Name: Bel Bel Sex: Doe Variety: Pearl Date of birth: 13 June 2002 Died: 25 August 2005 (pts - mammary tumours) Weight: 461g (25 February 2004)

Bel Bel was rehomed to us on 14 February 2004 after her cagemate Mirri died - her owner wasn't able to have any more rats, and Bel Bel was becoming unhappy and depressed on her own. She was fairly shy at first and hid in her igloo a lot, but obviously liked us as was bruxing on Ed's shoulder within an hour of coming home. She settled in with Christy, Kelmé and Buie straight away, and within a week her personality had changed back to being happy and outgoing. When we saw her family tree, we were pleased to find that she is aunt to our lovely Dudley!

She has a small squashy lump under one of her back legs which we'll monitor over the next few weeks, and we'll have it removed if it starts to grow. Bel Bel was named by her original owner after a character in the excellent Silver Brumby books by Elyne Mitchell, and as I also like the books, I won't be changing her name.