Mama New Guinea

On Tuesday the family and I decided to head down to Pets At Home to grab a few treats for the dogs and came home with two guinea pigs. How did this happen? It's been a long time coming. I've been in love with guinea pigs since I was about fourteen or fifteen but could never own one because of our dogs at home. Moving from house to house in my adult years has left me with two dogs and a family parrot who was adopted by us when my Bampi could no longer care for her needs and so adding guinea pigs just seemed a little much. That is until I fell in love and had to give them a home. I'm one of those people who'd give a good home to all animals and children if I could and it breaks my heart to see them cooped up with little to no interaction and substandard living conditions.

Over in the adoption section we found these babies who'd been together since birth and are only ten weeks old. Two weeks ago they were returned to the store in the cardboard boxes they were taken home in and we were told we could have them for the price of a donation to an animal charity. Well, I was sold. As much as I'd love to adopt every animal these two were in a tiny tank together at the back of the store and their details hadn't even been entered into the adoption book. They have no names and I haven't named them yet but we're thinking of going along the serial killer vibe we have with our other pets and going for Myra and Rose.

So far, so good. They come out to play three times a day when the dogs are sleeping in the kitchen or out on their walk. The brown long haired pig is quite nervous and doesn't really like to do anything but eat and lay on me but the black, white and brown pig is quite content to be cuddled and held by the girls all day long. Apples and curly kale are early favourites and they wander around the living room together side by side just checking everything out. I'm completely covered in animal hair now from these babies plus a labrador and pug so a good clothes brush is in order before leaving the house but I just can't resist letting them sit on me while I stroke them and listen to their adorable noises.

Obviously this means more cleaning and more commitment but since I work from home I have lots of time to devote to interacting with all of the animals together. They cheer me up to no end to see the dogs being inquisitive and licking through the cage (always supervised and never allowed out together - just in case). When we come back from our afternoon walks the dogs lay down near the cage and the bird comes out for a fly around and when everyone's asleep and the guinea's are the most active we have some one on one time. It works so well for us, everyone is content and the girls learn about respect for animals and caring for them properly as so many children I've seen can't. I don't ever want them thinking they can treat any animal with anything less than kindness not just for the animal's safety but also for theirs.

Luckily I don't want any more pets...unless I can get a license for a monkey in which, hell yes.