[Gpdd] [ANNOUNCEMENT] Chunky Tribute

GPDD Admin gpdd_admin at gpdd.org
Tue Sep 16 20:55:26 EDT 2003


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-------- Original Message --------

Subject: Chunky Tribute
From: catrina stephenson <stephenson5 at earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 14:30:50 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
To: Gpdd at gpdd.org
CC: stephenson5 at earthlin.net, cls_cat at yahoo.com

Hello fellow digest friends.  I'm so happy to see the digest up and 
running.  My computer died during the winter and I've just been 
keeping up on emails at work and whenever I make trips to the 
library. 
    In April I wrote to the digest about my first experience with 
Piggy death, when Mysti was killed.  It was a very traumatic time in 
my life.  Several of you wrote back and acknowledged my grief and I 
truly appreciate your kindnesses.  On August 14 I again was 
unfortunate enough to experience a piggy death.  My wonderful, 
sweetheart, Chunky, the piggy who started it all for me,  is now gone.
    Chunky was my first Piggy.  He was the sweetest pig I've ever 
known.  He never fought with or tried to dominate other piggies, he 
was SO friendly.  He loved it when I would "piggy-set" for my friend 
Cheri's pigs.  He always befriended the quiet piggies.  He even 
washed Weebo's face and eyes one time when she was visiting!
   Chunky weighed 1450 gms at his prime - he was a lot to love!  He 
developed a cyst once which aggravated him a few times but never 
seriously.  His teeth overgrew in the front but we kept them trimmed. 
About a year and a half ago, he developed a few small nodules on his 
abdomen.  These turned out to be mammary tumors.  They didn't bother 
him and they weren't large.  This winter though they began to bleed 
and he was also diagnosed with a large renal mass.  The emergency vet 
I took him to wanted to do exploratory abdominal sugery to determine 
all of his problems.  I declined and got a second opinion.  I thought 
6 years was a little too old to be doing "exploratory" surgery.  Dr. 
Havens was so wonderful with Chunky.  He agreed with me.  Any 
treatment would have been very harsh on such an elderly piggy. 
Chunky had gradually lost down to the 1250-1300 gm range and was 
still very fit and had a good appetite, so we decided to just treat 
the symptoms.
    Chunky went on a regimen of preventative antibiotics given every 
other week to ward off any possible infection starting and he did 
quite well for a while.  In June he began losing his appetite and 
showing pain when picked up.  I was able to get pain med from Dr. 
Havens for him and he perked up again for a while.  We increased the 
pain medicine near the end of July, but Chunky was getting very thin 
and listless.  I handfed and then syringe fed him, he absolutely 
hated that.  He got down to 950 gms.  My husband had to give me a 
very serious talking-to about what I was "saving" and for whom I was 
doing it.  I just didn't want to let go.  When Chunky finally started 
nudging my hand away as I tried to feed him I knew it was time.  He 
was also developing pressure spots on his feet from not moving and 
urine scalds on his tummy.  I wished so hard that he would just go on 
his own so I didn't have to help him over, but he didn't.
    I made the appointment, and my oldest son drove me to the vets. 
The trip seemed so short - there was so much I wanted to remember 
about him.  Dr. Havens is the most wonderful, sympathetic vet I'ver 
ever known.  He left us alone with Chunky for a few mins, then he let 
me hold him while my son gave him sips of his favorite "forbidden" 
Coke.  He never even flinched when the needle slipped in.  It was so 
quick and peaceful.   We took him back home so Paprika and Missy 
could see him one last time.  Missy didn't know him that well, but 
Paprika was so sad.  We held her beside his body so she could sniff 
him and she let out the oddest sound I've ever heard.  It was a 
higher-pitched, soft trilling purr and it was in a very questioning 
tone.  She was depressed for a couple of weeks.  She would only eat 
about half of her regular amount of veggies.  It was very sad.  
    Chunky is buried in a beautiful box , wrapped in a black and red 
velvet cozy I made him.  We put him in the piggy garden he loved to 
graze in.  I will always remember his soft nose, his purring and 
rumbling, and sweet piggy kisses.  I miss the naps we took together 
and how he would stand up on his back legs and take treats straight 
from my mouth with nipping at all.  He will live on in virtual 
memories too as he organized and led the scavenger hunt on the Hawaii 
trip and also participated in the Piggylympics, and attended a 
virtual piggy wedding. He had a couple of internet girlfriends too. 
He left no progeny (not from lack of trying though!)  I know he is 
enjoying Mysti and Pooka at the Rainbow Bridge, as well as meeting 
his "Girl Accross The Sea" Lacey ( of the Seaside Piggies) whom he 
fell in love with at first site on the computer!   Chunky had won 
Oldest Piggy at our Indiana Pignic for 3 years straight! He was 6 
years and 7 months old when he passed.  He is so sadly missed.  Love 
your Piggies all you can!!!





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