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> Gerbils, two new little friends
Remembering Dais...
post Nov 9 2014, 12:45 AM
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Group: Pet Lovers
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Daisy, my beloved Yorkie, left us on April 1, 2006. It was a terrible loss and this site helped a lot in the days following her departure.

For reasons to complicated to explain, I now have two gerbil boys. I have had a lot of fun making their habitat as comfortable as possible - just the kind of place gerbils would like to live. Although they are cute and I like them a lot, I don't have the deep attachment to them that I had for Daisy. But, maybe that is better since gerbils don't live very long.

One day I would like a dog again, but until then gerbils are great small pets - responsive, cute and easy to care for.


Daisy's mom
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moon_beam
post Nov 9 2014, 12:29 PM
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Hi, Daisy's mom, please permit me to offer you my congratulations on your new companions. It doesn't matter the size or physical form of our companions - - each and every one is precious in their individual way. It is perfectly natural to not feel the same "bond" for your gerbil companions as you share with your beloved Daisy. Each relationship we share with each of our companions is uniquely individual because each companion is uniquely individual. This doesn't mean we "value" some companions less - - or more - - than others. It simply means that our relationships are uniquely different with each individual companion. So please do not feel "guilty" about how you feel for your gerbil companions - - your love for them is quite obvious in your efforts to provide them a happy and healthy environment for them to live and thrive under your care.

I hope today is treating you, your gerbil companions, and all your family kindly, Daisy's mom, and that you will have a very peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Daisy's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam


--------------------
In heaven's perfect garden there is no grief or pain, and all of God's creation join the angels' sweet refrain.

The most blessed way I have of knowing God's comforting love and grace is to look into the eyes and heart of God's creatures' sweet angelic face.
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Remembering Dais...
post Nov 11 2014, 11:33 PM
Post #3





Group: Pet Lovers
Posts: 11
Joined: 2-April 09
Member No.: 5,670



It is true - I enjoy giving the gerbils the best possible home I can. I was able to upgrade them to a 20 gallon tank and a sectioned off a small section with a cardboard wall with a hole in it. On the small side, I have two wooden house and lots of litter so they can feel as if they are in a burrow. On the other side are two wheels, a water bottle, food dish and two other wooden houses. I feed the gerbils Ox Bow gerbil food and give them small treats of broccoli and cucumber. I change the water daily and clean the tank weekly and I let them out daily to another small enclosure so they get a change of scenery

When I was a child, we had lots of small pets and they all died before their time due to poor care. My mother had no feeling for them and my sister and I were too young to take care of them properly. I still feel horribly about this.

When we got the gerbils, I understood that the responsibility for making sure that they get good care was mine, not my son's. He can help, but it would be wrong to think that he has the maturity to care for living creatures on his own. I read everything I could about gerbils and joined a gerbil forum. I do this because it is the right thing to do, because I care about these little living souls and for the sake of the lost, little pets of my youth.

Daisy's mom (and the gerbils)
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moon_beam
post Nov 12 2014, 01:47 PM
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Hi, Daisy's mom, thank you so much for sharing with us how you and your precious Gerbil companions are doing. I can so relate to the sorrow in your heart about your beloved companions in your younger years as you share with us: "When I was a child, we had lots of small pets and they all died before their time due to poor care. My mother had no feeling for them and my sister and I were too young to take care of them properly." I am the "black sheep" of the family because of my love for my precious, beloved companions. Even as a young child I was often considered "strange" for my love for them. They were considered "animals" and as such "expendable." My dad was very abusive to the companions who graced our home, a reflection of the physical abuse each of my siblings, our mom, and me suffered as well. My mom did try to make sure the companions received care, but she was overwhelmed by circumstances and trying to keep her children safe. It was not until my adult years that my mom began to better understand my feelings for the companions who were a part of my life, and shared with me the grief I felt when each of them transitioned home to the angels. Sadly, to this day, my siblings continue to ridicule me for my love for my precious, beloved companions. I love them because they are my family, but this is one of the many reasons why we are not "close" to one another.

It will be through you that your son will learn compassion, and care, for the precious companions who are a part of his life - - and a respect for every living being of every life form throughout his life.

I hope today is treating you, your Gerbil companions, and all your family kindly, Daisy's mom, and that you will have a very peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Daisy's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam


--------------------
In heaven's perfect garden there is no grief or pain, and all of God's creation join the angels' sweet refrain.

The most blessed way I have of knowing God's comforting love and grace is to look into the eyes and heart of God's creatures' sweet angelic face.
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Remembering Dais...
post Nov 12 2014, 11:38 PM
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Group: Pet Lovers
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Joined: 2-April 09
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Dear Moonbeam,

My childhood seems similar to yours. My father had a violent temper and was abusive to my mother and the rest of the family, including the dogs. He was successful in his work life and no one knew what went on in our home. When I was a teenager, I found out that he was a drug addict (prescription drugs), which explained some things.

At times, he seemed to love Debbie, our first dog, but he would terrify her if she had an accident and kick her if she didn't come fast enough when he called. We had a cat, named Glitter, who was declawed (horrible in itself) and she got out of the cottage when we were on vacation and was attacked by a dog. She crawled home and my sister and I begged my father to take her to the Vet. He waited until my mother and he were going out for dinner and drove away with the cat. She never came back. My parents told us that they had taken her to the Vet and he couldn't save her. I later learned that she was kept in the car (or trunk) while they had dinner and she died at some point and he buried her on the dunes. It seems unbelievable to me as I write it, yet it's true. We had hamsters and turtles and birds. I don't think any of them lived a normal life span.

Debbie had puppies and we kept one, named Zoey. Zoey died at 9 from a misdiagnosed heart defect. Debbie lived until normal old age.

I never told anyone about my father until I was almost 30. No one told me not to. I just knew.

In their old age, my parents got a dog named Cleo. She also was afraid of my father's feet. I wonder why? My father passed away when my son was in kindergarten, and nobody really mourned him other than my son, who was too young to know the truth about him. I never left my son alone with my father so he only knew the good side. Cleo has lived on with my mother and both are quite elderly. This time without my father has given my mother the chance to show her true love for Cleo and the bond between them is strong.

As an adult, my first pet was a hamster that I got from an intern who worked where I worked. I called him Ham and I tried to give him the best possible life. Then I had two guinea pigs, Sara and Peggy. Again, I did my best to give them a wonderful life. Then there was Daisy - my wonderful tiny Yorkie, with the congenital liver defect. We joked that while her physical manifestation was tiny, her soul was giant and she could protect me from everything. After her, I had no pets until the gerbils. Like guinea pigs, gerbils are very unhappy if they live alone, so I have two brothers who are tightly bonded. I really enjoy watching them enjoy their home.

When I would talk about my feelings about the importance of being empathetic and kind, my father would say that I would outgrow those feelings. I never did. I pity him now, but am glad to have time with my mother away from his jealous rages. I wish he had learned something in his life, but he didn't. It's sad.

So, what is the upside of this incoherent tale - my gerbils have a nice home, Daisy, the hamsters and the guinea pigs all had nice lives and my son is good with animals.


One day we were talking about getting a dog and he said that he wanted to go to the pound and get the worst off, ugliest dog that no one else would want so we could make him or her happy.


Best wishes,

Daisy's mom
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moon_beam
post Nov 14 2014, 02:53 PM
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Hi, Daisy's Mom, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing. I can perfectly well understand your not sharing your family history with others. I, too, am reluctant to share mine with people in general. But I know the history of abusiveness is part of what makes me who I am now, and particularly when it comes to my feelings about my precious, beloved companions. I am grateful for this wonderful forum where each of us can come to share what is in our hearts without the fear of rejection or judgment with people who truly understand our loving devotion to our companions.

Your son is blessed to have you for his mother so that he can learn and embrace empathy and compassion for those of every life form who need love - - and someday he may be the only one offering it.

Daisy's Mom, thank you so much for honoring us in sharing your beloved companions with us and the earthly journeys you shared with them. I hope today is treating you, your Gerbil companions, and all your family kindly, Daisy's Mom, and that you will have a very peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Daisy's - - and all of your beloved companions' - - sweet Living Spirits to comfort you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam


--------------------
In heaven's perfect garden there is no grief or pain, and all of God's creation join the angels' sweet refrain.

The most blessed way I have of knowing God's comforting love and grace is to look into the eyes and heart of God's creatures' sweet angelic face.
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Remembering Dais...
post Nov 15 2014, 03:56 PM
Post #7





Group: Pet Lovers
Posts: 11
Joined: 2-April 09
Member No.: 5,670



Saturday is the day to clean the gerbil's aquarium. Some people think of it as work, but my son and I enjoy it because we can take the time to make the gerbil's environment as nice as possible. My son adds the mix of aspen and carefresh and then we arrange the houses and cardboard, always trying to think what would make a gerbil comfortable. I feel badly that there are so many small pets that have terrible life, because people buy them on impulse and don't take the time to find out how to care for them.

Have a wonderful day!
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moon_beam
post Nov 16 2014, 12:52 PM
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From: Virginia
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Hi, Daisy's Mom, thank you so much for sharing with us how you and your son are doing, and your precious Gerbils. Through your loving care and instruction your son is learning how to properly take care of the precious lives - - of every life form - - who are now, and will be in the future, a part of his life. Even as a very young child I firmly believed that every precious spirit is a living, breathing, feeling, individual worthy of respect and love.

I hope today is treating you, your Gerbil companions, and all your family kindly, Daisy's Mom, and that you will have a very peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Daisy's - - and all of your beloved companions' - - sweet Living Spirits to comfort you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam


--------------------
In heaven's perfect garden there is no grief or pain, and all of God's creation join the angels' sweet refrain.

The most blessed way I have of knowing God's comforting love and grace is to look into the eyes and heart of God's creatures' sweet angelic face.
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