Just after Boxing Day I lost my beautiful red staffy Tonka. We'd had him for 15 years, he's been here forever and is a big part of our family. We had to put him down after he fell sick. He was vomiting everywhere and we could tell he was in pain. My poor boy is gone.

I had barely stopped crying at the mention of Tonka's name when my mother told me devastating news. Our horse Kovu, who was the absolute sweetest boy on the planet, who recently moved to his massive 25 acre paddock and was loving life, colicked in the middle of the night. This was a few hours out from where I live, in preparation for our big move. My mother was with him. I was not. He couldn't get up, even after the pain meds. They tried everything, but the decision was made to put him down at 1:30am the night before New Year's Eve. Our sweet darling, the bestest of boys, is now buried in the beautiful paddock he ran amok in for the 2 days he was there. I cannot forgive myself for not being there with him.

I am absolutely lost. I don't know what to do anymore. This week is the worst of my life. My father is constantly staring off into the distance, not saying a word. My mother is inconsolable. I'm hoping to get a memorial piece of Kovu made as a gift for my mother to help ease the pain. But I never thought this time of the year would be so horrible. I miss them with all my heart. Rest in piece my babies 🤍

I am so sorry for your loss!

Do you know, if there is a possibility they were poisened "by accident" when they had somehow contact to botulism toxine?

Thank you <3 I really appreciate it.

If you mean the dog, then I do not believe so. He had been relatively skinny over the past year, slept most of the day. I highly doubt it. The horse however, I am not sure. I am trying to let my mother have some time to process it before I ask her questions.

I'm sorry for your losses. May they rest well, and meet you and your family on the other side when the time comes. They will always be with you in your heart and memories.