Ahh, guinea pigs - the perfect pet for children (and their responsible parent of course).
We have a pretty constant stream of children through our house, and most of them adore the guinea pigs.
Today was no exception - the girls had friends over to play and it was all going well.
Until one of their friends came to find me.
She looked upset, and asked to speak to me 'in private'.
I braced myself for a tale of woe about being left out of a game or name calling.
I took her to the kitchen, where she quietly said that sadly one of our guinea pigs had died.
She looked like she was about to burst into tears as she revealed that on her way to the toilet she had popped in to say hello to the guinea pigs, and that was when she noticed that one of them was dead.
I told her I was sure they were fine, but she was adamant - Ruby was laying totally still in the cage and not moving at all.
Ruby was dead.
I tried to reassure her, and we went over to the cage so she could show me poor dead Ruby.
And this is the sight I was greeted with.

Let's just say that a small rustling of a plastic bag and Ruby was instantly revived, and our small house guest was deeply relieved (although possibly also traumatised for life).
Ahh guinea pigs - never a dull moment.
We have a pretty constant stream of children through our house, and most of them adore the guinea pigs.
Today was no exception - the girls had friends over to play and it was all going well.
Until one of their friends came to find me.
She looked upset, and asked to speak to me 'in private'.
I braced myself for a tale of woe about being left out of a game or name calling.
I took her to the kitchen, where she quietly said that sadly one of our guinea pigs had died.
She looked like she was about to burst into tears as she revealed that on her way to the toilet she had popped in to say hello to the guinea pigs, and that was when she noticed that one of them was dead.
I told her I was sure they were fine, but she was adamant - Ruby was laying totally still in the cage and not moving at all.
Ruby was dead.
I tried to reassure her, and we went over to the cage so she could show me poor dead Ruby.
And this is the sight I was greeted with.

Let's just say that a small rustling of a plastic bag and Ruby was instantly revived, and our small house guest was deeply relieved (although possibly also traumatised for life).
Ahh guinea pigs - never a dull moment.