A Tribute To Scarlet

This is a video I created to remember our beautiful hamster Scarlet.

Sweet Dreams Sweet Scarlet

Unfortunately on the morning of Sunday, February 1st, 2015 I found Scarlet in an eternal sleep. She was safe and warm, curled up in her hidey house when I discovered her, with no signs of trauma or illness. Still, as she was barely 1 1/2 years old and seemed in perfect health the night before, her sudden passing came as quite a shock to us.

We brought Scarlet home in November of 2013. She helped my heart to heal after the passing of our hamster Chandler. Scarlet quickly won us over with her antics - she loved to run and climb and would eagerly greet me at the open cage door for a snuggle and cookie! She rarely sat still and loved to explore! She would run up and down my arms and scurry around excitedly during floor time! It was because of this that we had recently upgraded her 588 square inch home to 784 sq. inches! 

Scarlet had the most beautiful markings! She had a light cream colour around her eyes and a russet coloured behind while the rest of her was a beautiful brown. Her fur was soft and silky and I loved snuggling her. She also had a tiny white patch on her chest that I had only recently noticed!

Photographing Scarlet was always a challenge as she was always on the move! The only thing she loved more than running was food and pouching morsels of her dinner often stopped her just long enough for me to get that perfect shot! 

I miss this sweet ham so much. I feel blessed that I was the one who got to share my life with such a sweet little lady and that she passed peacefully, even if her time with us was too short.

Sweet dreams Scarlet, we love and miss you.

Fly Free Sweet Ella

Sweet dreams darling Goose. Mommy and Daddy miss you terribly. 2007-2014

Unfortunately on the morning of June 22nd, 2014 our darling Pacific Parrotlet Ella left us for the Bridge. Ella was playing with her Grandma when she suddenly fell off her perch. Ella's passing was instant and what we can only assume was a heart attack. Although we were all shocked and saddened by her sudden death we are also thankful that she didn't suffer and wasn't alone when she died.

Last October Ella began suffering a series of strokes so at the advice of our vet, we began treatment for Egg Yolk Peritonitis. Unfortunately Ella continued to suffer strokes post-treatment. A series of x-rays, exams and blood work indicated that nothing was wrong and the vets told us all we could offer her was compassionate care going forward.

I refused to believe there was nothing we could do and as long as Ella was willing to fight so was I. After a lot of research I believed her strokes were due to a vitamin/nutrient deficiency, most likely a lack of calcium or vitamin D as Ella would occasionally lay eggs. We began transitioning her on to a good quality diet and providing calcium supplements if we noticed symptoms of egg laying. To help her get the vitamin D she needed we purchased a special avian bulb and set it on a daily timer.

And Ella got better.

For the final 6 months of our little Goose's life, Ella was stroke free and symptom free. The strokes she had suffered had left some permanent weakness in her one foot but it didn't slow her down one bit. We became closer then ever, sharing healthy meals together, her sitting on my arm while I checked e-mail, perching atop my sewing machine while I sewed or just spending time together. Unfortunately we think the strokes did do some permanent damage to her heart which ultimately led to the heart attack she suffered in June.

Ella was my first bird and certainly made owning one a challenge! I read every book and watched every video I could on taming but nothing seemed to work with Ella. Finally I stopped trying to force a bond and instead focused on spending loads of time together. Slowly Ella began to open up and trust me. When you've had to work for months to build a relationship with an animal, it makes those breakthroughs much more meaningful.

Although I spent our earlier years together working on building that bond with Ella, she hated fingers and loved to bite. After hearing about the success another YouTuber had with her parrotlet and clicker training I decided to give it a try. Much of our time spent together during those final months was based around training. Ella was eager to learn and grasped the concept quickly. By our second session she was gently taking the reward from my fingers. This was a huge step in strengthening our bond and she would do a happy dance when she saw me take the target out every day.

On our last day together I let Ella out to stretch her wings and have a fly around the kitchen. Instead she flew to my shoulder - something she had never done before. We stood at the kitchen window together, taking one last look at our old backyard and neighbourhood while I reminisced about the past 7 years we had both spent in our first home and the memories we had made there. It is a moment in time that I will cherish forever.

I miss our feisty green chicken terribly. She made even the most menial of daily tasks exciting. I miss her excited chirps and her frantic wake up calls when I slept in. I miss sharing breakfast with her, her coming to investigate everything I was doing and her big attitude. Our little Ella was fearless and although tiny, her presence was mighty. Our home doesn't feel the same without her.

Sweet dreams Goose. You will always be in my heart.

'There are far, far better things ahead then any we leave behind.' - C.S. Lewis

Missing Maggie

I can't believe that it's already been more than a week since Maggie left us for the Rainbow Bridge.

This week has been extremely difficult for me. Accepting that I won't see Maggie again just seems unreal. The days are getting better but the nights just seem so long.

I have watched her Tribute Video 494758902389045890 times and it still brings me to tears. I'm glad that I made it though as I have found some comfort in having a little collection of photos all neatly tied together. When I'm having a moment where I'm really missing her, I play the video. 

I just wanted her to know that although I'm coming to terms with her death and less tears have been shed these past few days, I still love and miss her terribly.

This photo is how I hope she's living now. Spending eternity happily running through fields of green grass with the warmth of the sun on her back and completely at peace.

Sweet Dreams Maggie

Sweet dreams Maggie, we will love you always and your presence will be greatly missed. 1998-2013

Yesterday morning my Mom called to say that our family dog Maggie had lost the ability to use her back legs. My sister was already on her way and my Husband and I told her we'd meet them at the vet's office.

Maggie seemed alert when we got there but couldn't use the back half of her body. Her head was also tilted at an awkward angle and she had thrown up several times. My Mom said this had come on suddenly and that Maggie hadn't suffered any trauma to cause it. The vet concluded that Maggie had most likely suffered a neurological episode or a stroke. She told us it was possible that Maggie could recover some of her mobility or she could continue to get worse but that either way she didn't see Maggie living for more than a few months. It seemed she wasn't in any pain but leaving her like this could be dangerous in a house with other pets, old wooden steps and no one home with her for most of the day. At 15 years old, Maggie slept most of the time and was blind, deaf, toothless, and now immobile. So we decided with heavy hearts the most humane thing for Maggie was for her to finally be at peace. 

Although my heart is hurting, I know we did the right thing by letting Maggie go. I truly believe this was Maggie's way of telling us it was her time. She had struggled to get around for the past few years, had lost weight, her vision, her hearing and frequently wobbled when standing or walking, having to occasionally take breaks. She had become the ultimate lap dog as she couldn't get around very well on her own. The odd time she tried to jump on to the couch or a chair she would often miss and fall or her legs would give out beneath her. We knew her time had come and that she had reached old age long ago. No matter how much time you've had with a beloved pet however, it just never seems to be enough.

I have so many fond memories that include Maggie. The excitement of getting her, late night puppy play when she couldn't sleep and lots of snuggles and cuddles when there were storms. Long walks at the dog park, winters at the cottage, summers at the cottage, swimming in the pool, hikes and canoe rides are all just the beginning of them. My sister and I remarked that we've shared more of our lives with Maggie then without her. 

The hardest part about having pets is when you have to say goodbye. Although I've cried several times over the past few days at the passing of this beautiful soul, I also remind myself of the wonderful life Maggie had because of us and the joy she brought us over the years. 

Sweet dreams Maggie. I know you have found that perfect patch of grass at the Bridge. xox

Losing Little B

It breaks my heart to write this, but Little B is no longer with us.  We began weighing the kittens Tuesday morning and although he weighed the least of the trio it was only by a few grams.  He was active and vocal and moving around a lot so we just thought we'd keep our eye on him.  As Cali only had three kittens they were also fairly big compared to other newborns from larger litters.  On Wednesday he had lost 3g.  Nothing too drastic but kittens are delicate and in their first week should gain on average about 10g daily.  The other two were well surpassing that.  We took it to mean he was the runt of the litter and began giving him time alone with Cali to feed so the other two couldn't push him away.  I did notice however that he seemed to be having a hard time latching on.

On Thursday he stayed the same in weight so we began bottle feeding him a supplement.  It's hard because Hubby and I both work full-time but we were determined to help Little B out.  Of course the other two continued to gain weight  and get stronger and bigger.  By Friday he was noticeably smaller.  Even with us bottle feeding him continually and trying to give him the time he needed with Cali he dropped 8g over Thursday evening.  My heart sank when I weighed him Friday morning but he was still moving around and crying so I mixed up fresh formula and fed him twice before I left.  Hubby was working the afternoon shift and fed him twice before he went to work as well.

When I came home from work Friday evening Little B had passed away.  I held him in my arms and cried, frustrated that we couldn't help him.  I was angry.  Angry that Cali had been left to wander the neighbourhood unfixed and angry that for at least 4 weeks before she came in to our lives she had gone hungry and pregnant.  I had felt all of this had been meant to be so why had we lost one of those precious kittens?  And after the anger came the What Ifs.  What if I hadn't brought Cali inside that first night?  What if I had started feeding him the minute I noticed his weight wasn't increasing?  It's hard to not let the anger and the What Ifs overcome you.

In the end I try to push these thoughts from my head and instead believe it was for the best.  Something had been wrong with him and it was best that he didn't suffer any longer than he had to.  I know animals have multiple babies because of this and so the chance of their species' survival is higher but it doesn't make the pain I feel in my heart any less profound.  And I try to remind myself that Cali and her two kittens are strong, healthy and still need our love and support to keep them that way.

Before taking Little B from Cali I let her sniff him.  She made a little meow and nuzzled his cheek and then I wrapped him in a blanket and took him away.  When Hubby came home from work he brought a box he had made to put Little B in.  He had even made a nice label on it that said L'il B on it (the box wasn't that big so he'd shortened the name to make it fit).  Then we said our goodbyes and laid him to rest down the side of our house.  And cried.

Farewell Lucy

It is with a heavy heart that I write this and say goodbye to our Syrian Hamster Lucy.  Lucy joined the Zoo in January of 2010 when I stumbled upon her while shopping and instantly fell in love with her cute mannerisms and look.  She was extremely skittish at first but quickly warmed up to me and my husband.  She was always a late sleeper and many nights we wouldn't see her at all.  Occasionally I would wake up in the middle of the night and hear her running miles on her wheel.  She never got used to her hamster ball - whenever we put her in it, she preferred to take a nap or groom herself instead of exploring.  Lucy was a little pokey, never trying to escape the homemade cage we built her and never curious to check out the surroundings beyond her home.  She contentedly cuddled in the crook of our arms, our lap or just in the palm of our hand while we pet and kissed her.  She was also an amazing model for many of my animal photography feats as I would put her where I wanted and she would wait patiently for me to take the shot.  In the last few months we knew her life was coming to an end - she was sleeping more - sometimes to the point where I was waking her up to make sure she was still with us.  She rarely went on her wheel and was eating less and less.  Finally at just over 2 years of age, the time came when Lucy was ready to peacefully go to the Rainbow Bridge.  She is joining our first hammy Calvin.  We will miss her dearly but are very grateful that she passed on so calmly.  We gave her the best hammy life we could on this Earth and now wish her nothing but everlasting peace and happiness wherever her soul has taken her. <3