Baby squirrel "died" last night!
 

As some of you may know, Rika had a favorite toy that she took with her everywhere. It was a tiny squirrel toy so we called it baby squirrel. She'd had it since she was 6 weeks old. Well, last night her and Daddy were playing tug of war with it like they usually do before bed and the tail ripped off. We tried to take it away and give her the new one we bought her a little while ago, because we knew hers wasn't gonna last much longer, but she just kept searching for her baby until we finally gave in and gave her just the body part just for the night so we could get some sleep. I actually started crying a little bit because it was so sad to watch her look around for it, whining. It was heartbreaking.

When we woke up this morning, she had ripped the back clean in half and the squeaker was missing. Looks like her love is going in the trash tonight.

Hopefully she'll fall in love with her new one. I couldn't stand any more nights like last night. :(

Poor thing!! Biddy has this disgusting yellow ice cream cone that I hate!! I want to trash it so badly because it's so gross, but I can't bare to do it to her!! I'm sure Rika will get over it but you're going to have to give a little extra love for a while!!

Yorkies are obsessive! If you still have the toy, get another and put them together in a ziploc bag for a few hours, that way the smell from the old toy will transfer some to the new one and she will be happier with the new one! Sophie has a duck that finally couldn't take it anymore, I did this and she was more than happy with the new duck because it smelled like the old one! I still have the 'carcass' of the first one, even though Sophie is no longer with us!

Sophiedog what a great idea! I never thought of that as I sew Hallie's favorite toys back together all the time ;)

Poor Rika and her baby squirrel ;( That is heartbreaking. I would have cried too! I hope she bonds with another soon!

That's a great idea Sophiedog. I think I'll do that tonight. I could keep the carcass I guess...but if it's anywhere where Rika can she, she'll want it. I just think it'd be better to try and get her onto a new one. We'll see what we can do to get her to like the new one as much as the old one.

What a terrific idea! I just love this place! I learn a new trick everyday! :D

Thats so sad.. I had the same problem with Lily.. She has this bunny and she loves it, brings it everywhere with her.. Anyway, the head came off but she still plays with it... I woke up to find both the head and body in her crate with her.. I took out all of the stuffing so she wouldn't choke on it but she loves it

Aww, now you're going to have me crying too! Bless her little heart!

Sully did this when his favorite toy tore up for the 1st time.....well, not to the extent poor Rika did....I just want to hug her! LOL.

Sad I know but it's so cute. I mean, bless!!! :p

My dogs have tons of "carcasses". Recon is known to rip the things open to get the squeakers out. Why not pull all the fluff out of it after doing what Sophiedog suggested and let her keep the carcass also??

Some of the toys that my dogs have get NASTY so I take them and put the wash machine on the gentle or slow cycle and wash them all. I have to I cant handle the smell of some of the toys.

Awwww poor little Rika!! Codie has a little green frog that I bought for him on the day I took him home. That was his FAVORITE toy and it lasted for a few months until Codie ripped its head off.

do what sophie dog suggested!!!! that will be great, it should help, you're a genious!! i'm sorry the squirrel died!!! poor rika, and what a great mommy you are to feel so bad for her!

Hahahah
 

Omg...this is such a funny thread....Hahahah! Just the visuals....and that word .."carcass"...lol

Francie

I tried to put the new squirrel in a ziploc with the carcass of the old one and Rika will have none of it. If I put it somewhere out of sight or up high all she does is bark at it until I give her the carcass back. What should I do??

If you rub the "dead" squirrel on the new one, you will scent it and perhaps your baby will be more accepting. I have had to do this more than once. Please Please take pics of the dead baby squirrel and you MUST keep it for old times sake.

brownie can not sleep with out his monkey he knows what surgery means he sits there and waits one night i forgot to put it in his cage and he cryed all night intill i realized what he wanted i bought about 12 other ones and there not exactly the same i bought that one when i was in like 5thgrade at a musem for like 30 bucks :(

Aww, how sad!!! Your poor baby crying and searching makes me sad! I hope she can fall in love with a new one.

You can't let her see the old one, put them in a drawer while she's getting a treat and keep her distracted while you 'make the exchange'. Never let her know the old toy is still around or she will start obsessing over it again.
Also, you can put old nasty stuffed toys in a pillow case, tie the end and wash them that way, it keeps the washer from further destroying the toys.
I couldn't believe how obsessive these little dogs get, guess that's why I like them so much - I'm the same way! I have t-shirts I've had forever that are see thru now, but I still want them, I have a drawer full of things I can't use anymore but I can't get rid of them either.
Sophie and I would share some popcorn (the puffy kind you get in the bag without kernels) while her 'new toy' seasoned. Then, while she was getting a drink I would take the new one out and just throw it on the floor. Eventually she would find it and because the old one wasn't around, she would bring it to me to play with her. The worst thing was her ball that looked like the world, she lost it one day, I think she threw it in the garbage playing and I didn't realize it. She looked for it for over a week and no matter how many new balls I got, she wouldn't play with them. I took her to the pet store and let her find the ball she wanted (I still have it too, see - obsessive!).