Pigoles
Junior Guinea Pig
LOVE ...
Melvin and Bella entered my life with perfect timing. A family member was struggling to care for them, due to a change in their circumstances, so I took them on. I had childhood piggies, 30 years ago, and have loved piggies ever since! Sadly, ongoing illness and consequent restricted ability to work full-time meant that I was never able to live in accommodation where I could own piggies, but at a time when my ill-health had sadly meant in return to live with parents, the bright side was I finally had space to give Melvin and Bella a loving home!
And love them I did ... reading and learning so much on here, having fun making them a C&C, watching them grow tame in my company and seeing their little characters emerging. When lockdown hit they were a true blessing, a reason to get up in the morning and see their little faces, learning their favourite foods, foraging on my daily walk learning new routes in the nearby lush Welsh countryside finding tasty plants to tempt them ... sow thistle was a huge hit! Morning with them by trotting around my feet as I cleaned their C&C, exclaiming their pleasure/displeasure with my cleaning efforts, with Melvin sometimes 'helpfully' choosing the dustpan as a alternative rest station ... and warm summer evenings sitting alongside their run, reading as they gleefully chomped the grass beside me ...
Life has darkened in recent months, but Melvin and Bella were a light in the darkness. Sadly, lockdown meant a significant reduction in my health-related support, and a delay in planned intensive treatment, and tho I fully understand and appreciated the reasons for the changes/delays, the impact on my health has been significant. But one day at a time, I kept going.
LOSS ...
Then I suddenly became aware that all was not well with my little Melvin. Cheeky as ever, whilst doing laps of the kitchen floor, he decided to peek into the open dishwasher on his last evening before visiting the vets! But tragically, as I have written about on another thread, my lack of knowledge meant I trusted a vet who was inexperienced in guinea pig dental surgery, and after 5 days of fighting day and night, Melvin was PTS on the vet's advice ... a decision I will always regret and wonder was right. His loss was totally devastating, and I still struggle hugely not to blame myself.
And now my lovely bereaved Bella. Thankfully, she hasn't been heavily affected by the loss of Melvin, actually becoming much more confident with my constant attention. We ruffle freshly picked grass together to find the tastiest strands, and she now eats happily from my hand. She will lie with me and allow strokes, but if I stroke her head, I get a headbutt of irritation ... "Get off!" ... and if I laugh, a rumble in reply!
As I type this, I'm watching her bumbling around her C&C, finding tasty bits of hay to munch ... she is so sweet!
But I know she really needs a piggie companion, and this is complicated by the fact my decline in health over lockdown means I am now facing a lengthy stay in hospital. Family cannot care for any piggies for very valid reasons, and I have no friends who could do so either. So I have had to face the hugely painful reality ... Bella needs a new friend in a new home ... tho it breaks my heart anew to think of losing her, so soon after Melvin.
KINDNESS ...
But the immense kindness of a lovely member of TGPF has provided a lifeline ... a wonderfully kind offer to give Bella a chance to try bonding with a new friend in a wonderful home, with the promise of receiving photos of sweet Bella! I have everything crossed, as if that works out, it would be wonderful!
And 'Plan B' (as aware bonding may not come off), is to approach a wonderful rescue in Neath, which I know is been recommended on here, to find Bella a loving new home. She so deserves to have a happy life, even if that life can no longer be with me ...
HOPE ...
So on Saturday I will say goodbye to my sweet Bella, and then can only hope she and her potential friend will like one another! And if not, I hope that there will be another loving home awaiting her elsewhere. I simply wish that she is loved, as much as I love her. Please send all your hopeful wishes for Bella!
And I also hope that this sadness of this bittersweet second parting, so soon after losing Melvin, will ease in time, and that the months of treatment away from home and my family will bring better health. I hope for a brighter future ... for both of us ... and the tears that still readily spring into my eyes when thinking of Melvin's loss, and the sad reality that Bella needs to find a new life without me, will be gradually replaced with smiles, as I remember the all-too-short months that Melvin and Bella brightened my life.
Forever loved.
Melvin and Bella entered my life with perfect timing. A family member was struggling to care for them, due to a change in their circumstances, so I took them on. I had childhood piggies, 30 years ago, and have loved piggies ever since! Sadly, ongoing illness and consequent restricted ability to work full-time meant that I was never able to live in accommodation where I could own piggies, but at a time when my ill-health had sadly meant in return to live with parents, the bright side was I finally had space to give Melvin and Bella a loving home!
And love them I did ... reading and learning so much on here, having fun making them a C&C, watching them grow tame in my company and seeing their little characters emerging. When lockdown hit they were a true blessing, a reason to get up in the morning and see their little faces, learning their favourite foods, foraging on my daily walk learning new routes in the nearby lush Welsh countryside finding tasty plants to tempt them ... sow thistle was a huge hit! Morning with them by trotting around my feet as I cleaned their C&C, exclaiming their pleasure/displeasure with my cleaning efforts, with Melvin sometimes 'helpfully' choosing the dustpan as a alternative rest station ... and warm summer evenings sitting alongside their run, reading as they gleefully chomped the grass beside me ...
Life has darkened in recent months, but Melvin and Bella were a light in the darkness. Sadly, lockdown meant a significant reduction in my health-related support, and a delay in planned intensive treatment, and tho I fully understand and appreciated the reasons for the changes/delays, the impact on my health has been significant. But one day at a time, I kept going.
LOSS ...
Then I suddenly became aware that all was not well with my little Melvin. Cheeky as ever, whilst doing laps of the kitchen floor, he decided to peek into the open dishwasher on his last evening before visiting the vets! But tragically, as I have written about on another thread, my lack of knowledge meant I trusted a vet who was inexperienced in guinea pig dental surgery, and after 5 days of fighting day and night, Melvin was PTS on the vet's advice ... a decision I will always regret and wonder was right. His loss was totally devastating, and I still struggle hugely not to blame myself.
And now my lovely bereaved Bella. Thankfully, she hasn't been heavily affected by the loss of Melvin, actually becoming much more confident with my constant attention. We ruffle freshly picked grass together to find the tastiest strands, and she now eats happily from my hand. She will lie with me and allow strokes, but if I stroke her head, I get a headbutt of irritation ... "Get off!" ... and if I laugh, a rumble in reply!
As I type this, I'm watching her bumbling around her C&C, finding tasty bits of hay to munch ... she is so sweet! But I know she really needs a piggie companion, and this is complicated by the fact my decline in health over lockdown means I am now facing a lengthy stay in hospital. Family cannot care for any piggies for very valid reasons, and I have no friends who could do so either. So I have had to face the hugely painful reality ... Bella needs a new friend in a new home ... tho it breaks my heart anew to think of losing her, so soon after Melvin.
KINDNESS ...
But the immense kindness of a lovely member of TGPF has provided a lifeline ... a wonderfully kind offer to give Bella a chance to try bonding with a new friend in a wonderful home, with the promise of receiving photos of sweet Bella! I have everything crossed, as if that works out, it would be wonderful!
And 'Plan B' (as aware bonding may not come off), is to approach a wonderful rescue in Neath, which I know is been recommended on here, to find Bella a loving new home. She so deserves to have a happy life, even if that life can no longer be with me ...
HOPE ...
So on Saturday I will say goodbye to my sweet Bella, and then can only hope she and her potential friend will like one another! And if not, I hope that there will be another loving home awaiting her elsewhere. I simply wish that she is loved, as much as I love her. Please send all your hopeful wishes for Bella!
And I also hope that this sadness of this bittersweet second parting, so soon after losing Melvin, will ease in time, and that the months of treatment away from home and my family will bring better health. I hope for a brighter future ... for both of us ... and the tears that still readily spring into my eyes when thinking of Melvin's loss, and the sad reality that Bella needs to find a new life without me, will be gradually replaced with smiles, as I remember the all-too-short months that Melvin and Bella brightened my life.
Forever loved.
I’m sure everything will work out for Bella and she will have a new friend in no time x
You’re clearly a wonderful mama to put her first and allow her to live a wonderful life with (hopefully) her new pal. It will get easier in time I’m sure, but allow yourself to grieve your loss for Melvin and also grieve the loss of Bella, who is now in very good hands by the sound of things! Be kind to yourself. Really hope you look after yourself and your health too, wishing you all the best!
So sorry for you, you will miss her so much but knowing she will be happy will make your loss so much easier to bare, especially if you get updates x
