Monday 14 April 2014

Lulu 2009 - 2014


I was going to write about the garden today, but as it turns out I'd like to remember this sweet little piggie instead.


I noticed a day or two ago that she wasn't spending as much time on the grass as usual, and she seemed a little lethargic.  This morning she was clearly groggy.  We were out until lunchtime, and by then she was lying down.  I made an appointment to take her to the vet's, the earliest one they had at 4.40pm.  I had a chat to the children; she had stopped eating and really had gone downhill quite quickly, so I wanted to prepare them for the fact that she probably wouldn't come home from the vet's.

In the end they all decided they wanted to come with me.  They'd spent the afternoon sitting (miraculously) quietly with her.  We gently put her in the pet carrier when it was time to go.  Her breathing was laboured, but she was still able to move about a bit.  The biggest boy sat with the pet carrier between his feet on the five-minute journey, to keep it as still as possible.

When we got there he said to me, "She's gone".  We were parked in the vet's nice little car park, so we got out and sat on the grass.  We opened the carrier and she had indeed stopped breathing.  It was a peaceful spot, just us and a blackbird, so we said our final goodbyes to her as the sun filtered through the trees and we were all together on the grass.

We took her into the vet's where they checked that her heart had in fact stopped, and then we left her little body there for cremation.

So now we're all a little sad.  We got her when she was just a baby, and the littlest boy was just one, and she's been the very best first pet a boy could have.  I'm always quite concerned to make sure that our pets have the best possible life.  I'm very aware that a lot of their time is spent in captivity, so I won't buy the tiny cages that most pet shops sell.  And I make sure that they have the most highly recommended food, nice bedding rather than the cheap stuff and lots of different fresh things to eat.  The piggies go on the grass every day when the weather is nice, which they love.  In fact if it's raining and they don't get to go out they squeak and squeak at us.  So I hope she's had a nice life.  We've certainly loved her.  And we're really going to miss her.  Her cage mate Mrs Armitage will too no doubt.  Guinea pigs are not solitary creatures, they love company, so we are going to have to decide what to do about the future.  She is five now (as was Lulu), so she could have two or three years left.  It would be a shame if those years were spent alone.  The boys will spend time with her, but obviously it's not the same as having a piggie chum.

But that's a problem for another day.  Today I just wanted to remember Lulu and say thank you little pig, we love you.


32 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry, CJ. She sounds like the sweetest little piggie. You all gave her a wonderful life, and I'm sure she really appreciated being able to roam in the sun and have so much attention from the boys. Losing a pet is never easy. Wishing you all good thoughts today:)

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  2. Oh, CJ, I am so sorry. Lulu was certainly a sweet piggie and you know I DO have a soft spot for the little ones. They are SUCH great pets. I'm sure Mrs. Armitage will miss her sweet friend. HUGS to you and the kids. It's so hard to lose a friend.

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  3. Oh CJ, what a sad day. Lulu looks like very sweet guinea pig. It is nice that you could say goodbye to her together, it is so important to say a proper goodbye to a loved pet. I am thinking of you all just now. Cx

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  4. I'm sorry. Lulu will be missed, just as she was loved in life. Hugs to all of you.

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  5. That is so sad, I suppose this is the price we pay for loving our pets.

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  6. So sorry. Guinea pigs are the most wonderful pets. I'm sure she'll be missed but as good as it can be that you got to say a peaceful goodbye. Xx

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  7. Aw! Rest in peace, Lulu. And hugs to you and your boys!

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  8. I'm so sorry to hear about your sad loss of Lulu. It sounds as though she was a wonderful pet who was greatly loved and lived a good life. Love to you all. xx

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  9. What a cute GP. I'm sorry for your loss, but it sounds like she was very much loved and definitely had a wonderful life with such a loving and caring family as you all.

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  10. Aww, so sorry to hear about Lulu. xx

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  11. You gave Lulu a wonderful life, you should be proud. I just spent 2 weeks with my daughter and 2 grandgirls and they had 2 GPs and it was fun to get to know them. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  12. So sorry to hear CJ, losing a pet is so hard and extra sad when you're consoling Kids too. RIP Lulu, you gave this family some wonderful memories. Mel xxx

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  13. What a difficult day for you all, but how wonderful that it bought you all together. She had a very good life and hope you can decide what to do with her mate so she is not lonely for long. Thinking of you all.

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  14. So sorry to hear of your loss of Lulu.. sounds like you gave her a wonderful life.. RIP little one xx

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  15. I'm so sorry to hear about Lulu - what a cute guinea pig. It is so sad when a guinea pig dies - they are such a big part of the family. I have tears in my eyes after reading your post.

    We had two guinea pigs form a rescue home. One, Doritto died about two years ago and we now have just Tuc - we took Tuc to the RSPCA twice to try to find a friend for him but he wasn't interested, the staff there said they had never seen a guinea pig react like Tuc did, so he has been on his own for 2 years now but his cage is in our kitchen so we hope that being with us much of the time makes it less lonely for him. I always talk to him when I'm in the kitchen.

    Enjoy your happy memories of Lulu and the lovely photos - hugs to you all xx

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  16. Sorry to hear about Lulu. It sounds like her passing was surrounded by love. Hugs to you all see

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  17. That's sad CJ. Pets become such an important part of the family don't they ? I love how you described how quietly the boys sat with her. Whilst we wouldn't wish it on them I do think it gives children an early understanding of the cycle of life. They will certainly always remember her,
    Kate x

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  18. Oh I'm so sorry. They are too cute. Here, we call it 'marmut'.

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  19. Awww, what a gorgeous little piggy, I'm so sorry for your loss. It sounds as though she had a wonderful life though, lots of company and lots of love. It's always difficult when you've had a pair and one passes, as you say, they do love living together, but where do you draw the line, you could go on and on. We were in the same position and we decided against getting another one, the remaining one lived about another eighteen months, but we made sure that we spent a lot of time with her. As you say, it's not the same though really. Piggies make the most wonderful pets, they're such beautiful, gentle little critters. I'm sure you and your boys will have lots of happy memories of Lulu.

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  20. Oh, Claire - sorry to hear that. You made me tear up before 7am! She sounds like she had the BEST life that a guinea pig could have. Most people just stick them in a dark cage in a corner and feed them cheap hay and baby carrots forever. Or they are tormented by little hands that shouldn't be left alone to "play" with them. Your boys sound very responsible. I'm sure the house is quieter now with one less "squeaker".

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  21. Funny how the little creatures schmoozle their way into our hearts; I love guineas but have never had one because my boy and I live in a very small flat and I'd want to do the same as you - provide space and outdoor grass. They do make lovely family pets - when my niece had her first guinea she let me hold him (cos I'm the best auntie, y'know ;) ) then, as he was obviously happy and squeaking away, she said "Aww, he loves you doesn't he?… but he loves me more because I'm the mummy" I think she was 4 at the time. Treasured memories. Grieve for your piggy but don't stay sad for too long, CJ. Lots of love. C x

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  22. How sad, but you gave her a good home and life. My mum always said of any pet which passed away to remember them with fondness and a smile, which I'm sure that you will. Flighty xx

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  23. Oh I'm so sorry for your loss & you did such a great job to prepare your boys. xx

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  24. Aw I'm sorry for your loss. She clearly had the best life with you guys taking care of her. RIP little Lulu!

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  25. Hey CJ,
    So sorry to hear about LouLou. She clearly had a wonderful life with you and your boys.
    Leanne xx

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  26. Ah brought me to tears friend.....I am so very sorry. Your sweet girl there was so very lucky to have such a caring and loving home. Sending prayers your way because losing a pet is heartbreaking. Blessings friend... Nicole xoxo

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  27. I am so sorry to hear about Lulu. Guinea Pigs are such sweet little creatures and Lulu looked adorable.

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  28. So sorry to hear of the loss of Lulu. Pets become so much part of the family when you have them.

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  29. My lot always had GPs, and if it weren't for the whippets I'd still keep them. They are such delightful little creatures. But the smallest pets leave holes as large as any other creature when they go x

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  30. So sorry to hear you've lost Lulu, she looks just like our bubbles. Bubbles and Poppet are 3 years old and we love them to bits, you must be so sad to have lost one, she sounds like she had a great life with you all.

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  31. Ah, I am sorry. The death of a pet is a big deal to a family, no matter how small the pet. I remember how devastated I was as a child when our gerbil died. But the good thing about kids is they get over these things remarkably quickly and just remember how much they loved it, rather than how sad they were when it died. x

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