State of the Rattery: 2022-2025

Rebuilding Bleuming Tails: A Journey of Resilience

At Bleuming Tails, ensuring an exceptional temperament in every animal we raise is our top priority. In fact, it is the most crucial factor in everything we do. I will not adopt out animals that fail to meet my very strict standards for temperament. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that a pet’s personality is just as important—if not more so—than any physical trait, and I refuse to compromise on this.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Bleuming Tails has been intermittently closed, with a near-permanent closure in recent years. Several life events have contributed to this extended break, and I’d like to share the journey of how things unfolded, leading us to where we are today.

2022: A Year of Transition

2022 marked a significant transition for me. The year began with a major move from Kansas to Missouri, which caused a temporary halt in breeding operations as I settled into my new home. That same year, I got engaged and had a small wedding, while simultaneously planning a larger celebration. However, the joy of these events was overshadowed by a life-altering tragedy that occurred toward the end of the year.

In a devastating turn of events, my husband was involved in a serious car accident with a semi-truck. The crash left him with severe injuries, including a catastrophic brain injury that rendered him permanently in a vegetative state. This unexpected tragedy turned our world upside down and had a profound impact on the operations of Bleuming Tails.

2023: A Year of Crisis and Survival

As you can imagine, in 2023, Bleuming Tails was forced to close its doors completely. Breeding was put on hold, and the only breedings that took place were necessary maintenance breedings to ensure that my lines did not age out while I navigated the chaos of my husband’s medical condition and the accompanying legal matters. It was a year of survival, of balancing the overwhelming challenges of caregiving and advocacy, with the constant weight of uncertainty in my personal life.

2024: Slowly Finding Stability

By 2024, I was beginning to find a fragile sense of stability. My husband’s condition had stabilized, and we received a prognosis, though it was not the outcome we had hoped for. The reality of his slow and limited recovery was something my family and I had been bracing for, after observing the lack of progress through various therapies throughout the previous year.

Despite this, there were still numerous hurdles to overcome, with several lengthy hospitalizations continuing to disrupt any stability we were trying to build. His health remains a looming challenge, and it’s something that will always be a part of our journey.

In terms of breeding, 2024 allowed me to continue working on some of the lines that had been put on hold since early 2022. However, due to the ongoing challenges of the last few years, those lines had remained stagnant and were unfortunately lacking in the type of temperament I strive to achieve. One significant loss came when my proven Rex buck, Robin, became infertile, leading to the end of the Rex line that had been part of Bleuming Tails since my founding Rex buck from 2017.

Luckily, I had recently acquired two mystery Rexoid does, which provided a glimmer of hope. This meant, however, that the Rex line would have to be rebuilt from scratch.

On a brighter note, the Silvermane line has shown impressive progress, with temperament improving rapidly. I’m hopeful that these rats will meet my high standards sometime in 2025, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for this line.

2025: A New Beginning

As we enter 2025, there’s already exciting news on the horizon. BTR has confirmed that the mystery Rexoid line is, in fact, Velveteen. I’m thrilled to be working with this new line and to see how it develops in the coming months. If you’re curious about Velveteen, take a deeper dive into this plush variety.

Though the last few years have been filled with profound challenges and setbacks, I remain committed to the mission of Bleuming Tails—producing pets with outstanding temperaments. Despite the obstacles, I’m optimistic about the future and the next chapter of this journey. Thank you for your patience and support during this time.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to rebuild and grow.