How Did You Get Your First Guinea Pig?

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PachaPigg

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I love everyones' piggy stories, how did you get your first guinea pig? A pet store, present, rescue, or other? I love animals but had never owned piggies until some years ago. It all started when was coming home to my apartment one hot, sunny day, and saw what I thought was a cardboard box by the side of the road, near my building. As I got closer, I could see it was a completely FILTHY fish tank. I figured that if I let it sit on the sidewalk, would only be a matter of time until it got broken and there would be glass all over, so I went to pick it up and put it in the trash, AND.... saw there was somebody inside! A little albino guinea pig, who looked scared out of his wits. There was a water bottle, too, but as it was on its side in the tank and full of green scum, obviously of no use to the little one on such a hot day. Well, I stood for a few minutes, a police officer friend of mine came by in his squad car, asked if he should call Animal Control. I said no, they'd just have it put down, I'd try to find a home or a rescue. Tried to give it away to 5 different people before I got home; never had a pig, I "knew" they were stupid, "knew" they just popped out babies (obviously at this point I hadn't taken a good look at the pig!). Got him in the apartment and knew I'd have to clean that horrible dirty tank, so I picked piggy up, sat down, and looked him over to make sure he wasn't wounded, etc. Well! At this point piggy yawned a HUGE yawn, snuggled down on my lap, and went to sleep. Needless to say, my heart melted and, like the old nursery rhyme, "This little piggy stayed home!" By the end of the day he had a cage, food, a vet appointment scheduled for the next week, and was my bestest friend. I hate to think what I'd say to the person who left him outside, and I hate to think what could've happened had I not found him (esp. as my apartment building is RIGHT next to a very busy freight train track), but as it turned out, Jellybean started me off on many happy years of having piggy friends.
 
My husband had a friend at work who had a single guinea pig who's children had got bored of her. I offered to adopt Connie and she came to live with us. It wasn't long until I realised she needed a companion so two days later I brought Eliza. That was nearly 8 years ago and piggies have been part of my life ever since.
 
my first piggy was chesney. BARC posted on the rabbit forum about a piggy up for adoption and it was love at first sight. i asked immediately to adopt him, sent them a pm to ask aswell, and then posted on the thread again to say i'd sent a pm! :)) i just knew he was meant for me :luv:
 
My first guinea pig, as the mother of them, was two beautiful boars named Gilbert and Ludwig which I got from Jollyes the pet shop. I had always wanted a guinea pig after my brothers piggie died many years ago when I was a young child.

Which moves to the story of Itchy, my brothers guinea pig. Itchy was a beautiful white boar with red eyes and a long skirt. He had himi markings. He was a beautiful boy. I recall my brother phoning my mum up and asking her if he could have a hamster. She said no but he managed to talk her around. He came home carriyng a cardboard box with Itchy inside. Mum took one look and instantly knew that was 'not' a hamster. Itchy lived till about 9-10 years of age. When he died I begged for another one but sadly I was not allowed. It was only when I hit my 20th that mum said to me, if I still wanted a guinea pig I was allowed, and thats how it returns to the story above of Gilbert and Ludwig. =)
 
I looked after my first pigs for a friend over winter as she was struggling for time due to a new baby. I eventually adopted them :)
 
Was given a guinea pig cage that I was gonna adapt into a hamster cage.Went in pet shop to get supplies for other animals and there was a dozen guinea pigs in a pretty small space that had been brought in for rehoming.Ended up taking two home with me
 
A good few years ago, My sisters school friend had a Guinea pig he didn't want anymore. "Snowball" I asked my parents if I could have him. They said they weren't sure, i would have to go and do some research. I went to the library and read up on guinea pigs. I told my parents all about them. I also told a white lie that snowball was litter trained and wouldn't wet or mess on the floor when out his cage. And the funny thing was, he never did wet the floor. ;) He arrived in a tiny cage (about the size of a hamster cage) and my sisters friend placed him on our livingroom table. Everyone just stared at him. I think my dad was thinking of a hamster and snowball was a big boy. Lol. We got him a bigger cage and used his old cage as a litter box for when he had floor time. He used to roam about our hallway and my bedroom and my Sisters bedroom for hours in the evening. He was a pig in a million. ;)
 
These are such lovely stories! only had my boys for a month for the first one (last one left in pet shop) - and a week for the second (rescued from a rabbit hutch) and although it has been a bumpy start I am enjoying them now I am getting used to their needs and he day to day routine (chopping broccoli at 6.30am before work and school run!) although I doubt they are going to long term bond with each other (six months and one year each) I love them both to bits.
 
My brother was living with his by then-girlfriend and they had quite a few animals. I don't remember exactly what happened but it was something like some member of her family couldn't stand rodents so... my brother brought Lupo to me and he just stood with us :nod:
 
I got my 1st piggy Silky a very long time ago - she was the school pet at my primary school,but they decided not to have pets anymore and as my mum worked at the school the piggy came home with us for the holidays and never went back :nod:
 
@PachaPigg that's a shocking story with a very heart-warming end. Some people make me mad! Good on you :)

@Julesie my husband's first pet (apart from the family dog) was a gerbil. He arrived home one day (as a boy) and said "Mum can I have a Gerbil?" She replied that she'd have to see...., and he promptly took this little baby gerbil (runt from a friend's litter) out of his bicycle carry-box and showed his Mum. The little Gerbil stayed and was well loved :)

I've had several lovely rodent pets. My first piggy was Shadow. She was the 'pet' of my boss's next door neighbour. She (Shadow) had once had a friend and an indoor cage, but when the friend died the family lost interest in her as she had never been the favourite. She didn't even have a name. She was a 'chore' who existed in a tiny hutch in the garden and had hay and pellets, a carrot once a week and according to my boss wasn't cleaned out often. Boss knew that I was planning on getting piggies so asked her neighbour if I could take her off their hands and they readily agreed, so she came to live with us, indoors in a large home-built cage with fleece and hay loft, tunnels and hidies, fresh veggies and best of all, a young companion :) She had recurring health issues though and didn't make it to old age sadly, but she will always have a special place in our hearts.
My first experience of guinea pigs was from a neighbour of my Aunt, who invited me round to see their piggies. I was probably aged 6 or 7, I really don't know now. They placed a placid white and ginger mad-haired piggy on my lap on a towel, and I was absolutely smitten. The neighbour's daughter held the other one, and there we both sat for a while loving the piggies :)
 
I was given my first pair as present by my Nan for my third birthday. These two 'healthy plump' females quickly became 8 ;) . That was nearly 29 years ago and I've been keeping piggies ever since :). And I'm still learning about them all the while so you can never think you know it all lol!
 
My first guinea pig was around 15 years ago when the children were younger. Fudge and ripple bought from a pet shop. Ripple was not fond of anyone and fought badly with ripple so had to be separated. When ripple had floor time she would allow fuss for about a minute and if we didnt stop would get back in her cage waiting for the lid to go on. She lived to 10 years of age. Fudge was placid and easy going. Last year i adopted flake from a pet shop but was shy and lonely on her own so got her a friend from a local rescue. I love their personalies but some think it odd that an adult chooses a piggy for a pet instead of a cat or dog. Cats are great, dont get me wrong i had one until autumn last year when she had cancer and still miss her. I cant face having another cat, but have fallen for my two girls now.
 
I came home from work and my husband said there is something for you in the bedroom:eek: and there was Edward :D.We had never even thought about guinea pigs but he had gone to the local pet shop and saw him alone so bent down to talk to him and Edward started popcorning and the deed was done. Now we have lovely Edward and Mrs Simpson and have recently lost our wonderful Cousin Amelia
 
I begged my Mum to have a pet for months and months. I was about ten at the time, and wasn't even aware that guinea pigs existed x3 After Mum researched, she thought that a guinea pig would be best for me (and she got another one, as they lived in pairs and my six year old brother wanted one too) So that's when I got little Rosie, who lived until nearly nine, and Nibbles, who lived until she was six. They were from Pets At Home ( I was extremely lucky with them, all my other pigs from Pets at Home have had health issues and died young, never getting an animal from there again!) And They were so much fun x3 I'm sure I'm going to own these little guys for most of my life ahead!
 
Critter said:
@PachaPigg that's a shocking story with a very heart-warming end. Some people make me mad! Good on you :)

@Julesie my husband's first pet (apart from the family dog) was a gerbil. He arrived home one day (as a boy) and said "Mum can I have a Gerbil?" She replied that she'd have to see...., and he promptly took this little baby gerbil (runt from a friend's litter) out of his bicycle carry-box and showed his Mum. The little Gerbil stayed and was well loved :)
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How sweet! Itchy was from a market stall, he was with another called Scratchy, named so from the Simpsons but my brother only took Itchy. He was a bit too young and it wasn't known back then to keep them in pairs. Itchy was a house guinea pig with only a box for litter -he taught himself. :)
 
I whent to the petstore to buy hamster food and I saw George pretty shiny little pig with gorgeous black fur but was horrible because they had her in with a rabbit so anyway I took one look and my dad saw I was hooked and he bought her for me as a surprise the next day.
 
I must have been about 12, and I'd been to Pizza Hut with my parents and brother, who'd have been about 6. After the meal I asked to have a look in Pets at Home where I spotted a really cute piggy. I harped on and on for the next 24 hours to get this pig (who I'd already named Charlie). My parents gave in, so we went back and thankfully he was still there. My brother picked a friend for Charlie, who we called Oscar. He was my brother's pig, however due to my brother only being little I looked after both of them.
 
I took my Guides for a tour of Pets At Home (no rescue centres near) as part of one the badges they were doing. Only my eldest daughter Chloé is a Guide :doh: She held Rocky (in my profile picture) and was smitten. She phoned her Dad while we were there to 'tell' him she was getting one lol! I wouldn't let her.
Once home we talked it over, it was the topic of conversation for the week. I researched cages, food etc and then made the leap. We popped back and she was still there, my 9 year old chose a playmate for her and named her Cee-Cee (they were fans of Disney's Shake It Up!) That was only 5 weeks ago but we are all smitten, everyone mucks in.
My husband spoils them rotten with cuddles etc.

Unfortunately we lost Rocky a week ago :bye: She mysteriously died and her sister Cee-Cee is lonely without her. We are collecting 2 new additions tomorrow, I just hope Cee-Cee bonds with one of them
 
Good luck Cee-Cee, with the bonding. I'm very sorry that Rocky left so soon. xx
 
When I was at my friends house I was very interested in her hamster, I thought he was so sweet. When I went home I thought that it would be nice to have a hamster. So I researched them for a day or so. I then found out that they only lived for a few years and I decided that I wanted a pet that could live longer then that, that I could have as a companion. So I then looked into rabbits but I decided that they were two big and I wanted a small little buddy. So I thought what is smaller then a rabbit and bigger then a hamster. A guinea pig. After doing some research I decided that a guinea pig was for me. So I researched them for about four months making sure I knew everything about them and stocking up in what might come in handy. I had my cage set up and I went into the pet shop looking for water bottles. I was planning on getting my piggies the week after that. But I saw two of the most gorgeous little sow in the same cage as a rabbit. I knew that guinea pigs and rabbits shouldn't mix and I also knew that you shouldn't buy guinea pigs from a pet shop and I was planning to adopt. But I had to get them. I couldn't just walk out of that shop seeing them huddled in a corner with a rabbit taking over their space. Anyway when I was putting them into a carrier filled with hay, I asked the shopkeeper some questions and she said 'I dunno' after most of them not knowing anything about piggies. It was then that I realised I was doing the right thing taking the piggies away from her. I brought them home and I instantly fell in love. It took me two weeks to name them as I wanted the perfect names for the perfect piggies. I came up with the names Cookie and Beano. Cookie for the abysinnian and Beano for the short haired. That was more then two years ago now and I'm still loving being a piggy mum. Now I have Cookie, Beano, Peaches and Smudge.
 
My first guinea pig was a class pet as a child. Her name was Caramel. She lived in our grade two class and actually belonged to the teacher. The teacher was a friend of my mom's and so I got to keep Caramel for several summers. The teacher originally intended to keep her herself, but her husband turned out to be very allergic to guinea pigs! I actually grew up with a lot of small animals... mice, rats, a gerbil, turtles, and finally when I was in my late teens I started keeping hedgehogs. I got my first at 17 or 18 and kept three over the next twelve years... by the end of that time I was married with three kids and my life had changed a lot. Our last hedgehog was a rescue from neglect and she really didn't like people. My kids would try to interact with her, but she was really hostile. Because we had the three kids, we decided no more pointy hedgehogs, we would find something else instead. We decided to get guinea pigs because they had the potential to live for several years and because I had good memories of Caramel being very tolerant of kids from my own childhood. We got our original two pigs, Linney and Frenzy, from Santa for Christmas. They were great... I can see us keeping guinea pigs for a long time to come.
 
They were my Christmas present off my bro. I'd wanted a new pet for ages, after my fish died in summer. I knew someone with a pig and had researched them after I'd met and had a cuddle. My friend has rabbits, so I researched them too, as well as hamsters. I was all set to even think about getting another fish.
So I had the surprise of my life when a cage shaped wrapped present appeared, with more strange parcels (containing bag of food, woodshavings and treat bars). Mum thought he was getting a hamster cage so was not exactly impressed when he brought it home on Christmas Eve with plans to get me two pigs after Christmas (he wanted me to pick the ones I wanted). I did lots of research over the next couple of days and we went to Pets at Home the weekend following Christmas. It took me so long to choose as I felt so bad picking based just on what they look like. Fudge was the first one I chose, I loved the fact she was all one colour & almost camoflaged against the wood shavings. She was also the biggest and oldest at 14 weeks so I wonder if she was overlooked because of her age/size. I named her instantly. I picked Biscuit based on the fact that she looked so cute nestled in the hay box and I could just see the top of her head with a pink bit on one ear. It took a bit longer to name her but she was named by the time we got home.

We're 19 weeks in now and I'm constantly learning and loving this experience. I love their different personalities, Fudge is the boss and generally quieter and likes to potter around. I was such a proud mum when she started wheeking for her veg, she even wheeks now when there are no nuggets left or when she thinks there is insufficent hay! Biscuit is crazy pig, definitely the explorer of the two and the odd day when we let them out the pen, she ends up sat behind the sofa playing hide and seek. We should have known she was one to watch as she tried chewing out her box before we'd even left the shop! They're both sulking I think now as I took their new extendable bendy tunnel out as someone has chewed a hole in it. As you can tell, I'm hooked on these piggies!
 
I got my very first guinea pig from the boy who lived next door. One of his females had had babies. I wanted a piggie to be a companion for my rabbit. (We didn't know then that rabbits shouldn't live with piggies.) Anyway, my bunny and new piggie lived together with no problems for three years until my bunny died from Myxomatosis.
 
I had to do a LOT of convincing before my Mum & Dad let me get my boys, Freddie and Ringo.

It started off as a firm "no", but I persisted. I saved up my money and made spreadsheets of how much they would cost to look after, and how I'd pay for them!

Six months later, I was allowed to get them - on the condition that one was ginger! :))

And once you've got two piggies, what's another six?:))
 
Here is my story:

My partner was never allowed pets growing up and in the 8th grade they had a class pet rat and ever since then he wanted one. He shared that story with me a couple years ago and I told him that I was okay with a rat (I really wasn't, but he's always been supportive of my needs and ideas) so we went to the pet store. While at the pet store he was holding a rat and it was just squirming all over him and then I suggested why not hold a guinea pig. He held a guinea pig and fell in love and that was the end...Did some research and found out that they need to be in pairs so we bought another one.

Three months later our first piggie grew a lump on her throat so we took her to the vet and they suggested surgery (bill of $600 USD) unfortunately she didn't survive. Did more research and found out about Guinea Pig Shelters (never knew they existed) and got a friend for our survivor and saw all the guinea pigs that needed homes so we expanded our cage...and kept adopting ever since. We now have 6 girls.
 
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