Honoring Leila 🌈

[Bean_piggies]

My sweet girl Leila recently passed away, she lived a strong eight and a half years. She was my first and last guinea pig. I remember when I was kid for as long as I could remember I always wanted a guinea pig. Until one day when I was around 10-11 my mom finally got me one. I'll never forget the day how excited I was the learn the wonderful world of guinea pigs and meeting my best friend.

I'll never forget how excited I was to set up her cage and how I was so enamored about how small she was. She was so small she was the size of hand when I first got her, until she grew into such a chunky little girl!

Words cant express how truly grateful I am to such a beautiful creature she was always there for me. Leila helped me through all my battles, through losing my dad, dealing with childhood sexual abuse, losing my grandpa, graduating high-school and more. She was like my shadow wherever I went she went, she would love to cuddle together in bed more specifically on my shoulder to listen to my heart beat.

I'll never forget her adorable unique brown spot on the top of her head or her dramatic cries for veggies. I never thought I could fall in love with such a small creature but I did. I will always be grateful I had the opportunity to take care of such a beautiful animal and call her my best friend.

I love you Leila always and forever.

 

[CTWC]

I am so sorry for your loss the love you have for eachother is clear in the beautiful heartfelt tribute to your best friend Leila and that love will stay will you both. How wonderful that she was there for you through all those traumatic events I am sure you have an abundance of happy memories too. The photos are lovely
She will always be with you please be gentle with yourself and we are all here for you.
Popcorning happily over The Rainbow Bridge in fields of all of her favourite treats Leila

 

[weepweeps]

What a gorgeous girl. Popcorn high over the bridge Leila. Sending you hugs

 

[DavRz]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your Leila.She clearly was a special pig ..RIP beautiful Leila

 

[Wiebke]

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry that old age has caught up with your striking beauty Leila and that she has had to make her journey to the Rainbow Bridge. That she was able to stay so long with you is a testament to your good care.

It is hard to lose such close and important companion; try to be kind with yourself as you grieve and give yourself time to retrain yourself for her no longer being physically around. That is often the toughest bit because it usually catches you out weeks or even months later.

But please rest assured that Leila has not completely left you and that she lives on in your heart and your memories. When the time is right, you can always go and visit her there - whenever you really need her or miss her.

Leila has helped you come through such a traumatic part of your life and your close bond can still help you to summon her comforting power from your memories and to use those memories to find your inner strength for overcoming again - the same way as I am using my happiest memories of my own most special piggy Minx to get me through the darkest patches of dealing with stage 4 cancer 20 years on.

Your special strong bond with Leila will always remain there and you will always be able to summon your inner focus and strength through it, if you will it so as you move into a hopefully brighter future.

That is a beautiful memorial corner with stunning pictures!

Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

 

[Merab]

So sorry that you have lost your beautiful Leila.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Holding you in my heart

 

[Bean_piggies]

Thank you everyone for your kind words! I really appreciate it all Its taken me some time but I'm getting there. Sometimes I find myself calling her or heading to the pet aisle in the grocery store to get her food but then I realize she's no longer here anymore. Leila was a beautiful and special guinea pig and I'm grateful I had her for as long as I did!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you everyone for your kind words! I really appreciate it all Its taken me some time but I'm getting there. Sometimes I find myself calling her or heading to the pet aisle in the grocery store to get her food but then I realize she's no longer here anymore. Leila was a beautiful and special guinea pig and I'm grateful I had her for as long as I did!

Unfortunately, old habits die hard. We do not realise how much the piggies and our daily routine have become internalised and in how many subconscious ways we are connected. We can therefore not prepare and anticipate when something catches us out again.

I always struggle for weeks to adjust the veg portions after a loss... I try to tell myself that my lost piggy has thought of me at the Bridge.