Artica (My fuzzy babydoll)

[sunstreak]

First post here. I'm struggling with the death of my guinea pig & all of my closest friends are out of town, so I thought I'd go here where people might "get it" & at least offer me someone to talk to.

My babydoll, Artica, was put down yesterday.
She was about eight years old (We got her September 14th, 2001 at a pet store, and she was "six to eight weeks old" at the time)
And she was also my best friend. The only living thing that never snapped at me for anything, and the only friend I had that I didn't lose at least for a time at some point for petty highschool-middleschool-gradeschool drama.

She was my ninth birthday present, and has been such a huge part of my life since then, always. The knowledge that my family might not know how to take care of her properly the way I did stopped me from a suicide attempt.

I was so impressed that she'd lived as long as she had.

She had cancer two falls ago, which she miraculously survived, after a surgery (She was six at the time). What took her in the end was horrible, horrible, arthritis which left her with ~10-40% mobility in the majority of her leg joints, so we thought that letting her go would be the best thing for her, since she couldn't walk anymore and seemed to be in a lot of pain, despite the medication we gave her.

It's so hard for me to process because she was so healthy even in May - running around on the floor and just being her usual lovable self (as she was in until the end). Every morning when I came downstairs into the kitchen she'd greet me with her wheeks, as she would each day when I came home from school. She relished in all the attention my family and friends would always give her, and she was probably one of the world's most spoiled guinea pigs as a result. I remember one summer I came home from camp after a couple of weeks, and the second she heard my voice coming through the door she started gurgling (the happy kind) louder than we've ever heard her gurgle before... and my family took very good care of her while I was gone, I'm sure.

I love her now, & will love her always. And I don't know what I'm going to do with myself now... I miss her so much.

So now I'm going to flood you with links to pictures =]
Her Face
Her Outside Two Summers Ago
My Sixteenth Birthday, Her Seventh
Her And A Chipmunk, Summer 2005
Me Holding Her In May

Artica "Babydoll"
September 14, 2001 - July 18, 2009
RIP Honey

[momof1kid3piggi]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I myself have not lost one yet, but I've seen stories on here that made me cry (this one sure did) But you will get through it. It might take a while. But you will get through.

[akstrohm]

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm glad she had a good life with you and received such good care.

[kiara]

I feel you I've lost around 20 pets from natural death or tragedys in the past 8 years and had to watch many of them I hope you feel better!! Adopting a new baby from a rescue would help alot trust me that way your saving a life even though you have just lost an important one

[Jaybird!889]

Hey there,

I am so sorry for your loss; losing a pet can be horrible but please know that in time your wounds will heal. Yes, Artica will always stay in your heart(you can't ever forget an animal) but you will heal.

Reading this reminded me of myself Although I have never had a guinea pig I have lost two animal recently one of which helped me through very rough times; such as you mentioned. The death of my dog(who was my best friend) was so very unexpected and I felt horrible. From what I have read it seems like you were there for you piggie and took good care of her and gave her the life that she deserved and that is good.

I think the best thing to do is to remember the good times you had with her. Something I am going to do for my lost dog is make a little scrap book of all the pictures/adventures we did together; maybe you could do the same not only will it be somewhat fun to do but it might help you move on.

As for getting another guinea pig; I think that if you want to consider that that is fine but you should be sure that you are ready, emotionally. Sometimes people go out and buy a new animal right after their old one dies and they aren't ready and it affects their relationship/caring of the new animal. I am not discouraging you from getting a new piggie, because I am sure it is rewarding and it always helps to have a friend, but you should make sure that you are ready so your new piggie will recieve the best possible care and attention.

Please hang in there and know that with time it will be okay.

[sunstreak]

Thank you all so much, honestly. It's just good to get some words of sympathy from people, because with all of my close friends out of town (some on a volunteer mission in Africa... can't call them up there!) I was feeling very lonely and isolated. Your kind words not only made me feel a bit better, but got rid of those feelings of isolation a bit too, so thank you so much.

I'm sure that in time I'll be okay, I just need to stick it through, which has never been one of my greatest talents... although this is offering me a fine chance to develop that talent!

I think I will get a new pig, or maybe a degu, in the future, just not right now. At least not for another couple of months - I'm afraid that I'll expect it to be exactly like Artica, which is, of course, impossible, since all animals are individuals. And the risk of wanting my new pet to be something it's not doesn't exactly make it worth it to get one, even though I really just want to hang out with something small and fuzzy right now.

Maybe I'll let you know how it goes =] & Once again, thank you all so, so much for your sympathy. It honestly does mean quite a bit to me <3.

[Ibbet]

Aw, so sorry for your loss!
She was beautiful.

[wigglesgiggles1]

So sorry to hear about your loss. Eight years is REALLY long for a guinea pig!

[barbanderson]

I hope you are doing "better" here now but I feel your pain I truly do. I just lost Biscuit here a few hours ago and I only had her FOUR MONTHS. Her death has left a HUGE gaping hole in my heart nothing will ever fill. But yes time does some magic and lets us continue on. I lost an almost TEN year old FISH a year or so ago and never a day goes by without me "seeing" him in my heart. I got other fish yes but NOTHING will ever take his place. We do move on. Others come into our lives and grab another piece of our heart til they too have to leave us. I sincerely hope you are healing now and whatever you get or decide TO get will grab a piece of your heart again. Take care now and my deepest condolences in your loss