Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Isabel crossed over...

Oh no, we had just posted our congrats to Isabel for making it to the grand age of 7 years old, and now we read that she has left us and has joined Lily and all our deceased friends...

Sorry to hear she left you, so soon after her birthday, Janet

Hugs, from all of us

---
here's the post from Janet to the GPDD:

I'm just devastated to report that we lost our precious Isabel on Monday evening, only one day after her 7th birthday.

Her liver readings were slightly elevated in mid-July. She had lost some weight and was slowing down a bit. We attributed the weight loss to her first ever molar trim last month.

Yesterday morning I took her in for an ultrasound to try to determine how badly the liver might be damaged or whether there was a tumor. The liver was damaged, but no mass was found, so we prepared for palliative care. Unfortunately, Isabel went into cardiac arrest late in the afternoon while at the vet. My husband and I were able to sit with her, but only pet her briefly and talk to her outside of her oxygen tent. About two hours later, Isabel stretched briefly, moved onto her side, and went to sleep for the final time very peacefully.

Isabel followed the same pattern as did Lily earlier this year. Celebrate the 7th B-day with Mommy and Dad and then cross the Bridge. Isabel was a fantastic little piggy and we grieve her loss. It was an honor to have raised and loved her since we first adopted her at the age of two months. She was the first guinea pig I ever had.

Rest well sweet Isabel, and happily munch the Rainbow Bridge grass with your sister Lily while you wait for us on the other side. In the meantime, Mommy and Dad will try to remember that it is better to have loved the ones we miss rather than to have missed loving them.

With great sorrow,
Janet, along with little Luke (Isabel and Lily always in our hearts)

Happy 7th birthday Isabel!

We are very happy to announce that one of our Members turned 7 this month!!
Here's to many more, Miss Isabel

This was the announcement on the GPDD
----
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2010 10:40:44 -0400

Subject: [Gpdd] Announce: Happy 7th Birthday Isabel!
Message-ID: <8CD0455A6A542AA-15CC-E6B3@webmail-d004.sysops.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"




I very thrilled to announce that Isabel is celebrating her 7th birthday this wheekend. She had a party last night and we are continuing the festivities through her actual birthday on Sunday. She has seven helium balloons floating about in her honor and a big birthday hat on top of her habitat. She and her brother Luke are looking forward to the "Birthday Burrito"---a lettuce leaf wrapped around all their favorite veggies inside!

Janet, and Isabel's brother, Luke, (and we're certain that sister Lily is smiling down from the Rainbow Bridge)

-----

The introduction post of her and her late friend Lily can be seen here:
Lily and Isabel

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Scampi, Mickey and Scrumpy

On 18 August 2009, this was reported to the GPDD, sorry for the late update:

"It always seems to happen with people who keep large numbers of piggies, that all the piggies stay healthy for months and months and then suddenly several of them go to The Bridge, even though there is no connection between the passings. I have lost three Squeakers in the last few days. I'm glad they waited for me to get back from holiday, because my son did a grand job of looking after them whilst we were away, and I would hate it if he blamed himself in any way. In fact, the only thing to blame is old age.

The first to go was Scampi. She belonged to Peter Gurney and came to me, age unknown but definitely not young, over 3 years ago. She had huge brown eyes and golden hair and looked like a giant hamster. She was plagued with skin problems and had more baths than any other guinea pig I've ever owned, but she behaved impeccably and even enjoyed them. She was not ill and was probably still LAPS, but I found her lying in the pen with her head resting on a cabbage.

The second to go was Mickey, my only male. He came to me aged three and a half, having been a much loved, lone, indoor pet. His owners weren't allowed to put him on the plane when they emigrated to Australia, and so he was neutered and then instantly adapted to an outdoor life here amongst a harem of girls. He was a strong character and was very into feng shui. He would rearrange the food bowls and turn them upside down and taught the others in his pen to do likewise. He'd been here for nearly 4 years, so he was well over 7. He was very wobbly towards the end but enjoyed life right up to his last day.

The third to go was Scrumpy. Scrumpy was a satin piggy and was always so dainty that I called her my "size zero" piggy. She was the last of four satins that I took in 3 or 4 years ago. They were supposed to be aged 3 or 4 then, so perhaps this is some sort of record for a satin. (None of them developed OD, thankfully). Scrumpy's hair looked so beautiful glistening in the sunshine.



Meet up over the bridge little ones. Mickey will take charge, I'm sure. I also hope Scampi tells Peter Gurney all about her later life.



Stefanie and the sad remaining 18 Surrey Squeakers"

Dear Lily has left us after 7 years

This was posted on the GPDD on 19 march 2010:

"My heart breaks as I write to tell you that my dear Lily has crossed the Rainbow Bridge, just one week after celebrating her 7th birthday. It's almost as if she waited to make the grand 7 years before going into severe bloat and GI stasis. Despite valiant efforts in the intensive care unit at the piggie hospital last night, I had to help her cross the Bridge this morning.

I am crying my eyes out but realize that Isabel and Luke need my love and care.

I will try to write a tribute to the beautiful Lily in the future but it hurts too much right now. At least I know that she is pain free. I am honored to have been her mom all these years. Run free at the Bridge, my little sweetie!

Janet"

Our hearts go out to you on this loss.

Debbie's last piggies joined her

We received this message on the GPDD:
"Dear Friends:
Our Debbie's husband, Pete, has asked the send along an email to let everyone know that the last of Debbie's SCAMPS, Ambree, passed away last night.? She was turning 7 next month and as we all believe, Debbie welcomed her at the bridge.? Pete has no more piggies which?was another link to his beloved Debbie, so it makes him quite sad.? Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.
"Rest in Peace, Ambree".
Joanne
Spicy, Merri, Macie, Teddy, Baci, Sweetie"

I also heard that her other piggy Gisele has passed away not so long ago :(

Our thoughts go out to Debbie's husband!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Guiny joined her friends Lotje, Suus and Tea

Below you will find my (Mieke's) memories of Guiny and Suus.
Eventhough Suus was not a SCAMPS yet i would like to remember her as well,
she did become a LAPS piggie though!

"Hi fellow guinea pig lovers,

It is with a very sad heart that i have to let you know, my oldy Guiny and my sister Janneke's Suus went over the bridge.

I am currently pig sitting Janneke's piggies. We noticed that Suus was a bit quiet and did not eat her chicory very well. On saturday evening the 24th of october, I was going to clean the cages, and we noticed Suus was weak.
She was breathing heavily and did not respond very much to her surroundings.

We thought it might be gas so gave her some medicine for that and we tried to syringe feed her some Critical care. She might have swallowed some of the first CC, but did not do that for the
second feeding. So all signs went red for us, having experienced this with Toby. Though she
did not seem in such a bad condition, as when Toby died.
I called the vet (they have an evening an weekend emergency phone number),
and had to convince the vet to let us come over. The vet said I did a good thing by bringing Suus to her. She took her in and Suus stayed overnight.
The vet heard fluids on her lungs, which according to her could be either lung troubles or heart problems. They gave Suus some antibiotics and something to get rid of the fluids, Suus was having trouble breathing and was put in an oxygen pen. Unfortunately she did not make it to the next morning. I felt very bad, but was told by vet this was the best I could have done for Suus.

I have known Suus since she was a little girl, she has lived together with my girls Lotje and Guiny. So it felt and still feels like losing one of my own.

Then 2 days later, on the 27th of October, Guiny left us for the bridge. I have to say she was already 5,5 years old, and she was slowly loosing weight. But until half an hour before she died she was still eating and active and seemed happy. My boyfriend Erwin went to give all the piggies, I had 6 then: My Guiny, Dunya, Woopy and Chico, and Janneke's Igor and Yaya, their evening veggies.He noticed at once though Guiny came to get her carrot, that something was
wrong. She had taken 2 bites and then left the carrot. She was breathing heavily, and Erwin picked her up from the cage. We knew at once it was bad, having seen Suus get worse on saturday.
I held her in my arms and told her it was okay to go. We told her we loved her, and I told her about the rainbow bridge. I told her to say hi to Lotje, and tell Suus that we and Janneke miss her. and to say hi to all the other piggies. I also told her she would hear perfectly again when she was there (she was hard hearing). And told her Peter and Debbie would be there to take care of her if she needed it. I also told her to teach the other piggies over the bridge her smart tricks, she was the one who knew how to open a door, when it was slightly open. She once sat next to Lotje who was eating a carrot and started gnawing the carrot, right next to where Lotje was gnawing. She eventually ran away with the biggest piece of the carrot she had munched
her way through. She was gone within half an hour...
I still feel sad about my precious lady Guinyvere leaving us, but she had a good and pretty long life with me and later with me and Erwin. Since she was gradually loosing weight this did not come totally unexpected. And I feel, eventhough i did not like loosing her, this was the best way to part with my precious girl. She knew she was loved, and we had a chance to tell her that and tried to comfort her and tell her it was okay...

We have buried them in my mom's garden last sunday. They are buried together, and near to where Lotje was buried.

I'm sure the girls, will be partners in crime over the bridge. I remember the one time when i was going to eat a sandwich in the living room. The girls were having floortime, and I had to get something, so i put my sandwiches on the mattress that was on the floor. When I did that I even thought 'I should not do this, but hey I'll be back really fast'. When I came back Suus and Guiny had stolen my sandwich, and were hiding under a chair, munching on my sandwich...
I will miss you girls!!

Mikey,
and the remaining Winky girls: Dunya and Woopy
my valentine: Chico
And Janneke's piggies currently staying over: Yaya and Igor."

And my sister Janneke's memories of Guiny and Suus:
"Hi Gpdders,

My sister wrote a beautiful tribute yesterday, so I guess I finally have to face the music and write my tribute to 2 of my favorite pigs ever. They do deserve that.. I've been putting it off because not writing it down makes it feel less real (I'm sort of on a holiday and Yaya and Igor are still at mieke's house, so there's no empty space in a cage..)

Guiny..
When mieke decided to go to the czech republic, I agreed to look after Guiny and Lotje for 6 months. I never had a guinea pig addiction before, but oh boy, did these 2 girls get me addicted. I soon noticed guiny was quite clever and I really enjoyed (as did she) ' inventing' new puzzles and games for her (many of the games in Igor's PLAY's were invented for guiny; http://www.guinygirlz.nl and yes.. that adress wat named after her; just like my own gmailadress). Guiny also really enjoyed it when I was belly dancing (she would put up her paws against the edge of the cage and watch me with a smile), I think she thought that it was my way of popcorning and running in circles. The funny thing was that she liked shakira's music the best. I never knew pigs had musical preferences until then. What I loved most about her was the big smile she could give me when she saw me (even when mieke and the pigs moved to erwin's house she still remembered me). I know she was not my pig but she sure felt like it.

Suus..
When guiny and lotje went back to mieke after her stay in the czech republic (she returned shortly afterwards with her pigs) I felt really lonely without guiny and lotje. I was going through a rough time back then, having broken up with a rather abusive boyfriend a few months before and I was sometimes so scared out of my brains when I heard sounds or whatever (before that I just thought, aaw.. that's just guiny or lotje). Then one day a girl I knew through my ex (and had become a friend) phoned me and told me she had a pig for me. The little pig had siblings, but according to my friend, this pig was so sweet, that she really wanted me to have her because she thought were were meant to be together (suss = german for sweet; the friend was german; i'm dutch).

I think she was right. Suus was my girl all the way. More than any of my pigs ever were. In the beginning we were both so scared that we bonded very strongly. Suus wasnt a cuddle pig, but when I felt bad she would wheek until I would pick her up and she would put her nose firmly in my neck and lick the tears away. Suus was always a very active, lively, vocal pig and lots of fun. Maybe not cuddly, but she did enjoy human interaction a lot. She was never sick. I would always call her 'hollands glory' which is an expression in dutch to say that someone's very wholesome/healthy. I never expected her to leave so soon, although i know she is 4 years old. She was just always so healthy. I still cannot believe that she is gone, and to be honest, I dont feel like that either (which is weird because when Jan the Boar died I cried my eyes out) I guess that blow will come when I have Yaya and Igor back with me... I don't know... I lost a little, yet significant part of me, she would always comfort me, but she is not there anymore..

Janneke"

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Tumbleweed


We were most pleased to welcome Tumbleweed -- and his friend, Sunshine (RIP) -- into our home in August of 2004. Tumbleweed was a rescue piggie, so his exact age wasn't known, but we estimated that he was about six months old. He was a bit underweight but otherwise in good health.

Tumbleweed's name came from his wild hair, which never looks the same twice. He can shake his head or come out of his cozy with his hair slicked back and look like an entirely different pig! He is a sweetheart, always good-natured. He was a wonderful friend to Sunshine and, now, to Friday.
In 2008, Tumbleweed had many health issues, including a hard-to-treat abscess under his chin and a tooth that had to be removed, but with lots of care, he made it through the hard times. A tech at our vet's called him a brave guy, and she was right. His courage has been an inspiration to us. He has also continued to reveal more layers of his personality through the years. In the past few months he has become more adventurous, exploring a wider range of the house when he gets floortime each day.




Tumbleweed could easily have left us in the summer of 2008, and we are so thankful he didn't. Each day we spend with him is an honor.
Master to: Cindy
Born on: beginning 2004