Monday, February 4, 2013

Saying Goodbye to Our Guinea Pig

We got home from church yesterday, and before I changed into sweat pants or made lunch, I went downstairs to feed our geriatric guinea pig. Domino has been with us for seven years. In fact, Saturday was his "birthday," which was really the anniversary of the day we bought him. He spent the afternoon relaxing on a rug on the floor next to our sliding glass window. That chubby black and white guy loved soaking up the sun.

A birthday celebration a few years ago with Domino!

Our mini-dachshund even managed to climb into the cage with him and gave him several Happy Birthday licks. :)

So when I went downstairs and Domino didn't scurry out of his house to greet me, I knew something was wrong. I peeked in--his little body wasn't moving. I made my husband check on him.

He'd passed away sometime that morning, and by the looks of it, he went peacefully. He was curled up with his paw under his chin.

I've joked often over the years about how old he was getting and weren't they supposed to have a short life span? But Domino was a sweet fellow, always happy and squeaking. We'll miss him.

(I won't miss changing the bedding. Keeping it real, people!)

Have you had to say goodbye to a pet recently?

Have a wonderful Monday!

Posted by Jill Kemerer at 7:00 AM
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32 comments:

  1. SusanFebruary 4, 2013 at 7:29 AM

    :( My BFF's little girl just lost her guinea pig too. Amazing how even such a little pet can still make a huge impact. I can't believe you had him for seven years!

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 4, 2013 at 8:38 AM

      I know, Susan! I was about done changing that bedding 3 years ago, let me tell you! But he was such a sweetheart!

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  2. Monica HermanFebruary 4, 2013 at 8:26 AM

    So sorry! Our cat, who had showed up on our doorstep in May and never left, passed away a couple weeks before Christmas. She was less than a year old. Lily's still crying. :-(

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 4, 2013 at 8:39 AM

      Poor kitty! And poor Lily. Tell her that Mrs. Kemerer still gets teary-eyed about her kitty, Cookie, and Cookie died over 2 years ago! Pets stay with us. :)

      Delete
  3. Jennifer ShirkFebruary 4, 2013 at 8:28 AM

    Jill, I'm sorry!
    We JUST bought a guinea pig and I'm already attached. (and I didn't even want him. But now he's my baby) LOL

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 4, 2013 at 8:40 AM

      Oh, you'll have fun with him! They are cuddly and sweet!

      Delete
  4. Jennifer MajorFebruary 4, 2013 at 8:34 AM

    As soon as I saw that I actually said "OH NO!" out loud.

    We've had to say goodbye to several dogs over the years. One died of cancer, one was hit by a transport truck and one had to be re-homed. Cooper was a beautiful collie/Saint Bernard. He LOVED good snow storm and hated coming in, even when he was coated in snow. He was a rescue from the SPCA and had separation anxiety. It increased so much that he was doing damage to the house if I went in the bathroom. Then he started getting aggressive to the kids. That was it. I took him to a shelter devoted to re-homing troubled dogs and cried all the way home. And for days after that. The vets said there was nothing anyone could have done for him, he just needed a person around him 24/7. That was 3 years ago, I still feel guilty.

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 4, 2013 at 8:42 AM

      We had to re-home a dog years ago too, Jennifer. It's so hard. Our dog went to a farm with older boys--which is exactly where he belonged. His energy level was too high for our young daughter, and he was a nice dog, but he thought she was another puppy! It wasn't a good fit. I felt guilty for a long time.

      In the end, you just have to remind yourself it was for the best. It really was.

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  5. Jessica R. PatchFebruary 4, 2013 at 8:45 AM

    Sorry about your piggie, Jill. I think the same things about Sarah (our dog) but I would be a little sad if she died.

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 4, 2013 at 9:26 AM

      Thanks, Jessica. I'm just really glad he died in his sleep! Our other guinea pig died after hours of seizures. It was very traumatizing to the kids. We were all glad Domino died looking happy.

      Delete
  6. Wendy Paine MillerFebruary 4, 2013 at 9:15 AM

    Aw, buy little guy.

    We keep preparing. I'll go offline for about a year when our dog dies. I won't be able to stand it. Wah! Okay, changing topic in mind.

    Thinking of you. Hugs.
    ~ Wendy

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 4, 2013 at 9:27 AM

      Thanks, Wendy. I tend to get more attached to kitties and dogs, so I'm not taking this as hard as I did my sweet Cookie. It's hard watching them grow old. :(

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  7. Jessica NelsonFebruary 4, 2013 at 9:47 AM

    I thought they only lived for two or three years so that's amazing! I'm sorry though. He sounds like a cute little guy. I'm going to be incredibly sad when I have to say good-bye to my cat. She's twelve and so far seems good but I can kind of see how her legs are looking older or arthritic.

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 4, 2013 at 6:39 PM

      We thought the same, Jessica! I was like, okay, I didn't realize I'd be changing stinky litter for seven years!! But he was worth it. :) I hope your kitty makes it a long, long time.

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  8. K.B. OwenFebruary 4, 2013 at 9:51 AM

    So sorry, Jill! He sounds adorable, and well-loved! Guinea pigs are a lot of work, and after our last one died, we decided not to get any more. Mom was doing all of the cage cleaning! We love our gerbils, though - really cute little guys!

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 4, 2013 at 6:40 PM

      We're not getting anymore small animals either, Kathy. I was doing all of the cage cleaning and it got old! Your gerbils sound fun!

      Delete
  9. CJ KennedyFebruary 4, 2013 at 11:48 AM

    Awww, poor Domino. Love the name btw. Sounds like you gave him a very loving home.

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  10. Jaime WrightFebruary 4, 2013 at 11:55 AM

    sniff sniff. Even the little ones like that leave tiny holes of "i miss you's" in our hearts...

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  11. Loree HuebnerFebruary 4, 2013 at 2:15 PM

    Oh, it's never easy to say goodbye to a pet. Sorry for you loss, Jill. I'm glad he went peacefully.


    We lost our Pickles in November.

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 4, 2013 at 6:42 PM

      I'm so sorry about your Pickles--what a cute name! We're all glad Domino lived a long life and went peacefully. It's all good!

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  12. UnknownFebruary 4, 2013 at 2:18 PM

    Awww, I'm so sorry about Domino! Pets are part of the family. I'd be heartbroken if anything happened to my fur baby kitty cats.

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 4, 2013 at 6:43 PM

      I'm a cat-fanatic, so I took the passing of my beautiful Himalayan, Cookie, really hard. It's been over 2 years and I still miss her! Domino was sweet but it's not the same!

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  13. Lindsay HarrelFebruary 4, 2013 at 3:36 PM

    So sorry, Jill! Losing a pet is awful. Awful! My kitty didn't come home last May, so I have a feeling something got her. Although I do try to think of her as running off with a boyfriend or something. Really, she was the sweetest cat ever.

    As you know, we almost lost our little puppy to parvo, but he survived and bounced back. I love my dogs and it'll be horrible whenever we lose them. :( I can't stand thinking about it!!!

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 4, 2013 at 6:44 PM

      I believe your kitty found a boyfriend. It's much nicer than the other! I'm more attached to our dog (and my late kitty) than our guinea pig, so I took this one pretty well. He was so old--he lived a good life!

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  14. Shay LacyFebruary 4, 2013 at 6:39 PM

    So sorry about your guinea pig, Jill. Our furry friends become family. I'm glad Domino didn't suffer.

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 4, 2013 at 6:44 PM

      Thanks, Shay. He really had a nice life and a nice passing. That's all we can ask!

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  15. Beth K. VogtFebruary 5, 2013 at 10:18 AM

    Sorry, Jill.
    Saying goodbye to a pet -- guinea pig, dog, cat, whatever -- is just plain hard!

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    1. Jill KemererFebruary 5, 2013 at 2:04 PM

      Thanks, Beth! It's easier when they're really, really old. He had a good life!

      Delete
  16. NancyFebruary 5, 2013 at 2:35 PM

    Domino looks so cute in that picture. Just adorable. I'm sure you were sad. When my gerbil died, I was extremely upset. All the little guy did was hop down every morning for his food. That used to make me laugh. I am truly sorry for this happening. Your humor helps a lot.

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  17. Kathi Oram PetersonFebruary 5, 2013 at 8:26 PM

    Our pets really become part of our family. My little Yorkie is getting up there in years, and I dread the day I'll have to say good-bye to her. I'm sorry for your loss.

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