Sadly, I have celebrated the day of my unexpected record 18 months' break from any losses by saying goodbye to Hirael 'Long Brow' (pronounced 'Heeryle') after the progressive neurological issue she has been suffering from for over 2 years went into overdrive.
Hiri was one of my lesser known Tribe piggies; she was the very timid, rather skittish daughter of a dumped sow, who was discovered highly pregnant in a tree stump in a Leeds park together with another pregnant sow and a boar who I asopted from Milhaven Guinea Pig Rescue in March 2017.
Hirael always was what I call a typical 'lurker'...
Rather traumatised mother Hyfryd 'Lovely' took about 2 years to start living up to her name until she fell for little Nye's happy-go-lucky charm through the bars and accepted him into her group when he lost his friend Nosgan.
Unfortunately, Hirael became somewhat de trop in the ensuing love affair, so when she was my last option for company for Macsen after the sudden announcement of Lockdown had messed up all my plans and timings in March 2020, it was perhaps not quite love on first sight on Hirael's side but it certainly grew quickly into a close and loving bond. She never showed any desire to move back in with her mother!
I am taking comfort in the knowledge that only two weeks ago Hirael was still happily zooming around the cage, as much as her increasing mobility problems allowed, and that I have been able to spare her further distress and discomfort in what would have been her last few days on earth. Macsen was a diligent moral support for Hirael and misses her quite a bit!
Hirael was coming up to 5 years of age.
Her send-off bouquet from my garden (which all my piggies are buried with) consists of japanese anemone, several types of marjoram and some tough as nails cranesbill to suit her sweet but shy and quiet personality but also her determination to get on with life despite her increasing limp and her constant pain.
Hiri was one of my lesser known Tribe piggies; she was the very timid, rather skittish daughter of a dumped sow, who was discovered highly pregnant in a tree stump in a Leeds park together with another pregnant sow and a boar who I asopted from Milhaven Guinea Pig Rescue in March 2017.
Hirael always was what I call a typical 'lurker'...
Rather traumatised mother Hyfryd 'Lovely' took about 2 years to start living up to her name until she fell for little Nye's happy-go-lucky charm through the bars and accepted him into her group when he lost his friend Nosgan.
Unfortunately, Hirael became somewhat de trop in the ensuing love affair, so when she was my last option for company for Macsen after the sudden announcement of Lockdown had messed up all my plans and timings in March 2020, it was perhaps not quite love on first sight on Hirael's side but it certainly grew quickly into a close and loving bond. She never showed any desire to move back in with her mother!
I am taking comfort in the knowledge that only two weeks ago Hirael was still happily zooming around the cage, as much as her increasing mobility problems allowed, and that I have been able to spare her further distress and discomfort in what would have been her last few days on earth. Macsen was a diligent moral support for Hirael and misses her quite a bit!
Hirael was coming up to 5 years of age.
Her send-off bouquet from my garden (which all my piggies are buried with) consists of japanese anemone, several types of marjoram and some tough as nails cranesbill to suit her sweet but shy and quiet personality but also her determination to get on with life despite her increasing limp and her constant pain.
Hirael was beautiful and had a fantastic life with you. Sleep tight beautiful Hirael x
She had the most amazing life with such a brilliant piggy mum! 
. What a lovely tribute.
She was beautiful! 
