Bereavement

Squeakums

Squeakums

New Born Pup
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Hi all

My two piggies are both getting put to sleep later today :( Butternut has been ill with heart failure for a while, and with Bear it's been more sudden, we've found he has kidney problems.
I've had a lovely last weekend with them, treating them with their favourite things - something I've not had the chance to do with previous piggies who passed or had to be pts suddenly.
I always bury my piggies in large plant pots and have never had any issues, but this time I'm really worried about foxes digging them up - where I live now the foxes are really active and often try to get into our food waste bin! Unfortunately I live in a courtyard so even if I try to deter foxes by not putting anything in the food bin, the neighbours still will. Does anyone have any advice for keeping the foxes off?
 
So sorry you have to say goodbye to both your piggies today! :no:

"Silent Roar" fertiliser, which has essence of lion poo in it, is used by some people to keep cats off garden beds. I don't know how effective it is, but it may work on foxes too? A search for fox deterrents brings up some alternatives, but I've not tried any myself. I buried my first 3 guineas in my garden at the edge of a rockery with a rock partly on top and flowers all around, I know there were foxes around but they never tried to dig up the burials.
 
Hi. . . So sorry you losing your piggies. .
Sounds tho you have tried and we can't fix them all the time. .
I bury my loved piggies in a very deep pot. . Stones on top. .
Big hugs all round. .
Rip little piggies. .
 
I'm sorry you've had to say goodbye to your piggies 💔
Sending you love and comfort 💜
 
Squeakums said:
Hi all

My two piggies are both getting put to sleep later today :( Butternut has been ill with heart failure for a while, and with Bear it's been more sudden, we've found he has kidney problems.
I've had a lovely last weekend with them, treating them with their favourite things - something I've not had the chance to do with previous piggies who passed or had to be pts suddenly.
I always bury my piggies in large plant pots and have never had any issues, but this time I'm really worried about foxes digging them up - where I live now the foxes are really active and often try to get into our food waste bin! Unfortunately I live in a courtyard so even if I try to deter foxes by not putting anything in the food bin, the neighbours still will. Does anyone have any advice for keeping the foxes off?
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BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry that you have had to make the sad decision. My thoughts are with you!

You can either cover your pot with something heavy they cannot move off or plant it up straight away.

I use decking plank cut-offs and hold them in place with upturned cracked terracotta pots to cover my own burials that accommodate each several years' worth of deaths. Once the pots are full, I plant them over with sedum, which doesn't make deep root until the pot has settled down enough to eventually plant something bigger and lasting. We don't have foxes so much but cats that are digging up any piggies buried in the ground. I use ericacious peat-free compost as the acidity will help with speeding up the process.
1610372128748.png
 
Thank you all very much for your replies. It's been an awful day but some relief to know my boys are at peace and no longer in pain.
I ended up planting up their pots straight away and adding large stones, let's hope that does the trick
 
Squeakums said:
Thank you all very much for your replies. It's been an awful day but some relief to know my boys are at peace and no longer in pain.
I ended up planting up their pots straight away and adding large stones, let's hope that does the trick
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BIG HUGS

At least you have the consolation that they have made the journey to the Rainbow Bridge not alone.
Be kind to yourself in the coming days and give yourself time to grieve. While you can learn to cope with some aspects of the grieving process better over time (like the inevitable guilt and self-examination especially after pts), the pain of the actual loss is never any less as every bond is unique.

Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
 
Wiebke said:
BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry that you have had to make the sad decision. My thoughts are with you!

You can either cover your pot with something heavy they cannot move off or plant it up straight away.

I use decking plank cut-offs and hold them in place with upturned cracked terracotta pots to cover my own burials that accommodate each several years' worth of deaths. Once the pots are full, I plant them over with sedum, which doesn't make deep root until the pot has settled down enough to eventually plant something bigger and lasting. We don't have foxes so much but cats that are digging up any piggies buried in the ground. I use ericacious peat-free compost as the acidity will help with speeding up the process.
View attachment 163755
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Looks beautiful. . X
 
I’m so sorry you have had to make the final last act of kindness for Bear and Butternut, I had to do the same for my Ted just before Christmas, he had a kidney problem too. I put Ted in a pot too and used a piece of chicken wire place about 4” down then covered with top soil then planted over with plants, we have had no problems so far.
It’s a sad time, treasure your memories, sending hugs x
Sleep tight Butternut and Bear 🌈
 
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