On Tuesday, I had to make the heart-breaking decision to let Nia go after my secret fears were confirmed and she'd been diagnosed with a painful progressive organ failure. It's whacked me quite hard going through five years worth of pictures - so many memories! - and realising how many of her old companions have already gone now.
Nia has been there right from the start when I could finally realise my dream of going large and have a proper group. Despite being one of the smallest, she's been the undisputed top lady of the Tribe for over 3 1/2 years until ambitious younger Ffwlbri felt ready to stage a takeover. Afterwards, Nia joined the Troop, my Elderlies group, to be with some of her old friends. She and her sister Nerys have just celebrated their fifth "Gotcha Day" (i.e. adoption anniversary).
At 10 months old, Nia and Nerys still had the sharpest baby claws imaginable when I adopted them from the RSPCA Walsall. They had ended up in the freeads originally as unwanted children's pets because of that and for being very skittish. But with some careful handling and lots of tlc, they actually came round quickly and soon merged with my Llewelyn, the first patriarch of the Tribe, and his beloved old lady Dizzy, who sadly didn't have long to live.
My big piggy group adventure wouldn't have taken off in the same without my energetic, fidgety little First Lady with her innocent baby face and her talent for occasionally stirring up trouble just for the sake of it... - I miss Nia lots!
She now rests in my garden close to a goodly number of her old friends.
Nia and Nerys upon arrival
Joining Dizzy and Llewelyn
With the Tribe in 2010 under their first patriarch Llewelyn (on Nia's right) and Taffy (on the left of Nia) as her competent second-in-command
Nia has been there right from the start when I could finally realise my dream of going large and have a proper group. Despite being one of the smallest, she's been the undisputed top lady of the Tribe for over 3 1/2 years until ambitious younger Ffwlbri felt ready to stage a takeover. Afterwards, Nia joined the Troop, my Elderlies group, to be with some of her old friends. She and her sister Nerys have just celebrated their fifth "Gotcha Day" (i.e. adoption anniversary).
At 10 months old, Nia and Nerys still had the sharpest baby claws imaginable when I adopted them from the RSPCA Walsall. They had ended up in the freeads originally as unwanted children's pets because of that and for being very skittish. But with some careful handling and lots of tlc, they actually came round quickly and soon merged with my Llewelyn, the first patriarch of the Tribe, and his beloved old lady Dizzy, who sadly didn't have long to live.
My big piggy group adventure wouldn't have taken off in the same without my energetic, fidgety little First Lady with her innocent baby face and her talent for occasionally stirring up trouble just for the sake of it... - I miss Nia lots!
She now rests in my garden close to a goodly number of her old friends.
Nia and Nerys upon arrival
Joining Dizzy and Llewelyn
With the Tribe in 2010 under their first patriarch Llewelyn (on Nia's right) and Taffy (on the left of Nia) as her competent second-in-command
I'm so sorry for your loss. What a lovely life Nia had though, that is clear from the photos!
