Duchess. 3/11/02 Duchess was with us for a long time. She came to us pregnant from the Peninsula Humane Society. She had 4 beautiful babies. She spent most of her life here with Einstein, Queenie, and Angel. Angel and Queenie were finally adopted out together and Duchess and Einstein became a nice pair. We're not sure what the problem was. We are having a necropsy done to try to determine the cause of death. She had a first thing in the morning vet appointment but she died in my arms in the evening. At the time, her symptoms did not appear life threatening. She was very loved while she was here.

Phoenix. American male (short hair). Born 9/18/01. Phoenix is less than 3 days old in these photos. We don't expect him to live more than a week. He has a number of deformities: back, legs, teeth, eyes--all obvious externally, so we don't know about potential internal problems. Phoenix is the surviving baby from a litter of 2 of one of the Monterey Mamas. He is currently getting a lot of hand holding and hand feeding. He is on a heating pad when resting. Neither his mother nor another lactating mother will have anything to do with him. We are also trying to stimulate his pooping abilities without much luck. We've tried a couple of other sows who were Moms. One sow will at least occasionally lick his backside. (9/22/01 am) More Phoenix photos here.

(9/22/01 afternoon) Well, we had a little tiny thread of a poop. He can't sit up straight on all fours like a normal piggie. Any attempt and he flops over to his side. If you prop him up to help him be vertical, any attempt at assisted walking results in a forward summersault because his hind legs are so much longer, larger, and powerful than his front legs. He talks and chatters and wants to move around although he can't. He responds to you and will cry for you when he wants something and will watch you. He can't clean his little face with his legs and paws like normal piggies do. His little legs and paws get very cold very easily which is why we either hold him or keep on a heating pad with multiple layers of towels over it. We have him on KMR kitten formula. If he does make it, we don't know how we are going to create a survivable environment for him--some kind of sling?

(9/22/01 pm) Tina and Buddy helping to groom Phoenix. I think Tina is just licking the kitten formula off of him and Buddy is definitely interested in another little male behind! Phoenix' left eye is looking much better. That should be okay.

(9/23/01 am) Phoenix is definitely weaker today. He little heart and lungs seem to be working harder to maintain life. 

(9/24/01 am) Phoenix crossed over the rainbow bridge at 4am while we were with him.