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Not That I'm Looking For Validation But....

I definitely have a rep as the 'crazy guinea pig lady.' It doesn't really bother me, though. I feel like a lot of people don't appreciate guinea pigs as pets... but they're just wrong! LOL!
 
To be honest I think this isn't something specific only to piggies.
When I had dogs I always got endless questions and quizzical looks from my 'non dog' friends.
-Why do you always take on the old ones?
-Why don't you just get a puppy?
-Why do you have so many?
- Why don't you get something cuter?
- Why do you spend so much at the vet? Surely it's cheaper to have them pts and just get another one with less problems (needless to say after that particular comment that person was no longer on my Christmas card list!).

I guess what I am saying is some people get it and some people don't.
I personally don't get people who collect antique china - what's the point - but I do know someone who does, and it gives them a lot of pleasure (plus the vet bills are lower then for rescue dogs or piggies so maybe she is onto something :))).
 
I've said this in the previous page but I'm going to repeat myself :
Thank you all for taking the time to write a few lines and share your experiences , reading all this helped me , it truly did!
Also helps to keep me busy whilst I'm working and miss the piggies ...

Yesterday I held and cuddled them both for the very first time after almost 2 weeks , I have no words to express how great that felt.
 
My dad came to see me before, and the first thing he wanted to see, was the guinea pigs, lol. He then saw my hamster, and wanted to pick her up. People at work ask me about my piggies, my colleagues, and my disabled service users. My piggies have fans :)
 
My partners mother said to me one day "with your immune system problems is it really a good idea for to have guinea pigs with all their germs". I really had to hold back from telling her that I would have more of a chance catching something from her. I also get the "but don't they smell" comment a lot.
 
carrie anne said:
My dad came to see me before, and the first thing he wanted to see, was the guinea pigs, lol. He then saw my hamster, and wanted to pick her up. People at work ask me about my piggies, my colleagues, and my disabled service users. My piggies have fans :)
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Always good to know!
 
Another member of the "crazy pig lady" club here. I have a bit of a rep locally for rescuing animals of all kinds, if people find some limpy, sickly looking creature, it usually ends up at my door so I don't think it shocked anyone when I took on my boys in a similar fashion, but it was a surprise to me to hear from my VET that I am one of TWO people on their books who bother to bring in rodents for care. The vet nurse actually told me the only time they see rodents of any kind is when people want them put to sleep. There is a reason I prefer animals to people, sadly.
 
Thankfully my dad has been converted and is her food slave and when I was away on holiday and squeak had to go into boarding for 11 days (much to his protest) . he said how strange it was not having her demanding food everything he went upstairs. Other people may not understand my level of care and why she has such a big cage but they accept it.
 
Of course for me I'd prefer this instead of your guinea pig mug.

IMG_0014.webp
 
I'm totally buying myself the rat mug next month, I would say now but the rats have stolen my "treat budget" for august the sweet little devils.
Tonto needing a small trip to the vet didn't exactly help!

Still they are loving all the new tunnels and ropes in the cages, and the awesome new veggie shaped veggie bowls. They know I love them, I'm last on the list of priorities!
 
I have always been classed as odd or strange, for my love of Star Trek (Dr McCoy), hamsters, writing, dragons, fantasy RPG and gaming (I hve bought a Nintendo Switch, three weeks ago). I have never done what others my age should be doing, and I never will. I follow my own path in life, and it doesn't harm others. So I don't give a damn what others think or say.

I kept hamsters for about 30 years. I got used to the remarks from others like 'it's only a hamster just get another one' (after my vet visit with a poorly hammy) or odd looks because it wasn't a dog or a cat. Now so many people have said so many things that I don't care. I loved each and every hamster I ever cared for, and I much prefer animals to humans!

I no longer have Hammies, having moved over completely to piggies because 7 is enough! But even the young people I work with ask me how my piggies are, and some school staff, and even my work colleagues and line manager. I was even mentioned in the Christmas lunch quiz last year for the 'staff member who took in two homeless Guinea pigs'.

My OH is as mad about piggies as I am, and actually he is far worse! They all have him wrapped around their little paws...we are happy with the fluff balls, and my mother was happy yesterday, feeding them greens through the bards of the C&C grids.
 
Flamestriker said:
I have always been classed as odd or strange, for my love of Star Trek (Dr McCoy), hamsters, writing, dragons, fantasy RPG and gaming (I hve bought a Nintendo Switch, three weeks ago). I have never done what others my age should be doing, and I never will. I follow my own path in life, and it doesn't harm others. So I don't give a damn what others think or say.

I kept hamsters for about 30 years. I got used to the remarks from others like 'it's only a hamster just get another one' (after my vet visit with a poorly hammy) or odd looks because it wasn't a dog or a cat. Now so many people have said so many things that I don't care. I loved each and every hamster I ever cared for, and I much prefer animals to humans!

I no longer have Hammies, having moved over completely to piggies because 7 is enough! But even the young people I work with ask me how my piggies are, and some school staff, and even my work colleagues and line manager. I was even mentioned in the Christmas lunch quiz last year for the 'staff member who took in two homeless Guinea pigs'.

My OH is as mad about piggies as I am, and actually he is far worse! They all have him wrapped around their little paws...we are happy with the fluff balls, and my mother was happy yesterday, feeding them greens through the bards of the C&C grids.
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I don't think you are strange @Flamestriker , I think you are lovely and I always enjoy update threads on your guinea pig tribe.
 
IMG_0520.webp IMG_0519.webp

These two wonderful piggies validate my choice every minute I spend with them .... :)

Please excuse the fleece mess , it has been changed right after these pics were taken .
 
Even if the fleece had just been changed you can guarantee it would be pooped in before you got to take a picture. A guinea pig picture without poo just seems less authentic somehow (unless they are being posed).

They love to have their owners embarrassedly appologizing for poo and general mess, you wait until a friend visits and they wheek like you have not fed them in days!
 
Squeakz said:
They love to have their owners embarrassedly appologizing for poo and general mess, you wait until a friend visits and they wheek like you have not fed them in days!
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I'm still waiting for my neighbour to ask why I'm clearly not feeding them with the amount of noise they make :)) (no, not THAT neighbour).

As for photos without poop, I can usually get those on my sofa, because they always poop in the corner and it goes down the back of the sofa seat for me to discover much, much later.

I think my parents are actually looking forward to meeting the boys later this year. They'll never admit to that, of course. But I just know...I've certainly talked about them enough!
 
Well i think its a given we get thought of as odd and more so when your work colleagues know you've bought a cctv system to ensure their safety!

frankly, I don't care. I don't have kids so this is my mothering instinct kicking in. I don't apologise, I just am.

If anything, their faces are delightful if they see a video of mine running around, they think it's cute.
 
Squeakz said:
@Lorcan how is "THAT" neighbor lately?
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I'm going into respite again at the end of the week, and I've barely been back home two weeks lol. And I'll be back daily to feed the boys because I don't care how ridiculous it sounds "sure I'm only home to feed the guinea pigs"
 
Lorcan said:
I'm going into respite again at the end of the week, and I've barely been back home two weeks lol. And I'll be back daily to feed the boys because I don't care how ridiculous it sounds "sure I'm only home to feed the guinea pigs"
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I wondered why you'd been quieter than usual since back from your "adventure".
 
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