[Gpdd] (Bridge) Re: Scrabble

[warmbreath]

Hi Debbie, I am so sorry to hear your sad story about Scrabble's trouble 
getting over the bridge. Alge asked me to send my story about my darling 
Square-ed who went critical unexpectedly at the beginning of a long holiday 
weekend. With my experience with Ed and the thousands of drug deaths we read 
about in the newspaper weekly, I wanted to write you with my experience. 
Bottom line is I picked up Ed and didn't notice anything wrong, but when I 
tried to put him down he wheeked until I picked him up, on closer inspection 
I realized his illness had progressed and our exotics vet was over an hour 
away on a long holiday wheekend. I wrapped him  as a burrito in a towel as 
he couldn't control his pee, he refused all attempts at syringe feeding 
water and food, even though he had been well taught in health just for this 
occasion. He was happy as long as I held him but after a while I could tell 
he was in pain, so I gave him methadone, legally prescribed. I gave 10 mg 
thinking it would help him to the bridge, but no, my Ed got hi! and very 
happy, he giggled and purred and as long as I held him he was happy, for 3 
days I held him, I slept with him, managed when I went to the bathroom, 
didn't shower, and delegated everything else. It took 5 pills over 3 days, 
and then he passed still happy. In life Square ed was a pigs pig, he spent 
the first few years hanging out with his boar buds, then after his neuter he 
married his first wife, and then a few more years a second wife when the 
fist died. He would hang out with me for treats bath, manly boar care, nails 
hair cuts etc. but when it was done he wanted to be with his pig buds and 
wives, until he was ready to die, then he came to me and stayed, made it 
clear he knew I was the go to person for care, so I did my job, and we had a 
great 3 days, some of the most meaningful of my life. He loved me and I 
loved him, and I helped him to the bridge.

2 months ago my oldest son died of a heroin overdose, a long habit that 
broke me financially and emotionally as I couldn't help him, I lost my home 
and half of my belongings. inc my car. Then I we had to live separately, he 
spent a lot of time in jail, nothing helped him. The final time I am sure he 
had his dose all planned out in his way, he was sure he would never make a 
mistake, but maybe the product was too strong, he died painlessly in 5 
seconds max without knowing he was dying, our piggies should have it this 
good, Ed did.
My sincere condolences
Sandy and Manny the Boar, who by the way has found a live in baby boar 
friend called Little Pig, but he still misses and adores Peaches his virtual 
love
Don't tell me there is any mystery about how to help a suffering animal to 
the bridge, the worst thing that can happen is that he can wake again, in 
that case give more, it works, I guarantee it.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stacy Harvey" <ckrtsqrl2000 at yahoo.com>
To: "GPDD" <gpdd at gpdd.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2008 10:12 AM
Subject: [Gpdd] (Bridge) Re: Scrabble


Debbie,

We were so sorry to read of your dear Scrabble's departure for the Bridge. 
It seems you and Penny have had more than your share of losses this year.

I am also terribly sorry to hear of the ineptitude of the local vet. Having 
been privy to several exotics euthanasias (either my own piggies or other 
clients' pets, as a Vet Tech), I can tell you it is difficult for even an 
experienced doctor to perform perfectly, and also difficult to watch. 
Ethically, I think the vet should have said she'd never done one and perhaps 
sent you home with some pain meds and allow Scrabble to pass on his own. But 
that is just my opinion. One of the reasons I'm working for the doctor where 
I'm at now is because if she's uncomfortable doing anything, she'll tell you 
she can't do it, even if it's awkward. I'm sure Scrabble knew you were there 
for him until the end and that you were trying to do the right thing.

I could say "don't beat yourself up" or "don't second-guess yourself", but 
I'd be a hyprocrite, as I do that very same thing every time I lose one. 
Instead I'll say, Try not to be too hard on yourself. I know it's har not 
to, though. Our thoughts are with you.

I also offer condolences to all who have lost a piggy recently. I wish I 
could write to everyone personally. I have been "lurking" more on the 
Digest, seems that's all I have time for lately. But you are all in my 
thoughts, even if I don't post.

-Stacy and the Squee Squad (with 2 new additions that I'll write about 
later)