I am so very sorry to read this news, your son and his budgie really touched my heart, now the time to heal so you can always remember the good times with Smudge, biggest hugs.

Biggest hugs. He was a very loved little budgie so I know you did everything you could have. If your son decides in a few months that he is ready to share his heart with another budgie please give me a yell. I would be absolutely honored for one of my babies to share it's life with such a caring young man.

Thank you so much :)He is a very caring kid. I cannot believe he's 11 - sometimes I think he should be older because of his compassion and commitment!

My Pm says it all

Thank you Neat you have been awesome

UPDATE.

 

Unfortunately it did not go well. Poor little Fizzer died during surgery. The vet called my husband and I'm just about to take my son back in to collect the cage and have a chat with the vet.

 

From what my husband said, it turned out to be a tumour.

 

My son is really upset but he said he'd never have forgiven himself if he hadn't tried his best to help his favourite pet.

 

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes. I know it's "only" a budgie but it was really important to my son that he didn't just "do nothing".

 

xx

 

So sorry to hear he didn't pull through. It's so sad to lose a bird ....

Just one more update.

 

Yesterday we received a phone call from the Chaplain at Lort Smith.

 

I didn't even know they had one, but she calls all the people who have lost a pet and offers them some support or counselling or just a chat. She was just lovely and said she would be available any time if my son wants smeone to talk to about losing his pet.

 

I am just so amazed at what a fantastic organisation it is. We'd never taken a pet there before for treatment but now I think it would be my first choice for its awesome, caring staff.

Just one more update.

 

Yesterday we received a phone call from the Chaplain at Lort Smith.

 

I didn't even know they had one, but she calls all the people who have lost a pet and offers them some support or counselling or just a chat. She was just lovely and said she would be available any time if my son wants smeone to talk to about losing his pet.

 

I am just so amazed at what a fantastic organisation it is. We'd never taken a pet there before for treatment but now I think it would be my first choice for its awesome, caring staff.

 

 

That's great that they follow up with you, I've never heard of anything like that happening before.

 

I hope your son is coping okay, he is a very special boy.

That is just wonderful. It is nice to know there are people out there that care sooooo much! It sounds like you have found a vet to keep. Hugs again to you and your son... maesie xoxo

Thanks Denise - he's an exceptional kid. Oh and the Chaplain also said that if he even just wants to have a chat with her about all the opportunities there are to work with animals when he's older, that she can do that too just to "break the ice"

 

And hugs back maesie. I have to say that even though I have not been a regular poster here, I have received so much kindness and support that I am very overwhelmed by everyone's kindness!

 

We most certainly have found a vet that is great with birds and (and kids)

The chaplain sounds lovely. I have worked as a vet nurse and I have just finished a degree in zoology/conservation/botany and while I was at uni I worked for 'prospective students', I used to take kids for tours around the uni and talk to them about the different courses when they were in year 9-12. He sounds like he would do great in animal husbandry but like me he might struggle with the emotional side of working for a rescue organisation (there are too many perfectly healthy animals that have to be put to sleep for my liking ) I reckon he would do great at something like zoo keeper

Edited August 15, 200817 yr by maesie
changed PTS to put to sleep

The chaplain sounds lovely. I have worked as a vet nurse and I have just finished a degree in zoology/conservation/botany and while I was at uni I worked for 'prospective students', I used to take kids for tours around the uni and talk to them about the different courses when they were in year 9-12. He sounds like he would do great in animal husbandry but like me he might struggle with the emotional side of working for a rescue organisation (there are too many perfectly healthy animals that have to be put to sleep for my liking ) I reckon he would do great at something like zoo keeper

 

Thanks for that mb!

 

I think handling animals rather than treating them is more his style.

 

Of course he is also a very awesome little jeweller, and that is something he would like to do and continue to volunteer at the Donkey Shelter on the side.

When he does get to that point (and I know it's a long way off, but it will creep up on you ) what he needs to decide is whether he wants t care for animals i the wild or animals in captivity. My course tends towards care of wild animals, I did things like go to Heron Island (north queensland) and did research on crabs, fish and sharks (we got to hold small non bitey sharks in our bare hands!), lots of snorkelling with turtles and coral , excursions to look at endangered species breeding programs at Healesville Sanctuary including Pygmy possums and Helmeted honeyeaters and a trip to Far North Queensland (Cairns and Cape Tribulation) which was mostly botany but we also met Cassowaries, crocodiles and LOTS of leeches , La Trobe University also has a huge wildlife sanctuary which many classes spend time in. Captive animal courses(atleast at La Trobe) spend much more time in the labs, they study captive populations of small native animals like dunnarts and put alot more emphasis on the physiology/anatomy of the animals whereas the wild animal course is more behavioural/habitat based.

 

Anyway I won't bore you but it's something for him to think about for the next few years. I'm happy to answer questions if he is interested at any time.

I am very sorry to hear he did not make it through the surgery. Give your son a hug from me, it hurts very badly to lose a budgie.