piggies

Smithfield is the first memeber and leader of my Piggy Clan. This tortie shorthaired piggy, was my first Guinea Pig. He was given to me by a local breeder, when she found she had transported too many little ones to my favourite shop. He was a companion to my first rabbit. They shared a cage. My Cockatoo quickly picked up his name, and calls him just to hear him whistle. Now Smithfield has two companions. But, I've had him neutered so there will be no unexpected additions. Smithfield's name came from Smithfield bacon and ham. Only I don't think you would get much of either, from this little boy.

Piglette is a very special memeber of our Piggy Clan. She only has 3 legs. I had gone to the pet shop for some bird supplies. When we went into the storeroom where the supplies had been put, I saw this little white piggie with a black spot on it's head, in a cage alone. Asking why this little one was back in the storeroom alone, I was told that when the cages were being cleaned that morning, her left rear leg and been caught in the wire bottom cage and broken. This was a Saturday night, and they were going to take her to the vet on Monday. I said I would take her now, if she were mine. 'So, take her.', he said. Off we went. There wasn't a rodent doctor in at the Emergency Clinic, so I paid extra to have an emergency visit at another clinic. Being a compound fracture made the break difficult to treat. After two weeks with the leg in a cast, and administering antibiotics, it was found that gangrene had set in. Her left hind leg had to be amputated. I now have a spoiled, $249, free Guinea Pig.

Hamlette is my latest addition, to the Piggy Clan. When I first saw him, he looked like a large Hamster, in with baby Guinea Pigs. When he first came home, he lived in a cage with Binkie, a baby Lop Rabbit. Now he's with the other piggies, but runs around the house doing binkies. For those of you that don't know what binkies are... when a rabbit runs around, jumps up and twists about in sheer joy... that's a binkie.

Peter Gurney is surely the most prolific and informed writer on the care of Guinea Pigs (Cavies). His commitment to the promotion of cavy well being shines through these pages in which Peter gives advice based upon his immense experience.