Please help.. I have owned and loved gliders for about 10 years now and as of yesterday I had 3 (mom, and two babies). The mom was about 8 and healthy, the babies about 5. Unfortunately I was working the late shift at my job last night at The Emergency Pet Hospital (ironic) so I set out the food for my family to feed them at the time they are always fed.. they left the door open. The mom glider (Meka) escaped and drowned in my pool. She was my favorite and I can't possibly express in words how I feel right now. She was everything I could ever ask for in a pet. There are no words. At my job I help people cope with the loss of their own pets.. but this really hit home.
Anyway.. what I am trying to get at is with my other two (the not-so-little babies). Ever since she passed last night they have been barking and inadvertably miss her. Do you recommend showing them their mother's body or will they eventually forget about her? I have not buried her yet (she passed at midnight).. in fact I can't bare to look at her. Me and my family have been up all night mourning. I don't know what to do. I never thought this would happen to me.. She was the smartest glider.. but still the pool was to much for her.Sorry this is in the Emergency forum.. I am aware it's no longer a "life or death" situation since she is already gone. I had an account here once but I no longer have the email address and I don't remember the username.. it's been to long.
Thank you...

I'm so sorry for your loss..

Thank you so much.. part of me almost needs to see her aswell. I just can't bare to see her. My family actually found her in the pool.. my mom jumped in after her but it was way to late. My family waited for me to come home last night and felt AWFUL.. I got home at about 1am but I can only imagine how they felt awaiting my return. My sugar gliders (especially her) are my babies. In the 2 hours I slept last night I dreamed that she came back to life. I know death since I work with it every day at my job. It's just so different with my own. I hate the thought of while I was dealing with seizuring dogs, car accident victims, snake bites, etc. that my own baby was drowning in my pool..
No words..
But thank you for replying. If I can't gather up the courage to show them.. I will have one of my family members do it.. since they have already seen her. My other two gliders are just so upset.. they have always had her here. It was such a happy perfect family unit. Ruined..

I'm so sorry for your loss.....

Sorry for your loss.

sorry for your loss, need a hug..i will give you one!!

I am so sorry for your loss.

I'm so very sorry These types of accidents are truly heart-wrenching.
As Karen said, showing the body to her "joeys" will help them to resolve the issue of her absence and will help them in their grief process.
Many hugs to you

Moving this over to Rainbow Memorials now...

Very sorry about your loss, I know it can be hard losing pets.

OMG I'm SO SO sorry!! I cannot even imagine what you must be feeling and going through! Best wishes to you and your babies

Hun I am so very sorry for you loss and what you are going thru. If you need a person to chat to feel free to pm me. sending huggs your way.

i am very sorry for your loss.

I can so feel your pain. I am so sorry. I have always shown the glider to their loved ones. As Karen said, they do seem to understand, and don't spend time looking for them. They have each other, and you, so that will help a lot. One thing I would do is VERY slowly do the cage cleaning, so that her smell disappears very slowly, rather than all of a sudden.

I know this is late in the evening but I am just reading this and I am so very sorry to hear such a tragedy. It will (if you have not already) be one of the hardest things to do but I agree about showing the others the body. I had to do it for my guys when Lucy passed but I had to let them know what happened to her.
My heart goes out to you more than you can imagine
Pat

Thank you guys so much for your kind words.
I introduced the two to their mom yesterday. I think it was just as traumatic for them as it was for me. It was my first time seeing her also since the accident. I needed to see her as much as they did. At least I'm not having any more dreams of her coming back to me and then waking up depressed..
The gliders were really quiet last night so at least now they know that she is gone..
All I can really do now is try to pull myself together and take care of the two that I have left..
RIP Meka, I really, really loved you.

I'm so sorry... I lost my joey last night it's the hardest thing.. I tried to save him but it was too late.

Oh my God. Not another I am so sorry. I, and probably none of us glider lovers, know exactly why there is such a strong bond to out little friends. From the moment we get them. Losing one is the hardest thing I have ever dealt with.
So sorry jsamine08.
Pat

I am so sorry for both of your losses. Losing one of our little furbutts was one of the toughest losses I have experienced.

Losing them is the only down side to having gliders in your life.

I'm so sorry!

I am sorry to hear of your loss. I think that letting any animal see its deceased friend helps them with their grieving process. We have let the other horses smell and nudge that passed away here last year. I know that his buddy checked him out and never fussed for him again.

Please accept my sincerest condolences and my your memories of her comfort you.