Thanks for the condolences, CreeDo.
It's been a tough couple years for pets with me, this year being a nightmare. A few years ago I had to put down my gorgeous little English Setter after 14 of the best years of my life with her as my constant companion. Then we had to move here, and this spring I lost my little Russian Blue cat to a coyote. All that was left was a few tufts of her beautiful gray fur out by a tree in the back.
Last month my wife came running out to tell me something was seriously wrong with her pet conure (a miniature parrot). We took him to the vet but there was nothing she could do except to try dietary treatment for what she said was probably kidney failure. We thought the little guy was making a miraculous turnaround when all of a sudden he went downhill fast and died in my hands only minutes after showing symptoms again. He was 17 years old, so I guess it was just his time.
Now with Cody gone and the kids long gone I am truly alone here most of the time. I was always really close with all my kids, so this empty nester thing was kinda hard on me. The pets were a nice substitute for the kids, and they never once asked to borrow the car. The wife and I are getting another baby conure, so that should cheer things up around here. For the moment, I just don't have the courage to fall in love with another dog or cat, so I'm steering clear of the shelters. We'll see, though. My daughter's dog died last year and she got an amazing Pit-Lab mix from the pound. I get to babysit her all the time, along with the two grandkids. Feels like a young family again when they're all here. :wink:
FWIW I've narrowed it down to two possibilities with Cody. Either he got poisoned somewhere (intentionally or not) or he got stung and had an anaphylactic reaction to it. He was convulsing and gasping for air, but he was gone before I could even get my shoes on and get him in the truck. I guess I'll never know for sure, but I'm gonna take your advice and assume he just got a sudden illness and died. I have a hard enough time with humans as it is without adding more fuel to my misanthropy.
