PigglePuggle
Senior Guinea Pig
With great sadness we have to report the loss of beautiful brave Clover, herd leader for over 4 years. Known in her prime as Big Pig, and Boss Lady, then in her older years affectionately called "Clovey wovey nosey wosey" by her daft human followers for her pretty pink twitchy nose that was always busy compensating for her for her failing eyesight.
Clover joined us in August 2018 along with Jezebel Floof, who has either her sister or her mum. Her previous owners were well intentioned but clueless, and these poor girls had lived for 2 years in a hamster cage on hard flooring, fed unlimited carrots and muesli, so were super obese with no muscle tone and dreadful deformed feet because they had nowhere to lie down.
Clover was described as "the quiet one", but we quickly discovered she had a limp and was living in chronic pain, having suffered a broken leg at some point which hadn't been treated and had healed badly.
On soft fleece with plenty space to move about, both these big beautiful ladies toned up and slimmed down, made friends with my original piggies, and helped establish a herd of 5. A few months later they were joined by Blodwen, who really was the love of Clover's life and turned her from a distrustful nervous piggy to a happy herd leader. Blod always supported Clover and quietly helped keep her at the top of the herd hierarchy, even during her last few weeks when her leadership skills were becoming less obvious, and Blod had to step in with a quick nip on the bottom for the cheeky youngsters trying to take advantage!
Here's a herd picture from happier times, when Luna and Lavender joined the group to help Clover get over the death of Jezzy Floof last Christmas.
Sadly time waits for no pig, and Clover developed bad arthritis due to her uneven walk, previous leg break, and unfortunate early life. She struggled bravely on for over a year, but started to go downhill after more of her friends, Piggle and Puggle, left quite suddenly for the rainbow bridge recently. Her front legs and front paws were wearing out with taking all her weight, she was completely blind from cataracts, and then a few days ago something just gave way and she fell. She fought bracely on for as long as she could, but in the end the vet helped her over the rainbow bridge yesterday, age 6 years plus, after a glorious reign of 4 years 2 months as a brave, strong, generous and kind herd leader.
Clover had a state funeral befitting her important status, her coffin box lined with hay and parsley which was her favourite, then carefully wrapped in newspaper from the day of the Queen's funeral so she had a fitting obituary: "She rests in peace, while her people mourn".
Then piggy daddy played Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries while we sent her to join her friends gone before.
Sleep tight and fly high old girl, go find Jezzy and Piggle and Puggle and finally take the weight off those poor old painful legs x
Clover joined us in August 2018 along with Jezebel Floof, who has either her sister or her mum. Her previous owners were well intentioned but clueless, and these poor girls had lived for 2 years in a hamster cage on hard flooring, fed unlimited carrots and muesli, so were super obese with no muscle tone and dreadful deformed feet because they had nowhere to lie down.
Clover was described as "the quiet one", but we quickly discovered she had a limp and was living in chronic pain, having suffered a broken leg at some point which hadn't been treated and had healed badly.
On soft fleece with plenty space to move about, both these big beautiful ladies toned up and slimmed down, made friends with my original piggies, and helped establish a herd of 5. A few months later they were joined by Blodwen, who really was the love of Clover's life and turned her from a distrustful nervous piggy to a happy herd leader. Blod always supported Clover and quietly helped keep her at the top of the herd hierarchy, even during her last few weeks when her leadership skills were becoming less obvious, and Blod had to step in with a quick nip on the bottom for the cheeky youngsters trying to take advantage!
Here's a herd picture from happier times, when Luna and Lavender joined the group to help Clover get over the death of Jezzy Floof last Christmas.
Sadly time waits for no pig, and Clover developed bad arthritis due to her uneven walk, previous leg break, and unfortunate early life. She struggled bravely on for over a year, but started to go downhill after more of her friends, Piggle and Puggle, left quite suddenly for the rainbow bridge recently. Her front legs and front paws were wearing out with taking all her weight, she was completely blind from cataracts, and then a few days ago something just gave way and she fell. She fought bracely on for as long as she could, but in the end the vet helped her over the rainbow bridge yesterday, age 6 years plus, after a glorious reign of 4 years 2 months as a brave, strong, generous and kind herd leader.
Clover had a state funeral befitting her important status, her coffin box lined with hay and parsley which was her favourite, then carefully wrapped in newspaper from the day of the Queen's funeral so she had a fitting obituary: "She rests in peace, while her people mourn".
Then piggy daddy played Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries while we sent her to join her friends gone before.
Sleep tight and fly high old girl, go find Jezzy and Piggle and Puggle and finally take the weight off those poor old painful legs x
I remember when her and Jezzy floof first came home. She was a gorgeous girl who will be sadly missed
. Clover seemed like such a lovely girl, I'm sure she will be sorely missed. 
I hope the rest of the herd wheeked along to "The Lord is my piggy slave, I'll not want" etc.