Life has been so rocky for me these last few months. Chugi has been in and out of my house. In february his right foot got swollen due to a staph infection. He was indoors bound for 1 month in which he could hardly walk and used his left leg as support. His infection cured up and he was allowed to live back out side with his hen in his "Chugi and bullets paradise" out pen. He loved his home and his hen but loved being indoors with me. We would watch TV, snuggle and he just loved his hugs and kisses. Chugi loved his baths and the hairdryer, he loved being clean.
On April 1st. Joel called me outside to check on Chugi. I ran outside to his pen to find that he had sprained his left leg. I remember feeling my heart pound and tears almost pouring out of my eyes but I tried to stay calm. My worst fear had caught me. Chugi's left leg was injured and he limped on his already healing right leg. The next day his leg got worst that he could no longer stand anymore. I took him to the vet on day 4 in hopes that he could offer some kind of remedy but he just prescribed baytril for Chugi's already healed up staph infection and metacam as he said that Chugi's limp was probably caused by arthitis. Inside me I knew (though I didn't argue with the doc) that it wasn't arthritis but probably a broken bone or pelvic injury.
Chugi didn't like his new medicine. He really didn't like the baytril which made him breath hard. All of his life he's had a hard time breathing. Since he was a baby he's just been like that. Growing up I had to watch him carefully, when he ran or got over excited or when we BBQ'd or had Fireworks (I spent EVERY New Years Eve with Chugi except this years 08' New Years, Oh how I regret that). Chugi had some kind of ashma I just didn't know how to cure it.
I took Chugi in for yet another vet visit. This time to get X-Rays. I recall how all the vets assistants were amazed at how beautiful Chugi was. Chugi was the most Beautiful Rooster ever. He had the most beautiful feathers, comb, waddles, beak, ears, beak and eyes. I remember his eyes the most which looked so deep into my soul. It was like he was me. His beautiful loving eyes were so brilliant everytime I held him, I knew that he knew that he was so loved.
The doctors didn't find anything wrong with Chugi's X-rays, I regreted in some way of doing the X-Ray when I found that out. Chugi was in already so much pain and yet I knew that other people handling him must have hurt him even more. The worst memory I have of all my entire life is of one of Chugi's vet appointments back in 06' when one of the assistants (clearly she didn't know how to hold a Rooster) took Chugi and held him by his neck, I almost fainted upon seeing them hold him in such a way. I took him back and held Chugi for the doctor to examine him. This episode has made me distrust vets offices.
After Chugi's X-Rays were completed and the doc said I can't do anything for him but to just wait and see if he gets better I just took Chugi home. I fell into a quiet depression as I knew that only a miracle could cure my babe.
April came and went. I massaged Chugi as often as I could, held him and just kept telling GOD please help him. I tried bargaining with GOD and pleading offering 10 years of my life to have Chugi get better, I would have given anything.
I made Chugi a sling, one that he could sit in that would have his legs dangling from the bottom (so he could try standing) which helped him for a while. He got tired of it after a while and prefered being on his pillows. During May Chugi's Comb fell to cover his left eye. I never in my whole time with Chugi had that happen. Chugi's never been sick, I mean NEVER. 9 years of his life was spent healthy and strong besides his breathing problem which he lived with fine. I believe that Chugi was healthy because he had a well upbringing.
When he was 3 months old I gave birth to my daughter who didn't like my breastmilk soooo...
Chugi was brought up on my breastmilk. For the next 5 months until he was 8 months old he lived and ate bread and breastmilk. I call him my milky boy because he just loved milk. Strange for a chicken but I can honestly say that I bet he grew extremely close to me because of my milk. I don't care how much he got teased by family members but he was like my own flesh and blood and deserved every bit of attention and love that anyone else in may family got and more.
During the end of May, Chugi was having a really hard time breathing and his face would turn purple for a while when he tried to stand, when he ate too much, when he crowed, just moving would cause him pain. His leg was getting better but sadly his breathing got worst.
Chugi was overjoyed when I bought him a pillow from the pet expo. As soon as I walked into the door and called him, he saw the pillow and was so happy. Somehow he knew I bought it for him. I put his pillow in his in home pen and he sat there so happy looking over it, pecking it and clucking with happiness.
The last two weeks of Chugi's life was so hard. He was mostly upstairs with us whenever we were home. I felt guilty going out. I felt guilty eating knowing and thinking that "Chugi would love this". I constantly called to check up on him whenever I was out. My kids did a great job of taking care of him when I wasn't home, calling me with updates and putting Chugi's ear next to the phone so I could tell him I'm coming home. He would cluck when he heard me which reassured me he knew I was on my way.
Even during the time Chugi was away from me for 3 years (due to us selling and rebuilding our home, the landlord from which we were renting didn't allow Roosters)I would visit him at least 3 or more times a week down at Ewa. My frieds dad was taking care of Chugi until we had our home built and Chugi's home built. I did all the planning of our house, down to the exact location the house would be sitting on the property. My home was built around where Chugi's home was going to be built. I would joke (little did they know it was true) with the contractors that "Chugi's paradise will go here, that's why I want my house here, Chugi first!" They laughed but had a heart too. We moved in on December 17, 2006. One week before we moved in they cemented around my house so I went to pick Chugi up the night before so I could have his footprint in the cement, which I did. Chugi gladly stood there proud pressing his foot in.
It took forever to get Chugi's home built the way I wanted it. When it was finally completed I was so happy how it turned out. I did have one problem, his perch was pretty high. 3 feet off the ground. Since Chugi was older I should have made it 2 ft high but was so stupid. Chugi had no problem flying up to his perch so I left it that way. Stupid me! I blame the perch for Chugi's injured leg but myself more for not changing it's height. I think Chugi must have jumped off his perch and landed the wrong way which caused his injury.
The day Chugi passed away was different. He didn't seem his normal self but alot more tired then usual. He ate, but only a little. He was with me downstairs all morning. We went to home depot about noon (heading there we saw a car with a license plate that said reincarnate, spelt renkrn8? I think) Joel had noticed it. We came home about 2 pm. I deceided to go lay down in the yard and get some sun so around 3:15 I brought Chugi, Chibi and Draven with me outside. We layed there in the sun for about a half an hour. I asked Andrew to go and make Chugi some bread and milk so he did. He came back with Chugi's meal and I place it by Chugi who ate every last piece. He was happy afterwards but still stuggled to breath like normal. I brought Chugi back in because the sun was a little too hot and went back out for another 15 minutes. I came back in with Draven and Chibi and noticed that Chugi's blanket was dirty so I told Andrew to take his blanket out and go throw it in the wash while I held Chugi. I took Chugi's favorite pillow, placed it on the couch and put Chugi on top so he could watch me play my video game. I played for about 2 minutes, turned and noticed Chugi was out of breath. I picked my baby up and told him to calm down rubbing his chest like I always did when he had his attacks. This time was the worst and ultimate. I held Chugi on my lap as he gasped for air telling him "Breath baby", "Chugi breath" "Calm down baby". I yelled and panicked when nothing worked "Chugi" over and over, he was trying hard to live and fought hard for me. Something during that moment made me give in to what I knew was enevitable. I gave in and told Chugi to go. I held him in my arms and said "Just go baby" "Just go" "Mama loves you so much Chugi and if you have to go, just go" right after I said that he left me. I was in shock and tried to revive him, I kissed him and told him come back. I felt his life slip away from me and I couldn't catch it. I remember wispering in his ear the moment he left "Chugi, go into Chibi My Love"
Chibi is a baby chick I got on May 5th from Joel's uncle the same person I got Chugi from 9 years ago. Joel's uncle knew how much I loved Chugi and when I told him that Chugi wasn't doing well he offered me a baby chick that had just hatched out. For many years I've been searching for "The One". I've had so many chickens but none like Chugi. Chugi had many sons. I didn't get attached to any. Chugi's grandson Pugi came close, he passed away due to crop bound. I gave up after Pugi, there is no other animal that can hold a candle to Chugi. Everyone knew it. I did go down to the farm and choose one baby on May 5th. Brought him home and had him sit with Chugi. Chugi always loved babies, all babies. He never hurt no one but having Chibi next to him was unacceptable. I tried for a while but gave up and felt terrible for bringing Chibi into a home that Chugi ruled, more worst for making Chugi jealous.
Chibi was 4 days old when I got him. I've had Chibi for over a month now but during Chugi's last month with me I've ignored Chibi. My kids have been playing with him and taking care of him so he was not neglected, I just couldn't give him attention in front of Chugi. When Chugi passed I envied Chibi's youth but since I told Chugi's spirit to be with Chibi I'm making every effort to like him.
We brought Chugi to the Vets office that evening to be cremated. The ride was the longest I ever felt, I held him in my arms crying like it was the end of the world which at that moment it was for me. We walked into the vet's office, I could barely see and felt nothing but pain. I sat there waiting for Sandy to come and talk to me. It felt like an eternity. Two lady's that were there picking up their cats noticed me and came over asking if they could pray for me. I said ok. One of them hugged me and prayed asking God to come in and help me, she kept saying "In Jesus name". I find it strange that of all places and times that someone I needed so much and the words I needed to hear were right there. I honestly believed that now that Chugi is gone I had nothing to live for. After this woman prayed over me it was like she had taken my extreme grief. ? . I felt a little better but different. It's too hard to explain.
A couple weeks earlier when picking up Chugi's pain meds I had asked an unthinkable question to the receptionist Sandy. She replied that she had a hen that just passed a week earlier of ovarian cysts that she had for 5 years. I told her about Chugi and we both cried a bit because she knew what I was going through. I had asked her about the E word, she explained how it is done and what happens after (cremation). I felt so guilty for even asking about that. How could I even think about that I thought. Chugi will always be with me, I can't live if he's not with me I thought. It's like killing ME if I did the E on Chugi, I thought. I'm grateful to God that he took Chugi the way he did. Chugi passed in less than a minute peacefully and in my arms. I've read alot here about the E word and agree with alot of peoples opinions on it. It was selfish of me to hold Chugi that long especially with the pain he was in and it was very wrong for me to try and replace him while he was still here.
I got Chugi's ashes back on Monday afternoon. I waited all day then finally the call came in. We picked him up and he was placed in a little metal box with flowers on the lid and in a beautiful Velvet bag which read "Until we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge". I cried on my way home only to find that it was drizzling. As we drove up our street a beautiful Rainbow appeared above my house. I stared as I got out of my car with Chugi in my hands at this beautiful Rainbow smiling though I was crying. I took a few pictures of Chugi's rainbow. I wondered what the Rainbow Bridge meant so I looked it up online and found out. I found this beautiful website and now Chugi is one of Rainbow Bridges residents. Ginny was even sweet enough to add Rooster and Chicken to the list of other pets, Thankyou so much Ginny. All the people here who have lost a pet I know what they're going through and they've been so helpful in so many ways. Please send your loving baby to play with my Chugi. He didn't have many friends here on earth so I'm sure he'd be so happy to make some at the Bridge until I can come and join him.
Chugi has made his mark in my life, even just being a Rooster he has won me over. He was more of a son to me than an animal, he comforted me when I was sad and looked as thought he understood me when I talked to him. Chugi was the center of my life for 9 years 8 months and 17 days and still continues to inspire me from beyond. Oh how I miss him Deeply so much, I know you all understand.
Mahalo for reading, Vicky (Chugi's Mom)
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Chugi's Names
Chugi, Chugi My Love, Sweet Love, Mama Love, Babe, Baby, Chugmeister, Honey Love, I Love You (yes I called him that), Butter and Mayonaise, Buttered rocks, Ichiteriraks (sounds weird but he loved it), Handsome Manok, My boy, Beautiful Eyes.
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Chugi was born on Septemember 20, 1998 and I picked him from a bunch of 11 babies when he was 2 days old. He passed away at 4:00pm June 6, 2008' in my arms with Joel, Andrew, Maylene, Nicholas and Chibi there in the living room downstairs with me.
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