Hello, all. I am new here and grateful for a forum to vent my sadness. I'm hoping someone else has experienced this and maybe could share their views.
My sis moved out and abandoned her piggie, Sallie, and two cats here with my mother and me. I became the caretaker of all of them, including a fourth cat, who is mine. The cost and time involved in caring for four animals had finally taken it's toll and I could no longer afford it. I can't get any help from sis and mom helps with what little she can.
Sallie, the beautiful girl piggie, was at least 6 yrs. old, possible 7 and I had her put to sleep on Thursday after a long and painful decision. I also had to tell my family I could no longer care for all the cats on my own. With my own debts, working far from home, and a very stressful full-time job, I'm left with little energy or money at the end of the day.
Sallie was a joy to be around. I feel guilty at not knowing what piggies needed for many years, but I learned as I went along, and finally, she had a nice big cage, and fresh food, hay, water of course, and lots of love. But being gone 11 hours a day isn't fair to her. And my family is no help in keeping her company. She also never got along with other piggies. She had a permanent "head tilt" from some type of neurological problem since birth as well.
She came down with what turned out to be bubblefoot on one foot very bad, and starting on her two back feet several months ago. I didn't know that the bedding and urine can cause this, as well as her weight and inactivity. So, after much veterinary help and many, many hours of care, she was getting all better. I even made piggie socks to wear at night and protect her feet. Changed her bedding, which was now blankets, towels, soft clothes, etc., two to three times a day, and cleaned it in between. She became a happy, healthy, piggie, but I could no longer afford the upkeep and energy it takes to care for these four animals all by myself.
I noticed that her one foot was starting to get sore again, and her urine was dark, not bloody, but very dark. I just couldn't afford more vet bills. I also refused to give her to someone who wouldn't care for her properly, after all she'd been through with me learning the proper methods. And a piggie rescue just seemed useless since no one will want to adopt a 6 yr old piggie. Everyone wants young ones since they only live to be 7 or so.
As hard as it was, I decided to put her to sleep, knowing she had a good long life with someone, finally, who loved her and will always remember her. I couldn't bare the thought of someone taking her and not loving her as much, neglecting her like my sister did, and her missing me all the time.
I am now just drowning in guilt. I can't stand the quiet in the basement where we lived together. No squeeking for her fruits in the morning or banging her hay holder to get the hay to drop out. I know in the end it was the best for her, but it's killing me.
Thank you for letting me vent my sadness here.
Ragamuffin
My sis moved out and abandoned her piggie, Sallie, and two cats here with my mother and me. I became the caretaker of all of them, including a fourth cat, who is mine. The cost and time involved in caring for four animals had finally taken it's toll and I could no longer afford it. I can't get any help from sis and mom helps with what little she can.
Sallie, the beautiful girl piggie, was at least 6 yrs. old, possible 7 and I had her put to sleep on Thursday after a long and painful decision. I also had to tell my family I could no longer care for all the cats on my own. With my own debts, working far from home, and a very stressful full-time job, I'm left with little energy or money at the end of the day.
Sallie was a joy to be around. I feel guilty at not knowing what piggies needed for many years, but I learned as I went along, and finally, she had a nice big cage, and fresh food, hay, water of course, and lots of love. But being gone 11 hours a day isn't fair to her. And my family is no help in keeping her company. She also never got along with other piggies. She had a permanent "head tilt" from some type of neurological problem since birth as well.
She came down with what turned out to be bubblefoot on one foot very bad, and starting on her two back feet several months ago. I didn't know that the bedding and urine can cause this, as well as her weight and inactivity. So, after much veterinary help and many, many hours of care, she was getting all better. I even made piggie socks to wear at night and protect her feet. Changed her bedding, which was now blankets, towels, soft clothes, etc., two to three times a day, and cleaned it in between. She became a happy, healthy, piggie, but I could no longer afford the upkeep and energy it takes to care for these four animals all by myself.
I noticed that her one foot was starting to get sore again, and her urine was dark, not bloody, but very dark. I just couldn't afford more vet bills. I also refused to give her to someone who wouldn't care for her properly, after all she'd been through with me learning the proper methods. And a piggie rescue just seemed useless since no one will want to adopt a 6 yr old piggie. Everyone wants young ones since they only live to be 7 or so.
As hard as it was, I decided to put her to sleep, knowing she had a good long life with someone, finally, who loved her and will always remember her. I couldn't bare the thought of someone taking her and not loving her as much, neglecting her like my sister did, and her missing me all the time.
I am now just drowning in guilt. I can't stand the quiet in the basement where we lived together. No squeeking for her fruits in the morning or banging her hay holder to get the hay to drop out. I know in the end it was the best for her, but it's killing me.
Thank you for letting me vent my sadness here.
Ragamuffin