Good Bye Toffee, for now

chesca_27 · 10-19-2016, 01:49 AM

I really hope this is ok to post here as Toffee isn't a hamster. He was my guinea pig. It hurts too much to write anything for him, so I just copied and pasted something I wrote for him, a few days ago, on Instagram. I'm also going to attach a few photos of him at the bottom. Also, Oreo is my other guinea pig, who I still have.

Toffee 17/09/11 - 12/10/16
Toffee, my beautiful guinea pig, I love you so much. I miss you more than anything else in this world. You had a very long life with me, and have been a massive part of my life since I was only 8, and now I am 14. That's over a third of my life, that we have spent together! The day I got you (17/09/11) was the best day of my life!

I have always tried my best for you throughout, and we have gone through many things together, like every time you got ill, I always took you to the vet and gave you your medicine, especially the last 18 months when you had
your pneumonia and relapses. Whenever I got sad, you were there for me, squeaking happily and letting me cuddle you. We have so many memories together and I will never forget that.

On Wednesday, I wish I did more for you. You started acting weirdly; ignoring food and being skittish, something I have never seen you do. I should have insisted on taking you straight to the Emergency Veterinary Hospital, instead of waiting and only deciding to when you had slipped away. I found you in your house, kept warm from Oreo. He didn't leave your side, until I found you and wrapped you up. I should have given you antibiotics earlier. I should have known when you wouldn't eat your nuggets or vegetables. I should have been with you right until the end. I shouldn't have spent so much time with Larry-Jasper that night, but stayed with you.

Saying goodbye to you is the hardest thing I have ever done, you were always MY guinea pig, yet I have had to do it. Loosing you has not sunk in. One day though, I know we will meet again at The Rainbow Bridge. For now though, it is goodbye. Play safely with all your new friends and I hope you have all the toys and food you want.

We all love and miss you, Toffee, including Oreo.

Forevermore, Rest In Peace ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹

chesca_27 · 10-19-2016, 01:53 AM

Some more photos.

chesca_27 · 10-19-2016, 01:57 AM

Last photos, for now.

cypher · 10-19-2016, 02:03 AM

I'm so sorry for your loss, Toffee was a very special friend to you & it's clear how much you loved your little one, try not to feel bad & think about what you might have done differently, sometimes there is nothing we can do much as we may wish there was, I'm sure Toffee had the best care & a life full of love.

Run free & play well little Toffee.

BorisPasha · 10-19-2016, 02:17 AM

Oh Chesca that's very sad news

So sorry for your loss.

Have fun at the bridge Toffee.

Coco61 · 10-19-2016, 02:23 AM

Chesca, of course it is fine to post here about Toffee as people will understand only too well how you feel. When you lose an important pet such as Toffee it is very hard indeed and hurts. It is the same at any age for an animal lover but the first experience of loss is very painful. These days you will have so many good memories available with digital storage of photos that has not been possible in the past. One day these will make you smile when you look at them. As an incurable animal lover I am sure you will have pets throughout your life but you will never forget the happiness Toffee brought to your life. That is love, companionship and comfort. Sadly that means that when the time comes for them to leave us, it is all the harder. I have comforted my daughter through many losses but now she knows that is a price worth paying for the love of a pet.
Guinea pigs are wonderful pets. Our last was when my daughter was similar ages to you. I found Sandy so interactive in many ways. I had a good wander among the show cages at the Bracknell show marvelling at the best piggies there.
Do not linger on the 'I wish I had done more'. Of course you do. We all would. But you were not to know. I am sure you will make Toffee a lovely memorial. If you want a permanent plaque/sign that could help too.
A big hug for you and a cuddle for Oreo too. X

Coco61 · 10-19-2016, 02:27 AM

While I was typing you posted the photos. Toffee was very beautiful indeed. Wonderful memories there.
Cypher has posted about plaques before and uses the pets-remembered website so have a look there if you want to.

chesca_27 · 10-19-2016, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

I'm so sorry for your loss, Toffee was a very special friend to you & it's clear how much you loved your little one, try not to feel bad & think about what you might have done differently, sometimes there is nothing we can do much as we may wish there was, I'm sure Toffee had the best care & a life full of love.

Run free & play well little Toffee.

Thank you, Cypher. Toffee was extra special because he was my first pet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BorisPasha

Oh Chesca that's very sad news

So sorry for your loss.

Have fun at the bridge Toffee.

Thank you

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coco61

Chesca, of course it is fine to post here about Toffee as people will understand only too well how you feel. When you lose an important pet such as Toffee it is very hard indeed and hurts. It is the same at any age for an animal lover but the first experience of loss is very painful. These days you will have so many good memories available with digital storage of photos that has not been possible in the past. One day these will make you smile when you look at them. As an incurable animal lover I am sure you will have pets throughout your life but you will never forget the happiness Toffee brought to your life. That is love, companionship and comfort. Sadly that means that when the time comes for them to leave us, it is all the harder. I have comforted my daughter through many losses but now she knows that is a price worth paying for the love of a pet.
Guinea pigs are wonderful pets. Our last was when my daughter was similar ages to you. I found Sandy so interactive in many ways. I had a good wander among the show cages at the Bracknell show marvelling at the best piggies there.
Do not linger on the 'I wish I had done more'. Of course you do. We all would. But you were not to know. I am sure you will make Toffee a lovely memorial. If you want a permanent plaque/sign that could help too.
A big hug for you and a cuddle for Oreo too. X

While I was typing you posted the photos. Toffee was very beautiful indeed. Wonderful memories there.
Cypher has posted about plaques before and uses the pets-remembered website so have a look there if you want to.

Thank you Coco.
I have plenty of photos of him, but I feel like I never took enough and always took more of Oreo (he is very photogenic because he always sits very still and has an almost perfect stripe/band).

Deep down, I think I did wonder. I sat there, force-feeding Toffee with a syringe for 45 minutes of ground nuggets mixed with Septrin Paediactric (his normal pneumonia medication). The worst thing for me, is I found him when I was just about to put him in his carrier to take him to the emergency vets.

I'm considering a plaque or something, but at the moment, we want to plant brightly coloured bedding flowers and an evergreen plant.

Thin Lizzy · 10-19-2016, 04:19 AM

Chesca, so very sorry to hear about Toffee, your gorgeous guinea pig. He was very photogenic when it came to pics, such a beauty! Such a great age too.
A lovely tribute from you. Big hugs to you xxx

freyashamsters · 10-19-2016, 09:31 AM

So very sorry to hear about Toffee's passing Chesca, although I didn't know a great deal about him, I can tell that he was an incredibly special guinea pig. It must be painfully difficult to lose something that was such an important part of your life for six whole years so suddenly. Make sure you focus on the memories you had with him and be happy that he had a much longer life than a lot of guinea pigs x

Rest in peace Toffee xxx