seemed to be doing okay...she ate last night...but she had another shed she couldn't get off and was struggling today...I managed to get the shed off but she just went limp and started gasping for air after that. I worry that I may have hurt her getting the shed off. I hope that wasn't the case. I really loved her...she was so cute with her tiny little body and big head and eyes...maybe I can find a pic to post later. She always made me so happy to see her slither up to the glass to look at me with her big inquisitive eyes. I will miss her and I think that Bella will too.

[Greg'sGarters]

My condolences. I am truly sorry to hear of your loss.

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I doubt the shedding had anything to do with her death. She had issues.
Thanks for doing your best and taking her in.

[Invisible Snake]

Sorry for your loss :(

[-MARWOLAETH-]

A real shame. At least she hade comfort with you.

[katach]

Very sorry for your loss Marnie. It's never easy.

[EasternGirl]

Thanks guys for the support...it means a lot. This was my first official loss. I did lose the snake I found in my basement last year...but I only had him a couple of hours when he died...this is the first time I lost one of my babies. I knew I would have to experience it at some point...and I had a feeling she would not survive very long...but I got attached anyway. I have decided to freeze her until the ground is soft enough to bury her in a nice spot in my backyard.

This is the only pic I could find of her right now...I didn't have very many of her because she was so tiny and skiddish. It isn't a very good pic....

7906

[Greg'sGarters]

She's beautiful!

[guidofatherof5]

Sweet looking little scrub. R.I.P Athena.

[mikem]

You did your best. Rest in peace Athena.

[ProXimuS]

Sorry to hear about this :( She was a very cute girl.

[Lisa4john]

:( RIP, Athena.

[thamneil]

Really not fun to lose a snake. Especially one that you have put so much in and received so much from. I know exactly what it feels like. I have lost a couple of very cool snakes recently and it really does put a damper on everything. Just remember that these type of things are inevitable with the live critters that we cherish so much. Keep your head high and try to look ahead. Things always seem to unfold properly in the long run.

[infernalis]

My condolences.

[kueluck]

So sad to read about little Athena. Sounds like even though her life was short, it was full. Quality definitely outweighs quantity when it comes to life.

[Stefan-A]

Sorry to hear it.

[chris-uk]

Sorry to hear about Athena Marnie. I'm sure it wasn't anything you did, and if anything without your care she wouldn't have survived as long as this.
No loss is easy, especially not the first, but the upset you feel at the loss of a pet it just reinforces that you were a good person to have cared for it in the first place.

[EasternGirl]

Again....thanks guys...it really means a lot. It's especially hard when you lose a snake because it isn't the same as when you lose another pet...you don't really get the same kind of sympathy from people on the street if they see that you are down and ask why and you say..."My snake just died". But on here...I know everyone truly understands. I was just afraid that I squished her little body when I was trying to get that darn shed off...she was so tiny...but she was very listless before I started to try to remove the shed. Someone else on here had recently talked about losing a snake that seemed hollow and went stiff when it died...that is exactly what happened with Athena...and I have seen it before...with the dying snake I found in my basement. I am really curious as to what causes this....is there something that we are unaware of that is a cause of death in garters that needs to be investigated further? I believe in the case the other person was describing...it was also a failure to thrive type of situation.

[Mommy2many]

Sorry to hear of your loss. She was a cutie.

[EasternGirl]

Thank you. I still haven't gotten used to her not being here. I still expect to see her in the baby tank :(.