My sweet little girl died just shy of being 3 1/2 years old, and its all my fault. I found her in a hidey that I made specifically for them hoping it would be safe. I was so wrong about it.
What I would do with the hidey is put a small layer of hay on the floor that I would flatten so my girls could walk through either side of it (had two entrances) and lay and eat on the hay. They seemed to love it. It was made out of a special molding. I was so sure this would stay flat on the ground and never pose a problem in any way.
Lately I've worked tons of overtime and I haven't given them the best of attention as I am getting next to no sleep. My job is incredibly cruel with scheduling and personal time to rest. I slept all day today and when I awoke I noticed this hidey was somehow flipped on its side standing perfectly upright with one entrance facing the ground blocked off and TONS of hay impacted blocking the only other hole that was not facing down. I didn't even know this was possible but it happened. Mind you these were huge holes I made specifically so they could walk through more than comfortably and somehow my girls managed to pick up this hay and impacted it so much that it completely blocked the hole that wasn't on the ground. She got stuck in their somehow and SUFFOCATED. AND I SLEPT THROUGH HER SUFFERING.
I am stricken to the point of tears with guilt. I didn't drill air holes. I prioritized a few hours rest over the safety of my girls. I could've just bought a safe cozy that wouldn't have posed a threat in any way. I slept through probably several hundred wheeks of terror and fear from her. So many little things I could've done differently would have her here happy as ever wheeking for her veggies. She was completely healthy and my neglect killed her. I don't even know what to think but shame, sadness, and disgust at myself.
I'm so sorry, Waffles... wherever you are.
What I would do with the hidey is put a small layer of hay on the floor that I would flatten so my girls could walk through either side of it (had two entrances) and lay and eat on the hay. They seemed to love it. It was made out of a special molding. I was so sure this would stay flat on the ground and never pose a problem in any way.
Lately I've worked tons of overtime and I haven't given them the best of attention as I am getting next to no sleep. My job is incredibly cruel with scheduling and personal time to rest. I slept all day today and when I awoke I noticed this hidey was somehow flipped on its side standing perfectly upright with one entrance facing the ground blocked off and TONS of hay impacted blocking the only other hole that was not facing down. I didn't even know this was possible but it happened. Mind you these were huge holes I made specifically so they could walk through more than comfortably and somehow my girls managed to pick up this hay and impacted it so much that it completely blocked the hole that wasn't on the ground. She got stuck in their somehow and SUFFOCATED. AND I SLEPT THROUGH HER SUFFERING.
I am stricken to the point of tears with guilt. I didn't drill air holes. I prioritized a few hours rest over the safety of my girls. I could've just bought a safe cozy that wouldn't have posed a threat in any way. I slept through probably several hundred wheeks of terror and fear from her. So many little things I could've done differently would have her here happy as ever wheeking for her veggies. She was completely healthy and my neglect killed her. I don't even know what to think but shame, sadness, and disgust at myself.
I'm so sorry, Waffles... wherever you are.