A Sad day

Friday, 29 September 2006

It was not Friday the 13th, but it was definitely a sad day in the family. In my March posting, I wrote about mum's dogs and cat. It was a happy story. Today's posting is just the opposite. It is sad, very sad. Banjo, Ah O, Mei Tze and Miaw Miaw are gone. They all died of poisoning on this day.

As soon as the gate was opened in the morning, Banjo and her little Mei Tze ran out. This was not unusual and they always come back after they have enjoyed themselves outside for a while.

Banjo vomitted when she returned. Little Mei Tze ate her mother's vomit, salivated, convulsed and died. Ah O, her sibling of an earlier batch, also ate their mother's vomit and died later. Banjo was running like crazy outside the house and she too died. They all died within 3 hours.

We think that Banjo and little Mei Tze had eaten food that they found during their morning outing and the food was mixed with rat poison. I was told that there is an imported rat poison sold in town and it is deadly compared to the ones manufactured locally. The effect was immediate.

Miaw Miaw, the cat, was in the house the whole day. She went out early in the night and came in looking sick and running around the sitting room. She vomitted, diarrhoead. We found her twisting in pain underneath the staircase inside the storeroom. Carried her outside and less than half an hour she was dead as well. We do not know where the dogs have vomitted. All those visible vomits had been flushed. Miaw Miaw must have eaten one of the dogs' vomit on the grass.

Caroline said she was overwhelmed with the loss of the 3 dogs that morning and now the cat, that she can't cry. Stephenie's face was pale. Clinton cried.

I couldn't cried anymore because I have cried when I came to visit in the afternoon and learnt of the dogs' tragic death and imagine how they must have suffered. No wonder when I arrived at the gate, I felt it was unusual that none of the dogs were there to greet me. Whenever I sit down at the door, they would crowd around me. They know I love them. Banjo is the granddaughter of my dog, Lassie. Like her grandmother, Banjo would put both her front paws on my lap knowing that I would talk to her and stroke her head and neck. Ah O always just lie down on my side and let me pat her head and stroke her as well. Little Mei Tze, being more active, would be running here and there in front of me.

Mum would be very sad if she knows what has happened. We will not share with her. It would break her heart. Banjo is her favourite. Mum and Banjo loves each other. Banjo would follow Mum when she goes to the garden, at the back of house. Banjo would walk around the garden or sit there while mum works. Miaw Miaw was a baby kitten when it was presented to Mum and she has looked after her. Every morning she would wake her up with her miaws.

The house is so quiet since without the presence of Banjo, Ah O, Mei Tze and Miaw Miaw.

(5 October 2006):
What happened to the 2 remaining puppies that Banjo gave birth to (on the 20 June, see posting dated 25 June 2006)? One was taken away by a friend. The other suddenly dropped dead, after eating some food. It was not due to poisoning. We think that it might have eaten too fast and choked itself. And that is only about a month ago!

Miaw Miaw had also given birth to 3 kittens less than a month ago. 1 kitten died a few days after birth. Miaw Miaw was still breast-feeding when she died. To save the kittens from starvation, they were taken away to a friend's cat for breast-feeding. It is a blessing that this other cat's kittens have only been weaned 2 days' earlier, and given away. She accepted the new kittens right away and they are growing!