Hello from TN

Hi! I just wanted to stop in for a minute to introduce myself. I am Michelle from northeast TN. I've really been enjoying reading through the forum for the past few days. I share my home with my husband, daughter, 1 Miniature Schnauzer, and 4 Shelties. I currently do not have any Guinea Pigs, but that will be changing soon.

I was involved with animal rescue for about 10+yrs. I still foster once in a great while, but I stopped back in 2006 when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. Even though I may foster every once in awhile, I'm extremely particular about what I allow in. We did a lot of small animal rescue before, which allowed us the opportunity to live with Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Gerbils, Rats, Ferrets, Chinchillas, Rabbits, etc.

Now that my daughter is almost 2, she's still demanding, but not as much as she was before. I have worked with her with our dogs from the time that she was just able to reach out and touch them. I am adamant about her respecting them. My parents were that way with me when I was a little girl, and I'm that way with her.

I told my husband that I have missed having Guinea Pigs, and that I thought it was time to bring them in. Since I'm a stay-at-home Mom, and have the time to devote, he didn't mind. I'm currently working on one of the large enclosures (C&C). I already have a 4'H X 3'W 3 story cage that is made out of the grids/cubes and that is fully lined, but I'm thinking about taking it apart and setting it up differently. I like the open top ones, and I'd prefer it to be up off of the ground. Just so you know, since I do have dogs, the cage will be set up in our "home office". It's a room that we use frequently, but the dogs and our daughter can not get in there unless one of us is in there. Also, the dogs are used to small animals, from the years of rescue. They show very little interest in them, and that's usually only when they first come in. I'm trying to get everything set back up, since I haven't had small animals in 2yrs. The good thing is that I'm not a novice, so I know how to do it....it's just getting it done.

The reason I said that it wouldn't be long before we'll have Guinea Pigs again is because I had let it be known that I would consider bringing them in again for fostering. I was just told this morning of a lady who has 2 that her daughter's have gotten bored with (typical) and she's wanting "rid" of them with their cage. I'm going to call her in a little while and find out the details. I had told everyone to give me time to get everything set back up, but from what I was told, if we didn't find someone that could take them immediately, she was going to just advertise "Free Guinea Pigs" and let them go to the first person that contacted her. Needless to say, I'm going to call her, get the details, and, if necessary, I have an extra cage they can stay in until the big one is ready. I seriously doubt, based on what I heard, that they're in a good enclosure. I'm expecting them to be in nothing bigger than what any of us would call a travel cage/litter box cage.

Anyway, I'm sorry for rambling! I am so excited to have found you all. This site is extremely informative and I look forward to getting to know everyone!

~Michelle~