Digging a grave is hard work

[Annabel Lee]

I'm having the hardest time digging a grave for the recently deceased and much loved Bonnie (pet rat).
It hasn't rained in Southern Cal since Noah's flood and the ground is as hard as a rock. I have the correct shovel and (what's that other thing called that breaks through the ground?)
I think I'm about halfway through.
Managed to find a plastic container just big enough for her little body. (Okay, she wasn't so little)
My arms are killing me, especially since I'm not supposed to be using my right arm. (sprained it hiking)
But I want to get this part done before youngest comes home from school, then we can just have a simple ceremony (Yes a ceremony, don't you dare laugh!) with her best friend.

Pricilla, the other rat looks so sad and we're paying extra special attention to her.
She seems so lost wandering around looking for her friend.
Pricilla is siting on my shoulder watching me type right now.
Say HI Pricilla!
This is a vent thread.

 

[Criada]

Sorry, sis!
Is horrid losing a pet - especially for children.
And a ceromony isn't silly at all - it helps!

 

[Annabel Lee]

Thank you, Criada

 

[Nicki4Christ]

Aww, so sorry to hear about the loss of your pet. And I agree a ceremony is a wonderful way for kids (and adults) to express love for thier animals. Hope your arm gets to feeling better.

 

[3girls2dogs]

I'm sorry. I am one of those people who completely *gets* the pet thing. I would be lost without my Princess. Fenway, I adore, but he is my daughter's dog really. Princess has helped me through so many deployments and hard times. I delude myself into thinking she will live forever.

for you during your time of loss. I hope your other rat does ok. for the rat, too. And for your kids.

BTW, I would never make fun of the ceremony thing. We had one for each hamster we lost this summer. My husband teases me and tells everyone Princess will have a full blown funeral.

 

[Annabel Lee]

Our dog Mel, 100+ lbs of doggy love, just turned 9 years old.
At that age, his death isn't in the inconceivable future anymore.
We adopted him at 8 weeks and youngest daughter has been with him since nursery school (she's in the 8th grade now)
Those two are so close.

I wish dogs lived longer....25 or more years sounds about right.

 

[Annabel Lee]

Thanks Nicki and 3girls2dogs.

 

[Debi1967]

So sorry about your loss Annabel and hugs for you and your kids

 

[Annabel Lee]

Thanks Debi.

I'm almost done and what does my dog do? Dumps one of his chewy bones in it.
LOL

The lazy dog probably thought I was being helpful..

 

[Debi1967]

Thanks Debi.

I'm almost done and what does my dog do? Dumps one of his chewy bones in it.
LOL

The lazy dog probably thought I was being helpful..

I am sorry but that made me laugh hard

 

[ContentInHim]

I'm sorry Annabel!

I had a white rat for psych lab and he was the loveliest little guy!

Have you tried a pickaxe? Have you poured water into the small hole you've managed to dig? Have you considered burial at sea?

 

[Macrina]

I'm sorry for your loss. Count me in as another one who considers pets full-blown members of the family. A special way to say goodbye is only appropriate.

I also hope your arm feels better soon.

(oh, and vent away any time )

 

[Auntie]

((((Annabel))))

It's hard to say goodbye to a pet. They are really like members of the family.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

Thanks Debi.

I'm almost done and what does my dog do? Dumps one of his chewy bones in it.
LOL

The lazy dog probably thought I was being helpful..

Bwhahahaha.

Or maybe, the dog instinctively knew what was going on and that was his way of saying goodbye.

Ya never know with dogs...they're smarter than they act!

 

[Miss Shelby]

I have a severe phobia of rats. Because when I was a kid we lived in the ghetto and well let's just say my experiences with them aren't the happiest of memories.

Hi Pricilla. If you're planning on digging tunnels around and about, stay out of my neighborhood and stay out of my bathtub.

Sorry for your loss Annabel. A beloved pet is a beloved pet, even if I can't understand it.

 

[Auntie]

I have a severe phobia of rats. Because when I was a kid we lived in the ghetto and well let's just say my experiences with them aren't the happiest of memories.

Hi Pricilla. If you're planning on digging tunnels around and about, stay out of my neighborhood and stay out of my bathtub.

Sorry for your loss Annabel. A beloved pet is a beloved pet, even if I can't understand it.

I used to have some pet baby squirrels. They were abandoned by their mamma (I think she died) and I took them in. I fed them with a tiny doll baby bottle. When they got old enough, they took off on their own.

If I ever become Catholic, I will take the Saint name of St. Francis. Even my neighbors comment. There was a turtle wandering around, who had a huge split in his shell, and all the neighbors assumed he was mine.

For years and years, we had 2 hoot owls who always roosted in our oak tree every fall. But just this last year, they didn't come back. I worry about them.

Years back, a little banty rooster showed up from nowhere, and stayed. I bought chicken feed for him, and he would go to the patio and eat his feed. He was my "lil rooster". I loved him very much. He was here for many years. One day, a coyote got him. It was mostly my fault. He wouldn't get down out of the tree, which was unusual, so I kept calling to him to get down. He finally came down, and then the coyote got him.

Animals seem to be attracted to me, and I am attracted to them. I love them very much. I have 5 humingbird feeders, and I think they are about to go south for the winter. God bless them and be with them on their long long journey.

 

[3girls2dogs]

Thanks Debi.

I'm almost done and what does my dog do? Dumps one of his chewy bones in it.
LOL

The lazy dog probably thought I was being helpful..

Maybe he was paying his respects.

 

[3girls2dogs]

I used to have some pet baby squirrels. They were abandoned by their mamma (I think she died) and I took them in. I fed them with a tiny doll baby bottle. When they got old enough, they took off on their own.

If I ever become Catholic, I will take the Saint name of St. Francis. Even my neighbors comment. There was a turtle wandering around, who had a huge split in his shell, and all the neighbors assumed he was mine.

For years and years, we had 2 hoot owls who always roosted in our oak tree every fall. But just this last year, they didn't come back. I worry about them.

Years back, a little banty rooster showed up from nowhere, and stayed. I bought chicken feed for him, and he would go to the patio and eat his feed. He was my "lil rooster". I loved him very much. He was here for many years. One day, a coyote got him. It was mostly my fault. He wouldn't get down out of the tree, which was unusual, so I kept calling to him to get down. He finally came down, and then the coyote got him.

Animals seem to be attracted to me, and I am attracted to them. I love them very much. I have 5 humingbird feeders, and I think they are about to go south for the winter. God bless them and be with them on their long long journey.

St. Francis is my favorite Saint. When I moved here, and I was so unhappy and couldn't find a Church, I was miserable. I'm really involved in pet charities, and our local Church, which happens to be St. Francis of Assisi, was having a pet blessing ceremony. It felt so much like it meant something, all those connections. It was the major reason I started thinking about going back to the Catholic Church.

 

[Auntie]

St. Francis is my favorite Saint. When I moved here, and I was so unhappy and couldn't find a Church, I was miserable. I'm really involved in pet charities, and our local Church, which happens to be St. Francis of Assisi, was having a pet blessing ceremony. It felt so much like it meant something, all those connections. It was the major reason I started thinking about going back to the Catholic Church.

I have this "insane" love for God's critters. I am so sad that civilization has caused them to search high and low for a place to call home. Last year, I saw a baby dear, killed, run over, out in the road in front of my house. When we first moved here, the dear moved around freely. Now they are gone.

I understand that humans need a place to live. But it breaks my heart when humans encroach on the last acre a poor animal has to live on.

 

[D'Ann]

HUGS HUGS HUGS... it is never easy to lose a loving pet.

When you can, get another rat so that Pricilla won't be lonely and she will have a play mate. I love animals. All animals. I'm sorry for your loss.