StardustEcho
Junior Guinea Pig
My little old lady Tia journeyed to the rainbow bridge on Friday. After 4 months (almost to the day) she's reunited with Mylo, the love of her life. 
Back in 2021 I'd been planning on owning guinea pigs for months. I came across them as a pair on the rescue website and my heart was stolen.
Mylo had my heart from the second he snuggled in my arms. I was smitten with Tia when she bravely took food from me and ran to give it to the scared little Mylo. The pair of them brought me more delight than I'd ever felt. A while later and they adopted a little Berry, followed a few months later by Edel and Umbra.
Tia made sure everyone knew she was the boss. And what a confident little drama queen she was. She was always first to the bars, squeaking like mad, shoving the younger ones out the way for her food. She was never too impressed with her daughters, but Mylo was always welcome for a snuggle and a quick nose boop. Her crazy looks and personality got her so many nicknames. Her Royal Highness, Cruella, The Wig and Madame Tia to name a few.
Already an older lady when we got her, she slowed down over time. But no matter how slow she'd been seconds before, a sniff of food and she was sprinting like a young one again. She may not have partaken in the dominance rumbles the others enjoyed, but there was no doubt who was boss. Didn't matter where in the cage she was, if someone dared enter the hide she'd deemed as hers for the week, trouble was going down. Or more correctly, a pig was getting shuffled right out of there while she took a well deserved nap.
When Mylo passed, she became so frail in a matter of days. Suddenly she was the biggest Mummy's girl. She wanted nothing more than cuddles and sofa time, accompanied, of course, by pea flakes and recovery food. She learned how to beg for my attention and would spend hours every day napping on me, with plenty of head boops when I dared stop stroking her.
I'd sit at my desk and she'd be my little shadow in the cage beside, curled right up to the edge, almost touching me. She'd redecorate the cage, making sure each hide was moved to be near the humans for optimal strokes and pea flakes. The joy I felt coming into the room and seeing her desperate for love and attention (and food) was indescribable. I love all my pigs dearly, but Tia truly had the most special place in my heart.
Coming into the room and seeing her collapsed broke something inside me. She saw me enter and the next thing I know she was trying in vain to pull herself over to me. But her body wasn't working anymore. I scooped her up and she snuggled in my arms. As we got ready to go to the vet, she'd make little huff sounds and strain her head whenever I dared leave her for a second to get ready. In the car, I spent the whole time stroking her and telling her how much I loved her. The decision to let her go was easy, her spirit was still there but her body could no longer hold it. It brings me comfort to know that she's with Mylo again. Their bond truly was something special.
Oh Tia. You've left the biggest hole in my heart, and it will never truly be mended. I'll look after your girls for you, and you can rest with Mylo now. You're pain-free once more and can run and popcorn all day long. Find the best hides to claim as your own, eat all the fruit and veg, tell Mylo I love him and never, ever forget how much I loved you. You brought so much happiness into my life and I'm so thankful to you. You meant the world to me and I'm so, so grateful I got to spend even the short time I did with you. Our memories together will live forever in my heart and I'll never forget you.
Goodbye Tia. My little old lady. Sleep tight and know that I loved you more than anything.
Back in 2021 I'd been planning on owning guinea pigs for months. I came across them as a pair on the rescue website and my heart was stolen.
Mylo had my heart from the second he snuggled in my arms. I was smitten with Tia when she bravely took food from me and ran to give it to the scared little Mylo. The pair of them brought me more delight than I'd ever felt. A while later and they adopted a little Berry, followed a few months later by Edel and Umbra.
Tia made sure everyone knew she was the boss. And what a confident little drama queen she was. She was always first to the bars, squeaking like mad, shoving the younger ones out the way for her food. She was never too impressed with her daughters, but Mylo was always welcome for a snuggle and a quick nose boop. Her crazy looks and personality got her so many nicknames. Her Royal Highness, Cruella, The Wig and Madame Tia to name a few.
Already an older lady when we got her, she slowed down over time. But no matter how slow she'd been seconds before, a sniff of food and she was sprinting like a young one again. She may not have partaken in the dominance rumbles the others enjoyed, but there was no doubt who was boss. Didn't matter where in the cage she was, if someone dared enter the hide she'd deemed as hers for the week, trouble was going down. Or more correctly, a pig was getting shuffled right out of there while she took a well deserved nap.
When Mylo passed, she became so frail in a matter of days. Suddenly she was the biggest Mummy's girl. She wanted nothing more than cuddles and sofa time, accompanied, of course, by pea flakes and recovery food. She learned how to beg for my attention and would spend hours every day napping on me, with plenty of head boops when I dared stop stroking her.
I'd sit at my desk and she'd be my little shadow in the cage beside, curled right up to the edge, almost touching me. She'd redecorate the cage, making sure each hide was moved to be near the humans for optimal strokes and pea flakes. The joy I felt coming into the room and seeing her desperate for love and attention (and food) was indescribable. I love all my pigs dearly, but Tia truly had the most special place in my heart.
Coming into the room and seeing her collapsed broke something inside me. She saw me enter and the next thing I know she was trying in vain to pull herself over to me. But her body wasn't working anymore. I scooped her up and she snuggled in my arms. As we got ready to go to the vet, she'd make little huff sounds and strain her head whenever I dared leave her for a second to get ready. In the car, I spent the whole time stroking her and telling her how much I loved her. The decision to let her go was easy, her spirit was still there but her body could no longer hold it. It brings me comfort to know that she's with Mylo again. Their bond truly was something special.
Oh Tia. You've left the biggest hole in my heart, and it will never truly be mended. I'll look after your girls for you, and you can rest with Mylo now. You're pain-free once more and can run and popcorn all day long. Find the best hides to claim as your own, eat all the fruit and veg, tell Mylo I love him and never, ever forget how much I loved you. You brought so much happiness into my life and I'm so thankful to you. You meant the world to me and I'm so, so grateful I got to spend even the short time I did with you. Our memories together will live forever in my heart and I'll never forget you.
Goodbye Tia. My little old lady. Sleep tight and know that I loved you more than anything.
it’s clear how much Tia meant to you. Sleep tight Tia x
