Better late than never

It's occurred to me that I never properly introduced myself or my piggies upon joining to forum. I've been waiting to have some stellar recent photos to start out with, but it doesn't seem like I'm going to get those any time soon, so here goes a long and rambling tale.

My name is Alyssa, and I'm somewhat new to keeping guinea pigs. We had one when I was a kid. He lived for 6 years in (retrospectively) terrible conditions. As a kid I didn't know any better, and my parents didn't know any better, either. I liked him but never really got to see what great pets they can be. I can't tell you how many times I've wished I could go back, knowing what I know now. Nibbles deserved better.

Now, many years later, I've been much more a dog and cat person. I still have cats, but can't have any dogs right now. So last fall I started thinking about getting a guinea pig again. I thought it would be a cute, fun, low-maintenance (haha--boy was I in for a surprise) pet. My guy, Matt, was bitten as a kid and said "No way."

Then within a month or so, a client comes into my animal hospital with a piggy she thinks is pregnant. A quick ultrasound confirmed it. She had recently adopted a companion for her female, and was told that it, too, was female. Obviously he wasn't... I told her that I would be interested in adopting one of the babies. She called a few weeks later and informed us that her girl had on over-sized still-born baby. She asked if I'd be interested in the male, because he was lovesick and distraught, trying to break down the divider she'd installed. I went over to meet him the next day and went home and showed Matt some pictures of the most handsome little pig ever. Needless to say, I went back the next day and brought Chiyo home. We were both absolutely smitten with this gorgeous little long-haired calico (which I now know to be a Silky/Sheltie). I am still struck by how CUTE he is!

The previous owner had some extra grids she gave to me because I hadn't had time to go buy a cage. With those, I built a triangle with two sides being 4 grids and and one side with 2. I always want to do right by my pets, so I began researching optimal care for piggies. Inevitably this site came up. I realized my little dude needed a much bigger house and a friend. I bought more grids and upgraded to Coroplast from an old shower curtain. I built him a much bigger house: a 2x4 with a 2x3 upper level, which I had to move out of the bedroom and into the main part of the house. He turned into a different pig!! He started popcorning and coming up to the side of cage when someone walked by, instead of hiding. It was incredible to see that instant transformation. He was suddenly more interactive and lovable!

Then, as if by fate, I found a rescuer only a couple hours away who had a litter of 3 week old boys to place. We talked for a week and then I went and got my new little boy, Koji. He's the only other boy ever who can contend for "cutest piggy." (Sorry, I know everyone's got the cutest piggy. ) After quarantine, I introduced the boys in my bath tub. It only took a few minutes to see that they were going to be best buds. It took 3 or 4 hours to baby-proof "the big house"!! But I could not be happier with our little family. Oh, and Matt is won over too. Who can say no to those cute little lips, wheeking for veggies all blessed day?

A couple of Koji's baby pictures (he's a few months older and much bigger now), and one "incarnation" of the big house, during a construction phase, with Chiyo.