a very very old chinchilla that was dying in front of us. i just helped him along. often times when an animal dies, it takes the nerves and muscles a little while to get the signal. after the chinchilla had died, i sat staring at him on the table and his whiskers started to twitch. then his cheeks, then his neck muscles, his shoulders, back etc. it was as if the life was leaving him in a wave beginning at the tip of his nose.