Goodbye, Princess Buttercup

When Jeff and I first moved to Columbus, OH in January of 2004, one of the things we loved best about the house we bought there was the sunken cement koi pond in the side garden. By the time spring rolled around, the weather thawed and we had a chance to get in there and see the state of things, we realized it was in serious need of some tender loving care.

We spent hours on weekends cleaning out gallons of dead leaves, detritus and other effluvia. It was like a pet cemetery at first. We removed at least 10 dead fish, three dead bullfrogs and even a squirrel carcass. We bought new filters and plant life and a heater so it wouldn't freeze over in the winter. Jeff got the fountains running again. Before long, the pond ecosystem had normalized and the fish began to thrive and breed. 

By the time we were finished, it was a lovely little habitat and a beautiful place to sit and relax, watching the fish and listening to the trickle of the fountains.

When we moved in, there were nine surviving fish. By the time we left 2 1/2 years later they had bred six times and there were over thirty. I named the original nine - Pacino, Einstein, Bea Arthur...

They were really beautiful fish.

When they sensed my vibrations, they would swim up to the surface for me to feed them.

When we sold our house, I made sure the realtor asked the buyer if she was interested in keeping the fish and maintaining the pond. We wouldn't have been able to take them with us - the trip was too long and it's too hot in southwest Florida to keep koi. If the new owner hadn't wanted them, I would have given them away. There were hundreds of thriving koi ponds in our neighborhood.

Before we moved, I spent several hours writing detailed instructions on how to care for the fish and the pond. I felt like we were leaving our pets behind and I hoped that the new owner would get as much pleasure and enjoyment out of caring for them as I had.

Recently, my friend Adrianne, who also lived down the street from us in Columbus, ran into the new owner. She invited Adrianne in to see what she had done to the house and Adrianne asked her about the koi.

They're all dead. Every last one of them. She told Adrianne she couldn't keep up with it and they all died.

I'm so sad, not to mention angry and disgusted with the woman who bought our house. If she couldn't take care of the fish, she should have given them away or sold them as soon as they started dying; I'm sure they didn't all go at the same time.

I know they were just fish, but I really got attached to them and they were beautiful living creatures who didn't deserve that fate. What kind of a person would do something like that?

I'm probably extra sensitive from all the hormones, but I just can't stop thinking about those fish.

 

   

Comments

[DD]

I can understand completely your sadness. Based on the size and color of some of the koi, they had survived many winters and someone would have gladly taken much better care of them. I guess it's very similar to the new owners of our old house cut down the ivy that was growing on the brick facade. I thought it broke up the harshness of the brick. They thought it was too much work.

I'm sorry that the new owners were ultimately so careless with something you entrusted them with. It's not your hormones. Anyone who had as much time and care invested in a project so lovingly tended would feel the exact same way.

[mdog]

:(

the pond and the fish were amazing [way cooler than the pictures can even show].

that sucks.

[Chase]

Oh no! You have a right to be upset!

I'm sorry to hear that - what a waste. :(

[Jessie]

I'd be upset too. Sorry to hear about that. It looks like it was wonderful while you were in charge.

[Mrs. Harridan]

You have EVERY right to be sad and angry - you took good care of those fish and they may as well have been pets! My brother and my good friend both have koi ponds, and those fish depend on them, just like any domesticated animal. Not to mention, fish like that are worth money (not that that's why you're sad, but maybe that would affect the new owner?). She must be a very lazy person indeed to let your fish starve.

[Arabella]

I would feel exactly the same way if I were you! I'm so, so sorry.

[Wendy]

I'm sad to hear this too - I am sorry the fish were not better cared for - the pictures of how they were in 'your day' are truly unbelievable - so beautiful

[Mignon]

Shame on that new owner for being, at best, lazy and, at worst, cruel.

But Tammie, I don't think it was particularly kind of your friend to tell you that kind of 'news.' She could have easily kept it to herself and spared you unnecessary sadness. Now when you think of the koi you have a heavy heart instead of wonderful memories. Yes, shame on her too.

[Tink]

Ohhh Teebs. I knew exactly where this post was going from the first sentence. I feel sick about it, and they weren't even MY fish! What is wrong with people?! Would it have been so hard for her to find them a home? To do the DECENT thing? People disgust me.

[Heather]

Oh that freaking sucks. What an asshat.

[Amy]

What an f-ing B! I am SO sorry. I know what it is like to nurse something along like that and have someone else destroy it. Poor fish!

[the new girl]

Boo.
Booo.

[Chris]

Oh, that is sad. Just letting 30 fish die - grrr!

[Ortizzle]

It IS sad, and the new owner should have been honest with you and admitted that she was not prepared to commit. She might have even been sincere about it when she bought the house, or at least wanted you to feel good about it. I agree with Mignon, though: what was the point in telling you about it? Ignorance really is bliss sometimes.

[Michelle]

Usually I just lurk but I HAD to comment about how awful this is. It is NOT your hormones!! They were beautiful fish and you have every right to feel the way you do.

I'm very sorry that such an uncaring chicken took over your pond and didn't have the guts or motivation to do anything to help those creatures when they needed it.

Karma is a bitch. She'll get hers.

[saviabella]

That is so wrong. I would be incredibly upset, too. People are shit sometimes.

[DebbieDoesLife]

They are not JUST fish. I had a beta named Chester and he lived for three years! I was very attached to him. He would jump and flit in the morning when I turned on the kitchen light - I knew he was so happy to see me!

That is terrible that she just let them die.

[V-Grrrl]

That they died because she neglected them is the worst.

That she didn't appreciate the pond and the fish is just sad.

[stella]

that is so wrong.

im sorry. that must have felt really shitty...

it makes me think of when we moved into our house here...the owner asked us if the stray cats he'd been feeding in the back yard all these years...would be 'accepted' by our dogs? Otherwise he wanted to find homes for them.

I said 'why don't you go ahead and do that.... that is of course, if you dont want them eaten. By Zoe.'

some people can't be honest with themselves. im sorry that happened...really. :-(

[karen]

We recently gave our aquarium away pending our relocation. I really miss the fish, but the guy we gave them to has pictures of them on his cell phone - so at least I know he cares about them, too.

[Bobita~]

Aw, I'm so sorry. It is not just your hormones...life is life, you know. I feel sad that they are gone, too.

[Nancy]

That is horrible. I don't understand people that can let those things happen to animals.

I am sorry, TB.

[Mom101]

I just came by to check in on you and...this! So sad. Don't even think about blaming it on hormones - you're allowed to be sad about this.

Sometimes it's better to just leave our memories be. I remember going back to the house I grew up in, seeing the changes they had made and being devastated. I didn't want those new images to replaces the ones imbedded in my head.

[mothergoosemouse]

I may be glad to be pet-free right now, but I've got a huge sense of responsibility when it comes to animals. I'm aghast that she would allow the fish to die rather than take the initiative to find new homes for them.

And ditto Liz - my father could never stand to drive past our old house because he knew he'd be dissatisfied with the condition of the landscaping that had been his pride and joy for so many years. Sometimes it's better not to know.