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Who's that? Pookie Dani!
Pookie was our third gerbil (my 2nd). Actually, he was my inspiration to actually buy gerbils at all. His parents, Dani and Arnold, belonged to my 7th grade Life Science teacher. They had babies the first weekend after school started. I loved to watch them, and after they were a week old I went home and told my mother that I wanted to get a gerbil. I'd asked before, unsuccessfully, to purchase a hamster. Now I am quite glad she said no to that, because I would probably not have my gerbils now.
He made an adorable baby.
Well, she said yes, so my sister and I went out and bought all the supplies, and two gerbils, Missy and Splotch, who were both females. Upon seeing the gerbils, my older brother Win decided that he had to have one, too. So I went back to my science class, where by then Pookie was 6 weeks old, and "reserved" a gerbil. Pookie was from a litter of 6 black gerbils (his parents went on to have at least 11 more children). I reached into the cage with a full intent to bring out a female, so she could live together with Missy and Splotch. At the time I hadn't read any books on gerbils and new little about them--including the fact that three females together are unstable, and, luckily, how to reliably identify gender = ) The gerbils were so young that I botched my diagnosis, and took Pookie, believing he was a female.
Well isn't he the cutest . . . = )
Pookie has a strong sense of curiosity
On February 12th, his first children, Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, were born. Pookie was a good father to all his 20 children, and is the grandfather of Phoebe & Ciaran's pups. He also has a LOT of great-grandkids. As you can see, I usually refer to him as "Pookie" rather than his real name, "Vampira" (I think it's rather rude to change a gerbil's name, even if you were mistaken about their gender). Pookie went through a series of nicknames, including Pira, Poira, and Pookieman, until now it's just "Pookie" (though I have been heard to refer to him as "Mr. Pookieman" on several occaisions.)
When Pookie was about 3 months old, my brother grabbed him--by the tail--just a little too hastily! So now, unfortunately, Pookie only has a half of a tail = ( One of the funny things about this was that a few months later he became a father--and one of his daughters, Alpha, was born with only half a tail! = )
Pookie The Amputee
One thing about Pookie is he is *very* fond of his wheel. He would run on it like a maniac while raising his litters, and most of his children have his same fondness (Missy very rarely used the wheel). While he was loving towards his children, all he ever seemed to do was sit on them and keep them warm. I'm not "dissing" him or anything, but I never once saw him lift a pup up in his mouth. Well, perhaps he just wasn't much for that side of parenthood = ) Pookie's still alive and well today, while Missy has passed on, and lives with his adopted son, his "little buddy" Skittish.
The best of pals
Pookie was introduced to Skittish over a week in a split tank. Every night I switched their sides so they could get used to each others' scents. Then on the 7th day I put them together on the chair. They got off to a rocky start (Skittish was rather frightened of him) but now they're best friends. However, it looks like Pookie's hobby is in danger: Skittish loves the wheel.
Now who's that?
Pookie had 20 kids himself, and his daughter Phoebe has bunches herself. He's also a great-grandpa now! His grandkids are colors like black, agouti, argente, lilac, dove, argente cream, and some spotteds = ) Maybe someday soon he'll have GREAT-GREAT-grandkids = ) Pookie will turn 3 years old in September 1998!! He's still strong & healthy and a very chubby, friendly guy = ) A handsome little devil if you ask me.
Dear, sweet Pookie has been honored in a very special way! A pup from Pierre and Caramel's first litter (of Pierre's Nest) has been named Pookie! Check out their page here.
Also, one of G's babies was also named Pookie! It's a Pookie epidemic! ;) Visit G's page here
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