Mo & Stubbins & Vani
Adult Guinea Pig
- Joined
- May 27, 2020
- Messages
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I thought I would post Vani's story in honor of how much she went through before meeting me! 
Back in December, it had been two months since adopting my two little piggies, Sergeant Mo Peppers and Lieutenant Stubbins Wiggles. We were visiting a local feed and tack store to pick up hay and a new hidey for the guinea pigs. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a small, glass box with small air holes on the top. There was a guinea pig inside, fearful, hiding. I asked how long the piggy had been in such a small place. The clerk stated that a couple of months prior, someone had come in, decided that they liked the little piggy's sister, not her, and decided to leave her there alone. I was upset at the clerk for allowing such a thing to happen but was more upset at the person/people who decided that it was a good idea to tear apart two heavily bonded piggies (apparently they had been together their whole lives). I was also infuriated that such a small glass enclosure had once been home to two piggies, not just one. I looked inside her enclosure to find that she barely had any hay, and the food that she did have was poor quality and mostly crumbly little bits. Her water was not filled very high and the bottle appeared to have not been cleaned for a while. She was on wood shavings. Based on the clerk's lack of guinea pig knowledge, I assumed that she was probably on cedar or pine. They had, however, instead of nutritious food, put a lot of unhealthy treats and painted toys in the enclosure. The hidey was not very closed off, either, and she looked petrified.
I knew I had to help her.
I asked to hold her and immediately realized that she was underweight. My mom (who loves all animals), and I, decided to take her home.
The car ride was very stressful, and I could tell that she was far from tame and had likely been improperly handled by customers of the store. Guinea pigs are living, breathing creatures! They are not just supposed to be involuntarily held for amusement or store advertisement!
When we arrived home, I introduced her to my piggies, and the most amazing thing happened. She started wheeking and zooming around her new closure (which takes up my entire room). She was so happy to finally have contact with other piggies! It was so sad that I wanted to cry! She also tried veggies for the first time that night and became obsessed with carrots!
She immediately turned from depressed and lethargic to over the moon! She was very verbal for hours and hours and my piggies love her right off the bat! They even ended up snuggling together under a hidey pocket together.
Although the story has a happy ending, it has been a rough road.
Over the next couple of days, we began to realize that she had suffered a lot before we picked her up from the store.
I let her acclimate for quite a bit of time, but when it came time to do a health check, I was not ready for what came next. When we were finally able to pick her up, she would screech, bite, scratch, and do anything to escape. She was always super scared of people's hands, which broke my heart.
But now...
It has been six months and we are on the road to rehabilitation!
She will let me scratch her under the chin and on the head!
She no longer bites.
She is still extremely scared of tall people (but I'm short, so everything is working out!)
She will let me hand feed her.
She jumps onto my lap for pets.
She wheeks for veggies (when we first got her, she only ate carrots!)
She has become a sweet, gentle, and loving piggie.
And best of all...
She went from under a pound to 2.4 pounds! Yay!
It hasn't been easy, but rescuing her has been a highlight of my life. I use her story to educate people about the importance of proper piggy care. Every day, I wake up and spend hours doing "piggy therapy" so that she can reach her full piggy potential.
I am happy to report that Commander Vani Waddles is a survivor and is one strong guinea pig! I am proud to call myself her owner!
Here are some before and after photos plus some contributions to FOF!
Wrapped in the blue jacket is when we got her.
Back in December, it had been two months since adopting my two little piggies, Sergeant Mo Peppers and Lieutenant Stubbins Wiggles. We were visiting a local feed and tack store to pick up hay and a new hidey for the guinea pigs. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a small, glass box with small air holes on the top. There was a guinea pig inside, fearful, hiding. I asked how long the piggy had been in such a small place. The clerk stated that a couple of months prior, someone had come in, decided that they liked the little piggy's sister, not her, and decided to leave her there alone. I was upset at the clerk for allowing such a thing to happen but was more upset at the person/people who decided that it was a good idea to tear apart two heavily bonded piggies (apparently they had been together their whole lives). I was also infuriated that such a small glass enclosure had once been home to two piggies, not just one. I looked inside her enclosure to find that she barely had any hay, and the food that she did have was poor quality and mostly crumbly little bits. Her water was not filled very high and the bottle appeared to have not been cleaned for a while. She was on wood shavings. Based on the clerk's lack of guinea pig knowledge, I assumed that she was probably on cedar or pine. They had, however, instead of nutritious food, put a lot of unhealthy treats and painted toys in the enclosure. The hidey was not very closed off, either, and she looked petrified.
I knew I had to help her.
I asked to hold her and immediately realized that she was underweight. My mom (who loves all animals), and I, decided to take her home.
The car ride was very stressful, and I could tell that she was far from tame and had likely been improperly handled by customers of the store. Guinea pigs are living, breathing creatures! They are not just supposed to be involuntarily held for amusement or store advertisement!
When we arrived home, I introduced her to my piggies, and the most amazing thing happened. She started wheeking and zooming around her new closure (which takes up my entire room). She was so happy to finally have contact with other piggies! It was so sad that I wanted to cry! She also tried veggies for the first time that night and became obsessed with carrots!
She immediately turned from depressed and lethargic to over the moon! She was very verbal for hours and hours and my piggies love her right off the bat! They even ended up snuggling together under a hidey pocket together.
Although the story has a happy ending, it has been a rough road.
Over the next couple of days, we began to realize that she had suffered a lot before we picked her up from the store.
I let her acclimate for quite a bit of time, but when it came time to do a health check, I was not ready for what came next. When we were finally able to pick her up, she would screech, bite, scratch, and do anything to escape. She was always super scared of people's hands, which broke my heart.
But now...
It has been six months and we are on the road to rehabilitation!
She will let me scratch her under the chin and on the head!
She no longer bites.
She is still extremely scared of tall people (but I'm short, so everything is working out!)
She will let me hand feed her.
She jumps onto my lap for pets.
She wheeks for veggies (when we first got her, she only ate carrots!)
She has become a sweet, gentle, and loving piggie.
And best of all...
She went from under a pound to 2.4 pounds! Yay!
It hasn't been easy, but rescuing her has been a highlight of my life. I use her story to educate people about the importance of proper piggy care. Every day, I wake up and spend hours doing "piggy therapy" so that she can reach her full piggy potential.
I am happy to report that Commander Vani Waddles is a survivor and is one strong guinea pig! I am proud to call myself her owner!
Here are some before and after photos plus some contributions to FOF!
Wrapped in the blue jacket is when we got her.
. Thank you for saving her it’s a lovely thing to read & just made me feel so happy inside. I’m sure she’s forever grateful to find her loving owner in you & some piggy friends for life, beautiful 
X
Go you for taking her from that horrible situation! What a little fighter she is bless her! Hope you all have great fun together now like you all deserve!
x