Stripe Lee Monte Nesbitt

My daughter Ashley had been wanting a hamster very badly especially since learning that there would be bi-annual hamster ball races at her dad's job.

On March 18, 2009, tragedy struck our household when Ashley's best friend, 10-year old Kylie Gray, was killed in a head-on car collision. It was the hardest thing in the world telling Ashley that her best friend had died, and we decided to get her a hamster that day to hopefully help ease the pain, and also as a memorial to Kylie.

Ashley picked out Stripe Lee Monte because he was the smallest, cutest, and friendliest hamster in the tank, and he came right up to her. Stripey is black with a darker black stripe down the middle of his back. All four fuzzy feet, his neck and tummy, and the tip of his tail was white.

Ashley and our whole family loved Stripey very much. He would entertain us for hours in his little green ball. He was so friendly and loved being held, and NEVER bit or threatened anyone. Just the most perfect dwarf hamster in the world. Even family members that are not "rodent-people" loved to hold and watch Stripe roll around.

I remember just a few days after we got Stripe, I put him in his ball to roll around for a few minutes while I got ready for work. I placed him on the linoleum in the bathroom, and when I walked back in a few minutes later, the ball was open and empty! I started to panic knowing that it may be impossible to find him, but I instead made a kissy noise and called for "Stripey" and he came right out of a hole that was underneath the cabinet and crawled right into my hand. I've never seen a hamster come running when you call!

Our family took a camping trip on Father's Day weekend when Stripe died. It was the hottest day of the year, and our A/C compressor surged while we were out, and unknown to us, our home was filled with HOT blowing air all weekend. When we returned home on the evening of June 21, 2009, the house was 130 degrees. My 2 cats looked very scared and hot and I immediately took them outside to "cool off" since it was only 90-95 degrees outside. Ashley came into the house to check on Stripe, and he lay lifeless in his tank beneath his water bottle.

Poor Stripey looked like he was just sleeping; he seemed very peaceful. When Ashley picked him up, we quickly realized that there was no life in our little fuzzy friend anymore.

Ashley was completely devastated by this. Not only was Stripe a wonderful pet that she had developed a bond with, but he also represented her best human friend that was just killed.

Stripe Lee Monte Nesbitt is buried next to the kids' dog Dee-Dee who also died in April 2009. Dee Dee was a good dog and about 13 years old when she had to be put down for severe health problems.

Ashley has been grieving for all of her best friends this Spring. First Kylie, then Dee-Dee, then Stripe. She takes great comfort in knowing that her favorite pets are in heaven with her favorite friend, and that they are all taking care of each other and looking down upon her with love.