Goodbye Sweet Cocoa

We had to say goodbye to another furry friend today.  Last night when we checked on Cocoa she was no longer breathing.  She had passed in her sleep.  We had been expecting it for awhile. Back in early December she went to visit the vet, because she had developed a tumor on her back side.  She still had a good quality of life, so the vet told us to she should still have some time.  I just love this picture of her sweet face, it was taken when we were waiting to see the vet.  

She had a couple more visits to the vet in the last couple of months.  At her last visit to the vet a couple of weeks ago, it was discovered that she had another tumor on her belly. She was still moving pretty good, but was definitely slowing down.  The vet felt she didn't have a lot of time left, but that she was still doing well enough that we could take her home. This past week I knew the time was near. She was only getting up to drink a little water and occasionally eat a few bites of food. She would then go right back to her igloo to sleep.   This afternoon Kara made her a special box, so she could go join her other  furry friends under the big tree in the backyard.  

Today was a warm spring day, very much in contrast from our last funeral when we had to make a path in the snow to reach the tree.  

We buried her not too far from Mocha. and placed a lady bug brick on top to mark her grave.  I am going to take Kara to Home Depot this week to pick out a couple of pavers  so she can make them proper headstones. She sat quietly by the grave for a few minutes and said her goodbyes. 

When going through pictures, I came across this one from when Kara first got Cocoa. Since it is such a nice, happy picture I thought it would be a good way to end the post.. 

Goodbye Cocoa..  Dec. 2012 - April 12, 2014 

Not So Happy Start to the New Year

We had a funeral today.  It's hard starting out the brand new year with something sad.   My animal loving daughter found her special hamster dead in it's cage on Monday night.   While Mocha had been acting a little bit unusual the last couple of days, her death  was sudden and unexpected. She just had her 1st birthday, so she should have had more hamster time to live.  

Dec 18, 2012 - Dec 30, 2013

I adored Mocha too.  She was a very pretty hamster.  Her fur was a mix of red, brown and yellow.  She was super sweet, and a bit ornery.  I think she loved my daughter, as much as my daughter loved her.  

It was not easy having the funeral today.  The weather made it even more difficult. We had the funeral on a day when it snowed. It snowed, all day long.  The ground was frozen,  but we did not want to leave her body sitting in the garage any longer. Kara was avoiding going into the garage.  Kara's dad had to start a small fire under our big tree, to warm up the ground enough to dig a hole.  The big beautiful tree in our backyard has become the final resting place for a few of our animals, so at least she is not alone. 

The funeral was short.  We were very cold, and Kara did not feel up to saying anything.  She  did not have time to make Mocha a headstone yet, but she will.  For now her grave is marked with a smiling ladybug.   Rest in Peace sweet girl. We will miss you!