My mouse fell a metre

Question
I am so sad and guilty about what happened to my mouse. I was playing with her on a shelf-thing when she reached for my hand and just toppled off the side. She landed on her back. I was just standing there not able to process what had just happened. Then I suddenly started crying and panicking and trying to pick her up but she was trembling so much and running away from me. She started pooping everywhere and she wouldn't let me hold her so I had to put her in her cage. She hid in her nest-it's a tissue box so I can't see her.
 I was so guilty and kept crying but my parents said it was alright. She didn't appear the next day and when I was at school my dad found her dead and buried her.
 I'm feeling so awful and cry whenever I remember this. Was it very painful for her? I'm too scared to have any more mice because I think I will injure them as well, even though I love animals.

Answer
Dear Heather,

I'm so sorry. The poor little thing. I can't tell you she didn't suffer, but it is a good thing that she died soon rather than be in pain or sick. She probably had internal injuries.

It's a tragedy, but it was an accident; a mistake or series of mistakes that went terribly wrong. And the most important thing when you make a mistake is to learn from it. It's trite, but it's true.

You don't say how old you are, but if you are over twelve (and a girl; that can make huge a difference too), I still recommend getting new mice (girls must always live in twos or threes).  I think you will be a better and more careful mouse owner next time. It might be a good idea to have your parents in the room the first few times you hold them, to observe you and make suggestions. You can show them how you usually handle the mice and talk about what dangers there might be.

Always hold a mouse over a bed or couch. I understand that you were in a play situation and trusted the mouse on the shelves, but things can go wrong too easily. You are always better safe than sorry. If you want to bring the mouse from place to place, use your cupped hands or a sleeve.

If you or your parents have any more specific questions, feel free to write back. I write on this site because when I was a little kid over 35 years ago, there was no one to answer my questions about mice. I got my first mice when I was far too young, and there were numerous tragedies over especially the early years that could have been avoided with a combination of parental supervision and expert advice. So you're not alone. My  first mouse, who I got when I was 5? I killed him by lying down on him when  was 7. Forgot he was in the blankets.  So you're not alone.

Let me know what happens. Would you like to meet my current "kids?"

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150091824234803

Sorry again about your little mouse.

squeaks,

Natasha
<:3  )--~