On Friday evening, I had to sadly make the heart-breaking decision to send Gethin 'Dusky' to catch up with his beloved Tesni and her sister Ffwlbri at the Rainbow Bridge. He wasn't right in the morning and continued to deteriorate quickly throughout the day. I am grateful to my local vet to see him at the end of her working day as an emergency. Sadly, the findings weren't good, and since Gethin was in major discomfort and would not have survived the weekend for further examination, it was kinder to cut short any unnecessary suffering.
Instead of posting about his passing, I'd planned to post about him celebrating his 6th birthday around this time. I adopted him from the RSPCA in March 2016 as soon as he was available; he was his fosterer's choice for dating with Tegan (out of a room with all similar looking boys who'd come out of a house that was overrun with freely multiplying piggies) and he remained her all-time favourite foster piggy, despite doing this for well over a decade - in fact, Nerys and her sister Nia (who I adopted back in May 2009) were also foster piggies of hers.
Failed bonding with Tegan - but love on first sight for her mother Tesni
I take consolation in that I have given this most lovely natured boy with a big heart a very happy, long boar life with two great and enduring loves. Unfortunately, Tegan 'Little Beauty' dumped him within two hours of arriving at home but her mother then 5 years old Tesni 'Sun-warmed' took one look at 5 months old Gethin and never spared another glance for poor old Hywel who grudgingly accepted Tegan back on his doorstep again.
They remained a very loved-up pair until Tesni died after her 7th birthday two years later. By then her widowed sister Ffwlbri 'Moonlight' had joined the pair on my third bonding attempt so Gethin was not left alone.
Tesni - Gethin - Ffwlbri
Later that year, around the time Ffwlbri was about 7 1/2 years old and started showing her age, I adopted a 5 weeks old baby girl for Gethin; she was too young to challenge old Fflbri, who actually took a real liking to the little one and in fact, lived for nearly another year until 8 1/2.
Carys is meeting her new family
Little Carys 'Love', as lovely natured and gentle as Gethin, became his second great love; they remained very close until his death. Because of the large age gap, I adopted Tegeirian 'Orchid' in 2020 (after a 10 weeks pregnancy wait followed by another 10 weeks lockdown), but we got there. Tegeirian reminded me of my peru girls (who had all passed away in old age by autumn 2019) as she has bits of all of them without resembling any of Tesni, Ffwlbri or Tegan closely.
Carys - Tegeirian - Gethin
The two girls have been very quiet without Gethin, but at least they have each other and they are good friends so Carys is not left pining. Gethin was her adored daddy-boar for the last three years.
That is piggy #6 in just over 2 months; but at least it hasn't come totally unexpected even though the way and speed it happened was of course a shock. Gethin had started to slow down a bit in recent months. But after 5 1/2 years with the Tribe I am missing him greatly!
(((hugs))) Gethin was a lovely boy who will be very much missed. Sleep tight Gethin, have fun at the bridge with your friends xx
