Mr Flapper Duck

This is a beautiful memorial illustration sent to us by our good friend Peter. Isn’t it amazing? I love it.

It reminded me that I really haven’t said “thank you” to all the people who posted notes, sent cards and otherwise shared their condolences on the loss of my little buddy Chewy. I also didn’t get any of my holiday cards out this year, and owe everyone an apology for that.

So thank you so much for all of your support, for the condolences and also for the holiday cards.

Thank you.

I don’t know where to start with how to say goodbye to Chewy Magooey. I owe him a proper eulogy, but I still can’t believe he’s gone. He was always an independent kid who went his own way, quietly searching for bugs off in the far corners of the yard. Perhaps that’s why I didn’t notice that he was sick before it was too late. The blood work didn’t tell us anything about how Chewy died, and it is my guess that whatever it was, it was a long-time coming and too late to save him by the time I noticed. It wasn’t that it happened fast, it’s that it happened slowly and quietly, and then it was too late.

So here we are, without our little fancy feet. And here’s a little more about him…

Chewy came to us in late April 2007 after being dumped at a Seattle park. Three teenagers googled online and found Flapper’s site and emailed us. Then they brought him over. He was just a little tiny guy, maybe 3 days old at most.

Several weeks went by while we tried to find a forever home for Chewy. All the homes that came up were too far, or too weird. One woman wanted me to mail him in a box to the United Kingdom.

From the very first day, Chewy seemed like a fragile, delicate little guy. And even though we had our hands full, we eventually decided that he should just stay with us forever.

Contrary to popular opinion, Chewy’s best feature was not his amazing striped feet. They were spectacular though, and I always felt they were meant to make people forget he was wearing a toupee.

Chewy’s best feature was that he was a great wingman, first to his girlfriend Stuffy and then for years to his best buddy Flapper.

Here you can see Chewy’s great love for his main squeeze, Stuffy.

He sure loved that stuffed animal.

Chewy had a penchant for getting himself into awkward situations. Whether slipping on the snow, or failing to avoid O’Malley’s bitey beak, Chewy found himself in trouble many, many times.

Chewy not only loved his Stuffy and his buddy Flapper, he also loved peas. Maybe more than anything.

He would come running from the far corners of the yard if he heard a bag of peas being opened, or heard the word “treats.”

When he wasn’t chasing treats, Chewy would help out with the other rescues who came along.

He reluctantly helped raise a foster duck named Juno, who followed him everywhere.

And also helped out with Eddie, who looked a little bit like a miniature Chewy.

Chewy was a silly, goofy, funny little guy who kept to himself but always brought sunshine to the yard.

He would humor me and sit with me sometimes, but he really preferred to go his own way.

Chewy was just about the sweetest guy you could know. A real stand-up friend you could count on, but also a quiet guy who kept to himself.

And he was the best wingman ever.

Oh Chewy, I was really worried about you when I brought your wingman in the house to stay. I was worried you would be lonely and thinking of getting you a friend. But I never realized I should have been more worried about your health. I thought I would have so much more time with you, buster. And I know it would have just been time watching you skirt the edges of the yard, doing your own thing and minding your own business, but I sure wish I could have that time with you.

Goodbye too soon, fancy feet. I will take good care of your wingman. I hope with all my heart that you are somewhere safe with your Stuffy, skirting the edges of a pool party filled with peas.

Lots of love,

Your people
XOXOX

Chewy passed away in my arms at 5:14am this morning.

I’m so sorry, fancy feet. I just don’t even know what to say. I should have realized you weren’t feeling well sooner. I don’t even know what was wrong with you yet, and you’re already gone.

Wow.

Chewy is doing really poorly tonight.

He woke up feeling bad and I started him on antibiotics even though we haven’t heard back on his blood results yet. I sat with him at 2pm for a while and then went out at 8pm to give him more antibiotics. He wasn’t moving much and didn’t fight being picked up. That’s a very bad sign. I tube fed him a little bit of food and put him in Flapper’s playpen in the house.

Please send good thoughts for Chewy.

In slightly better news, Flapper perked up when I fed him french fries today. He is much more stable than Chewy is right now. I have no idea what has gone wrong for Chewy. If it is an infection, I didn’t catch it very early. I only noticed it Wednesday afternoon and got him to the vet Thursday morning. He has gone downhill very fast since then.

Please keep him in your thoughts tonight.

11pm Update: Chewy has had a little food and electrolytes and is on a heating pad in the playpen. He’s drinking water on his own which is good. With Chewy in the playpen, this means Flapper sleeps on the bed tonight. Flapper is doing way better than Chewy right now. I don’t know what got into these two this week. Chewy went downhill so fast. Right now I think he will make it through the night. Hopefully a warm good night’s sleep will give the antibiotics time to start working.