Blue - My Pigeon found on September 5

[Cristina Shepard]

Carl,

When I signed up in this forum, I had found a pigeon with a broken leg. Some of you guys gave some hints of how to treated her and, actually, after a while her wing was so short that I decided to keep her. "Blue" had a beautiful blue tone on her feathers, became 100% domesticated after a couple of months of chewing my nails. She became so, sweet and amorous, that was relaxing coming to work and hear her sing, kissing my fingers and let her sleep between my hands.

However, when I returned from college today...my mom told me that Blue had died this morning. I am so sad that I just cannot believe it. My daughter was crying, I didn't know what to tell her...because I was crying myself. I just would like to know where I can bury her, no way I am going to throw her in a trash can.

Thank you Carl, for your help. And for helping taking care of her.

Sincerely

[TAWhatley]

Oh Cristina,

I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Blue. I know how you feel.

Hopefully Carl will be along to offer his advice shortly.

When I have special pets pass on, I always take them to be cremated (yes, I realize many people would find this insane) and have their ashes placed in a little box that becomes yet another heart wrenching/warming part of our home.

The place I take my pets for this also has a lovely pet cemetary, but I prefer to have my little ones stay with me even after they are gone.

Just something to think about. If this is not for you, then find the most lovely and pigeon friendly place you can find, and put Blue to her final rest there.

Again, I am so very sorry for your loss.

Terry Whatley

[Peejoo]

I am very sorry about your loss.
Pigeons do catch diseases very fast and die very easily and quickly.
A chick I was trying to raise for 3 months dies suddenly with a day 2 weeks ago. Such is the life of a pigeon.
I mostly burn them or leave them in in an open wooded place. Their bodies decay very fast and it is ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Accept it as the will of the almighty who gave you the gift in the first place.

[fortfun]

Here's what i did when my baby pigeon Isabelle was pecked to death by a crow - I took it to a nearby park and buried her by wrapping her in her last feeding towel, and covered the area with a huge stone which people wont bother to lift. So that is my little graveyard for my pigeon.

[joann woodring]

Cristina,

I'm so sorry about your loss.
I, too, cannot throw someone in the trash. When ever any of my animal friends pass on, I bury them under a beautiful tree or shrub which I see frequently. This way, whenever I pass by, I see the plant growing and know that my departed friends' body is nourishing the plant.
By the way, I believe that our non-human friends have souls, as we do, and can stay with us in spirit, even returning to us, reincarnated in the body of another creature. That's just my viewpoint.
What is important is that you gave Blue care, compassion, a home, love, in short everything which is important. You are a fine person, and I'm sure your daughter will follow in your footsteps.

Thank you for being there for Blue,
Joann

[fred2344]

Cristina,
Pain is the price we all pay for loving pets. Don'e ever question it because the price is always worth it. If we didn't feel pain, we would not be the kind of people we are.
If you take your bird to a vet, the law requires that it be cremated. It is one option for you.
Do you have any idea what happened to cause Blue's death?



------------------
"Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace."

Albert Schweitzer

[sirpigeon]

Hi Cristina,
I feel for you and your daughter.When you feel ready for anther pet bird I have some beautiful young hand raised fancy pigeons that have been vaccinated.I could e-mail you some pictures if you'd like.My e-mail address is jhitchlock@yahoo.com

[B. Crowe]

Christina,

I am sorry that "Blue" passed beyond the rainbow bridge. I have never lied to my children about life & death. It is fact. We live, we die. I had a hard time with my son as he is very, VERY sensative. (and so very young!!) I don't know how old your daughter is, but my son (five at the time) questioned me ad naseaum if I was going to die. I finally bought a book "Lifetimes" by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen. For some strange reason, my reading the book made him feel better. I had to read it a few times, but perhaps he heard the strain in my voice when I tried to explain it myself..... but when I read it to him ( for about a week....LOL) he seemed to understand and has not questioned again. It's hard for children to understand that every living thing has it's own lifetime.

It's OK to let your Daughter know that you will miss "Blue" and that it is OK that she does too......

I would rather my heart break a thousand times over than to not have helped a single soul. I do rehab work and lose some of the babies I care for. If I were to quit simply because I couldn't take the pain of losing one or two as compared to the twenty or more that I can save..... well.....well...... gosh, I have to go find my tissues...

You have my sympathies, and (((((hugs)))) as well. I know you are hurting, and so is your daughter.

All of my babies are buried in my back yard. A sort of pet cemetary if you wish. With birds, I go to the local import shop & buy a lined basket for them. Then bury them beneath a tree, or plant a shrub or flower over them. WIll your mom let you do this in her yard if you have none of your own? I have never tossed a bird in the trash...even if it was just a baby sparrow that didn't make it the first hour.... they all deserve to be missed... *sniff sniff*

Bless you for being so kind. And your daughter as well. It seems there are fewer & fewer good folks these days. I am glad that you have passed on your caring genes to your daughter.... be sure to hug her from me, won't you??

Barb

[raynjudy]

Cristina:



We grieve with you too.

Best wishes,

Ray N' Judy

[Wild Dove]

Cristina,

I wish there was something I could say that would take the hurt you and your daughter are feeling right now, and banish it forever.

I too lost a friend whose coos were nuzzled softly against my ear. Who, no matter how sick she was that day, had a wing-wiggle and a little bow to brighten mine...even though her day must have been filled with pain. She had never felt the sun warm her, nor the wind caress each feather. Neither could she fly to greet the morning or a place to rest at night.

I buried her in a place she had never seen, beneath the nicest perching tree I could find, facing the sun and with a clear view of the sky, wishing her well in her new-found freedom.

When I miss her, as I often do, I buy a big bag of seed, sit in the park, and feed the pigeons. There I see things that remind me of her...in the tilt of a head, the preening of a feather, a wiggle of a wing to a beloved...and I can't help but smile.

In every pigeon you see, from this day forward, you'll see a bit of Blue. Spend time watching, and I guarantee...for a few moments at least...the hurt will be gone.

My Most Heartfelt Sympathy To You Both.