Introducing Rodney, Jules, and myself

[MotaroRIP]

Hello you guys! Some of my goals in life are to become an English teacher, or a journalist. However, a main goal right now is to fight the common ignorance of guinea pig owners in my small town, and to fight the small evils of pet stores, and dangerous pet brands such as Hartz. That being said, I'll tell a little about my fall into cavy slavedom.

Some of my first memories involve guinea pigs, you see my dad was a guinea pig breeder while I was growing up. I still remember all the characters in that room there was Freddy, Moe, Sally, and Sabrina as well as other pigs. I remember I'd sometimes spend days in that guinea pig room in the back, taking out the piggies and playing with them in the room. Now I know the evils of breeders, but at the time I was just a kid around animals I loved. I remember the day Moe died, and we buried him in the garden at the side of the house.

I remember waking up in the morning, the first thing I would do is check on the pregnant sows. I wanted to be the first human those baby pigs saw. On a birth morning I'd wake up everyone in the house, usually my enthusiasm was not shared, because I used to be quite an early bird. However, we eventually moved out, and didn't take the pigs with us. I'm not sure what happened to those pigs, I never really asked.

I went years without guinea pigs, but always thought fondly of them. I moved into my mom's house and she got me a dog. This was a great dog! I named him Rocko, and we bonded instantly. He was a very active puppy, who also mastered the art of the fense escape! One day my stepdad let Rocko outside, and he hopped the fence. We found him the next day, in a ditch.

I went into a depression, and my mom knew it. She went to the pet store, and got me Rodney. At this time I was just about to graduate eighth grade. I remember the day I got him, my mom said she was going into town. She came in and said she had forgotten something in the car. She asked me to go get it, so I looked in the brown box in the passenger side seat. There sat my dutch piggie Rodney. From the get-go my mom said that the pet store cages seemed too small. She got me a pretty good size dog kennel for one pig, and Rodney was set. I moved away from my mom's shortly after, I didn't get along wit my stepdad.

Eventually (about a year ago) I got tired of friends, and family not being able to relate with my fascination of guinea pigs. I ran into guinealynx, a site which changed my pig's life forever. I found out the wonders of piggie friends, and went to the pet store to buy Rodney his new friend. I know pet stores are bad, and I knew it at the time. I feel nothing but regret that I didn't rescue.

So I came back with a fat looking, healthy pig. The pet store said, "Oh yeah, it's a male." So naturally I was curious when I got home and checked her myself to find out that it was a female, and pregnant! I was going to take her back, but something came over me. Mia was meant to be mine, and she needed me. I brought her out of a timid state, and got a big new dog kennel with my money from my job at the time. Mia was ready to give birth.

She had four healthy babies on August 21, 2006. I immediately noticed the little roan baby, with the odd hair. He became sort of my "Favorite" baby, and I was pleased to see he would get to live with Rodney. I named him Jules, and he had two other male buddies join. Well needless to say four pigs was a lot, too much according to my parents. They made me give away two males.

So I kept Jules, and gave away two males to a lady from my stepmom's work. I keep in touch with her. My stepmom works at a kitchen, the pigs get free veggies every day over at their new home. Spoiled things.

So I had two boars, and two sows. I had broke my leg two years ago, and my doctor thought it was time to remove the rod from my leg. My job didn't work out, and when they found out I was having surgery they cut my hours so much I had to quit! Who would have thought McDonald's could be so... harsh?

Well now my pig's health was in the wallet of my dad. The first thing he did was ask me to ask around about a new home for Mia and Diana (the sows.) My French teacher is a member of the GL forums, and was very happy to receive them! She even got them a C&C cage. I'm happy for Mia and Diana, even though I greatly miss them.

So the ironic thing is, a month later I get a second opinion on my surgery. I was freaking out because my leg didn't hurt, and I didn't want another surgery. The second doctor said there was no need, unless the rod was hurting my leg! So I didn't.

Now I'm applying for a new job, which I think I got. I'm going to work at Subway, and then I'm going to build a C&C cage with my first pay check. My current cage is fine for two boars, but I'm wanting to get a third piggie into my house hold, and think that a C&C cage is an affordable, and smart option.

So an introduction on my piggies.

Rodney is a brown and white dutch, he is either 4 or 5 years old. He is quite chubby, and spoiled. Rodney is sort of special to me, he saved me from depression several times. Rodney is the first to complain when his hay stash gets low.

Jules is a quiet, handsome boy. He is a Roan Sheltie, and my whole family loves him for his looks. He will be one years old in a few weeks on August 21st.

So I'm glad to be on this forum, and hope to meet all kinds of new people and pigs.

[pigsforlife]

Welcome to the forum. I too am a new member, joining yesterday. This site in itself has helped me learn about the bads of the pet store cages that so many recommended and introduced me to a C&C cage. The information on toys and floor time has also been a great help let alone all of the great information that can be found on this forum.

I have 3 sows, Lily, Toffee and Buttercup. Lily was my first guinea pig, a little scrawny underfed piggy, you should see her now, she is just over 4 months and dominates the group. She has a beautiful coat, tortoise shell and white.

Toffee is my latest addition to the group, she was well fed but her teeth were seperated at the base, a sign of the beginnings of scurvy, with a tablet supplement and the high vitamin c fresh produce that I feed her, her teeth are on the way to recovery. She too has a beautiful coat, white and golden brown patch rex, fluffy little bundle. At the moment she is about 12 weeks.

Buttercup was my second guinea pig and probably second to Lily in regards to the hierarchy too. Buttercup was probably in the best condition out of all of my girls when I got her, she had a slight fungal infection on her ear but that cleared up quickly. Her coat is extremely smooth, she is a cream self and a beautiful one too.

Enjoy the forum!!

[MotaroRIP]

I've seen you on Yahoo! Answers I believe, your pic looks like Buzzare's picture. Great advice giver!

You might recognize me, my screen name is MotaroRIP on there as well. I got on to that one girl for not knowing enough, and you emailed me about it and agreed I believe.

[pigsforlife]

Yes, that is me. Like you (I believe), all I am trying to do through as many forums as possible is correct the wrong information out there. Daily I am flabberghasted about people suggesting exercise wheels or feeding there guinea pigs a pellet mix with coloured bits in it.

[MotaroRIP]

Cool. I'm glad to see a familiar face so soon. I hope some GLers go here as well.

[Ly&Pigs]

Hi Motaro and welcome. I am a long time member of both here and gl although I don't post much on gl anymore. I recognize your name from there. I hope to see you around here more often.

[jilovecavies]

Your story was very touching. Thank you.

Welcome!