Comments on: One Hamster’s Last Day on Earth

By: Megan F

Megan F — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:21:42 +0000

I think there is an important distinction that has been lost here – no one is attacking Pyza for taking these photos or for posting them on flickr. (Well, at least I wasn’t.) If I were one of her regular readers and I had been following Bu’s story and knew she was ill, I’m sure I’d take this post only as the wonderful, loving tribute that Pyza meant it to be.
However, the context is not quite the same when her flickr posts are later published on CO. Without any background, knowledge of Bu, knowledge of Pyza, or any of the surrounding circumstances, I think the post has a totally different effect. I am not in denial that loving our pets often means losing them, I respect the reality of death, etc., etc. I also acknowledge that this isn’t my website and I have no editorial control. I really have no ability to influence what happens here at all, but since Meg has provided a comment function, I left my comment that I was not in favor of this particular post on CO. I stand by that opinion, but wanted to make sure that it’s clear that I’m not criticizing Pyza for documenting Bu’s passing or for sharing it with the world. I think she’s obviously a very loving and dedicated pet owner and I am sorry for her loss.

By: aimo

aimo — Thu, 14 May 2009 10:39:28 +0000

i’m not lying when i say that got a lump in my throat

By: Jennifer Sanchez

Jennifer Sanchez — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:31:40 +0000

Aww, I started to tear up!!! At least he or she spent their last day enjoying it.

By: FUN ♥ CUTE@

FUN ♥ CUTE@ — Wed, 13 May 2009 02:47:55 +0000

“If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I’d walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again. no farewell words were spoken, no note to say goodbye, you were gone before I knew it and only god knows why. Those we’ve lost never go away, they walk beside us everyday. I miss you, I still wish you were mine- forever in my heart.♥”

if you have ever lost an pet/ animal/close one that you loved. ♥ R.I.P. to those

By: jas

jas — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:38:18 +0000

awww i feel like i could cry !Thats so sad i am going to spend alll the time i can with my gueni pigs now an my cats dogs an birds !i miss my hamster too poor little thing r.i.p with lots of food !;(

By: ☼Rainbowstar☼

☼Rainbowstar☼ — Tue, 12 May 2009 02:05:42 +0000

The “to her favorite park” one is so sad. She looks all old and frail.

But it was a very kind thing to do!

It would be nice if there was a hamster afterlife with lots of nommable treats and places to crawl around.

By: Lisa Lisa

Lisa Lisa — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:20:27 +0000

Ah this makes me want to cry. My guinea pig just died the other day. When I took him to the vet they said 50/50 chance – I was still hoping they could work a miracle. The hospital called several hours later though and said he had passed. *tear* he was the sweetest thing ever.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 11 May 2009 05:19:43 +0000

That is so Sad

By: Lizzie

Lizzie — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:57:58 +0000

:’( poor hammy… R.I.P. I wish I could’ve done this for my hamster Dora before she passed away a few years ago… me and my mum, dad and brother were camping and my nanny was looking after Dora (who was white with a dark brown head and small dark brown splodges down her back) at her house while we were away… about 2 days before we got back from camping, my nanny phoned up my mum on her mobile and said Dora had passed away… ;-;

R.I.P my sweet hammy. <3

I wish I could get another hamster as they’re such lovely little darlings, but I can’t at the moment because of a *cough* certain cat… who tends to leave dead rodents on our doorstep weekly :S I don’t even want to think what he’d do to torment any PET rodents that I might get… D;

By: Jill

Jill — Sun, 10 May 2009 06:12:37 +0000

I think Matt H (#376) said it best –
“Anybody who thinks the last two photos are somehow ‘tacky’ or ‘exploitative’ are missing the point, there is nothing but heartfelt love in those photos.”

This sort of thing reminds me of how often a person’s reactions say just as much (or more) about the person as they do the thing the person is commenting on. If you see something disturbing in this post, it is most likely because you have something in yourself that might need some tending to- not because there is anything wrong with the post. It is beautiful; a loving tribute.