Sometime last night Spencer's Guinea Pig, Torch/Lightning, passed away.
I found Torch this AM and wrapped him up and cleaned out his cage and dishes after the kids went to school(they don't know yet). Whenever one of our furbabies dies, I let the others check them out and say goodbye. I'm not sure why I do this, but I figure that short investigation on their part explains more to them then I ever could.
Anyways, while the other dogs may do a sniff or so here or there, Mojo gets markedly upset. He runs from me to the animal and back and will nudge it whining. Then he always gives me a look like, "why?" or "fix it!". We've had our share of "pocket pets" in his 9 1/2yrs and the reaction is always the same. Right now he is laying by the bag that Torch is wrapped in. He will only come away if I call him and then he runs right back to it, keeping watch over his charge even after the very end.
Does anyone else have an animal that acts like this when another crosses the bridge? I'd understand a playmate, but they have hardly any interaction with the guinea pigs. It really baffles me.
I'm not looking forward to breaking the news to the kids after school. Torch was Spencer's first pet that was his and his only. He fed and watered Torch and took him out and carried him all the time. My heart is breaking already for his loss. *Godspeed little Torch*
