When did you become a guinea pig slave?

[PiggyPoo]

Hi,

I joined this forum about a week ago when I got my two girls. I’ve had some great advice from here and just wanting to get to know you guys a bit better. So,...

When did you become a gp slave?
What circumstances lead you to becoming a gp slave?
How many gp’s do you have now?
How many gp’s have you had in total? (Or too many to count?!).

I’d love to hear your stories (and pics would be great) Here’s my girls below.

 

[Gem789]

I got my 1st Guinea pigs about 11 years ago when I was 19.I really wanted a rabbit but my mum said no to that so I decided on 2 piggies instead.Id never thought about having pigs and i didn’t know anything about them.My love affair started from then, at one point I only had one as I didn’t know they had to have company and I know have 8 lol.A little over my limit but I’m obsessed with the little things.

 

[Gem789]

I’ve had 11 altogether including my current 8.

 

[sport_billy]

We became slaves in 2006 to the two girls in the photo Pitch and Putt.

@Mrs Sport_Billy really wanted them, i took some persuading - When they arrive on 18th August 2006 i was hooked in 30 seconds
We have two girls now Widget (4.5) and Chickapea (1)
Over the time we have had
Pitch and Putt
Cookie and Treacle and a single special needs pig Megan
Cookie then had two new friends in Vimto and Sarsaparilla
Then Widget joined
and now we are left with Widget and her new friend Chickpea

So in total 9 piggies. The most we had a one time was a herd of four

I joined here in 2009 and learned so much and still do.

 

[sport_billy]

Your girls are lush

 

[PiggyPoo]

We became slaves in 2006 to the two girls in the photo Pitch and Putt.

@Mrs Sport_Billy really wanted them, i took some persuading - When they arrive on 18th August 2006 i was hooked in 30 seconds
We have two girls now Widget (4.5) and Chickapea (1)
Over the time we have had
Pitch and Putt
Cookie and Treacle and a single special needs pig Megan
Cookie then had two new friends in Vimto and Sarsaparilla
Then Widget joined
and now we are left with Widget and her new friend Chickpea

So in total 9 piggies. The most we had a one time was a herd of four

I joined here in 2009 and learned so much and still do.

Sounds like my partner who wasn’t overly keen on the idea at first but now they’re here he said “I’m glad we’ve got them” ... If you cant beat them, join them

 

[PiggyPoo]

Your girls are lush

Thank you

 

[PiggyPoo]

I got my 1st Guinea pigs about 11 years ago when I was 19.I really wanted a rabbit but my mum said no to that so I decided on 2 piggies instead.Id never thought about having pigs and i didn’t know anything about them.My love affair started from then, at one point I only had one as I didn’t know they had to have company and I know have 8 lol.A little over my limit but I’m obsessed with the little things.

Awww lovely story! If I had the room, I could see us having more! Maybe we will just move house

 

[Sonnet]

Became a slave in 2003 to Cinnamon and Nutmeg. Saw them and wanted them, basically, after doing research on the care/food they needed. Currently have two guinea pigs. Pigs I’ve had so far are:
Cinnamon & Nutmeg
Almond & Conker
Chutney & Radish
Pickle & Pepper
Sprout (who now lives with Chutney)
So 9 guinea pigs all together.

 

[PiggyPoo]

Became a slave in 2003 to Cinnamon and Nutmeg. Saw them and wanted them, basically, after doing research on the care/food they needed. Currently have two guinea pigs. Pigs I’ve had so far are:
Cinnamon & Nutmeg
Almond & Conker
Chutney & Radish
Pickle & Pepper
Sprout (who now lives with Chutney)
So 9 guinea pigs all together.

I’m noticing a pattern here! Everyone ends up with more!

I remember the post about Sprout - The guinea pig who thinks it’s a dog xx

 

[Sonnet]

I’m noticing a pattern here! Everyone ends up with more!

I remember the post about Sprout - The guinea pig who thinks it’s a dog xx

Yep, that’s him! He’s still doing it. Having guinea pigs is addictive - you can’t really stop after you’ve owned a few!

 

[Seven7]

My Finn is about 7 months old and I have had him since he was a baby. He has always been the center of my attention as he stays in the center of the house in a cage.

I joined this forum after I was given Lara, a friend’s unwanted piggy. I have Finn but I also have 7 hamsters who all live in separate cages. This friend decided I was best fit to be Lara’s pet parent. I got Lara a little over a month ago from this friend.

I originally planned on getting another boy to house together with my Finn when my Finn was a bit older, but now I have Lara in another cage separate from Finn. They stay in the same room but away from each other. I know my boy loves Lara as he sits closest to Lara in his cage. When Lara starts talking he follows her and also starts talking. Lara is much more vocal and Finn just follows Lara. It is sort of funny.

 

[Sue and Smartie]

I got my first pair in 2004 after my old horse died. Rolo the horse had been ill for a few months and I'd spent hours nursing him. So when he died I had all that time on my hands. I'd always hankered after guinea pigs so I did some reading up and got hold of a house & run for them and off I went to the RSPCA. They had two boys for rehoming so I brought home Puzzle & Pickle and that was how it all began

 

[PiggyPoo]

Loving reading these stories xx

 

[Eriathwen]

I was 11 or 12, so about 16 years ago now. I wanted a tortoise..my parents quite rightly said no. My Dad had guineas from the age of 8 so he suggested we get some of those. So off we went to pets at home, and of course our 2 'girls' ended up being one of each..we kept the babies, had a few given to us by someone on the building site my brother worked at, bought a couple (one we bought pregnant..)

Over the years ive had 27, including the 10 I currently have.

These 2 are Fudge and Badger, the very first piggies I had. We lost Fudge at 11 years old and Badger at 8 or 9. They lived side by side as they were so bonded and Badger never ever took to any other girls, even the daughters she had were unceremoniously 'dumped' as soon as they were weaned so we removed them for their own safety, she really was a cantankerous old bag but she absolutely adored Fudge and he adored her. (Excuse the crummy pictures, for some reason I only seemed to take pictures while they were out getting their nails done or about to be cleaned out!)


This was the litter of babies they had not too long after getting them home.. Patch, Tilly and Snowball. It was the birth of these babies that really sealed the deal for me on piggies, the sudden appearance of these lovely little balls of hair running around the place was an amazing experience. Patch became one of my favourites, the most docile pig you could ever hope to meet Her and Tilly are who started my love affair with curly coated pigs.

 

[Merab]

I went into PAH about 7 - 8 years ago to get my nephew some hamster stuff as he was going to have a hamster as a present.
In the adoption centre were 2 red eyed whites that no-one wanted so .....
Titus and Philemon joined the family.
Philemon developed a brain tumour and had to be put to sleep. He was only 18 months old and a very special piggy.
Titus was lonely so after a little op he was joined by mother and daughter Tamar and Merab.
Tamar died very unexpectedly- possibly a heart attack.
Titus and Merab lived happily together until his death when my lonely girl was bonded with 2 baby sisters, Keziah and Jemimah- these are the 3 I have at present.
I fell in love with guinea pigs the moment I brought Titus and Philemon home.
Now I can’t imagine life without them.
I found the forum soon after Keziah and Jemimah arrived.

 

[piggieminder]

I had my first piggys in 1970, a friend at school had a miss sexed pair that had babies. I had 5 others over the years with long gaps for various reasons. In 2014 something made me walk into a local pet shop, I don't know what, I wasn't planning on having any more pets. I'd not long retired and my time was my own, I could go away when I wanted for the first time in my life. I saw and fell in love with Spike, talked it over with my partner, he said yes, Peanut came with Spike and the rest is history. We now have 6 piggys and no holidays!

 

[PiggyPoo]

I had my first piggys in 1970, a friend at school had a miss sexed pair that had babies. I had 5 others over the years with long gaps for various reasons. In 2014 something made me walk into a local pet shop, I don't know what, I wasn't planning on having any more pets. I'd not long retired and my time was my own, I could go away when I wanted for the first time in my life. I saw and fell in love with Spike, talked it over with my partner, he said yes, Peanut came with Spike and the rest is history. We now have 6 piggys and no holidays!

Ahh great story @piggieminder,! Holidays are overrated anyway xx

 

[Flutterby]

When did you become a gp slave?
I became a slave around 6 years ago.

What circumstances lead you to becoming a gp slave?
I looked after a friends pair of very well loved piggies whilst she had some work done at home. I feel in love and they ended up staying, thus my addiction started.

How many gp’s do you have now?
12 in total at the moment, 11 of my own and one foster piggy

How many gp’s have you had in total? (Or too many to count?!).
The most I've had at one point was 16.

 

[Pigwhisperer]

Just over 2 years ago my daughter went on a school trip to a farmyard type place where they got to cuddle guinea pigs. She fell in love with hers, a pink-eyed white which she wanted to call Silk because its coat was so silky, and then she started asking about having guinea pigs at home.

The latest of my series of 5 hamsters had died and so my husband and I were discussing where we would go next with pets - I had been trying for some time to persuade him to get a dog so I guess the "if you want a kitten, ask for a pony" thing kicked in and guinea pigs seemed a better idea!

H was 10 and has always been an anxious child, and we thought it might be good for her. So we started researching things, I bought 3 books and found this forum, and in the September I found a pink-eyed white (Silk) and another cutie (Clover) at Pets at Home and brought them home.

 

[Chloe.123]

I first became a piggie slave in 2008 (that’s a guess... not too sure of the year ) a family member took in a single boar called Coco he was a chocolate brown Abyssinian and around 2 years old. He was just amazing. The family member was unable to care for him and I had fallen in love! After a few years of owning him I discovered he had been escaping his hutch, going on little adventures alone and coming back just before I gave him his tea! I soon put a stop to it. We would just sit and cuddle forever. He lived to 8.

He pretty much started my piggie obsession, after him I had Fudge, Domino, Hazel, Honey, Twiggy and Salt and Pepper. Hazel had two litters (not on purpose), Domino was a skilful escape artist so the most I had at one time was 14.

Now I just have 4. Bilbo and Merlin and the newbies Honey and Roo. I’m also slave to a very fat tabby cat called Harley, he gets on very well with the boys x
I’ve added pictures of the boys and my biggest fur baby (I hope that’s ok)

 

[PiggyPoo]

I first became a piggie slave in 2008 (that’s a guess... not too sure of the year ) a family member took in a single boar called Coco he was a chocolate brown Abyssinian and around 2 years old. He was just amazing. The family member was unable to care for him and I had fallen in love! After a few years of owning him I discovered he had been escaping his hutch, going on little adventures alone and coming back just before I gave him his tea! I soon put a stop to it. We would just sit and cuddle forever. He lived to 8.

He pretty much started my piggie obsession, after him I had Fudge, Domino, Hazel, Honey, Twiggy and Salt and Pepper. Hazel had two litters (not on purpose), Domino was a skilful escape artist so the most I had at one time was 14.

Now I just have 4. Bilbo and Merlin and the newbies Honey and Roo. I’m also slave to a very fat tabby cat called Harley, he gets on very well with the boys x
I’ve added pictures of the boys and my biggest fur baby (I hope that’s ok)
View attachment 88593View attachment 88594View attachment 88596View attachment 88597

Awwww gorgeous pets xx

 

[Charlpigs]

My obsession with guinea pigs started when I was about 11, I’d always had rabbits and decided that I’d love a guinea pig too. My parents agreed to help my sister and I take care of one but once we got to the pet shop they advised that we should take a pair. Over the next few years we ended up taking in other people’s pigs that they had gotten bored of and the piggies gradually became my responsibility. I really owe my love of guinea pigs to my parents for allowing me to get them at an age where they would be almost entirely my parents’ responsibility. I’m so grateful to them for encouraging me to develop my love of animals and eventually pursue a career in vet nursing. I’m 20 now and I’ve had 11 guinea pigs; I currently have a gorgeous trio of girlies and I couldn’t be happier with them

 

[DM030819]

I got my first piggy in 1996. I desperately wanted a rat but my dad refused to have a rodent in the house so I settled for a pig who lived in the shed.

My first boy was a gorgeous blonde called Gordy. He was amazing.
I've not had too many over the years:
Gordy, Magpie, Tyson, Rodney, Gip, Ace, Lister, Arnold J. Rimmer, Fozzy, Burt, Anselmo, Toki Wartooth, Spencer. All RIP.

And now I have Jon Snow, Podrick (the) Payne, and Flint. (+ 2 fosters).

So 16 total.

 

[Merab]

I first became a piggie slave in 2008 (that’s a guess... not too sure of the year ) a family member took in a single boar called Coco he was a chocolate brown Abyssinian and around 2 years old. He was just amazing. The family member was unable to care for him and I had fallen in love! After a few years of owning him I discovered he had been escaping his hutch, going on little adventures alone and coming back just before I gave him his tea! I soon put a stop to it. We would just sit and cuddle forever. He lived to 8.

He pretty much started my piggie obsession, after him I had Fudge, Domino, Hazel, Honey, Twiggy and Salt and Pepper. Hazel had two litters (not on purpose), Domino was a skilful escape artist so the most I had at one time was 14.

Now I just have 4. Bilbo and Merlin and the newbies Honey and Roo. I’m also slave to a very fat tabby cat called Harley, he gets on very well with the boys x
I’ve added pictures of the boys and my biggest fur baby (I hope that’s ok)
View attachment 88593View attachment 88594View attachment 88596View attachment 88597

All so gorgeous

 

[FurryBabyMama]

When did I become a guinea pigs slave?
On the 4th of June!

What circumstances lead me to becoming a guinea pig slave?
My mum never let me have any pets growing up. When I moved out at 17 I had to take the first flat I could find because she wanted me gone, I really wanted to find a flat that would let me have whatever pets I wanted but yeah, mum wanted me out so I couldn't find the perfect flat, and the landlady only allowed me to get hamsters. I lived in that flat for about a year and a half, and then when I was 33 weeks pregnant, me and my partner started noticing mice in our flat. Turns out the entire block of flats had a mice infestation so we had to suddenly pack up and leave because we could not have solved the problem by the time I had my baby. My partners pay had been cut, and we couldn't find a 2 bedroom flat that we could afford. We were homeless, so close to giving birth, sleeping in our friends spare bedroom for 7 months, and having our baby there. Then my partner had to stop working cause our baby was so ill. Then we lived in shared emergency housing for another 5 months where I wasn't even allowed to keep the hamsters, luckily my trusted friend took them for me. Then last month we FINALLY got a new home of our own, where we're allowed any small pets we want apart from cats and dogs. My friend gave me my hamsters back, and when I went into the pet shop to get their supplies I noticed the guinea pigs and really wished I could get some, then I realised I could! I got home and joined this forum and started doing all my research straight away. When I got everything that I needed and was confident I'd done all the research I needed to do, I got Willow and Acorn!

How many guinea pigs do I have now? two!

How many guinea pigs have I had in total? Just the two ^-^

 

[PiggyPoo]

When did I become a guinea pigs slave?
On the 4th of June!

What circumstances lead me to becoming a guinea pig slave?
My mum never let me have any pets growing up. When I moved out at 17 I had to take the first flat I could find because she wanted me gone, I really wanted to find a flat that would let me have whatever pets I wanted but yeah, mum wanted me out so I couldn't find the perfect flat, and the landlady only allowed me to get hamsters. I lived in that flat for about a year and a half, and then when I was 33 weeks pregnant, me and my partner started noticing mice in our flat. Turns out the entire block of flats had a mice infestation so we had to suddenly pack up and leave because we could not have solved the problem by the time I had my baby. My partners pay had been cut, and we couldn't find a 2 bedroom flat that we could afford. We were homeless, so close to giving birth, sleeping in our friends spare bedroom for 7 months, and having our baby there. Then my partner had to stop working cause our baby was so ill. Then we lived in shared emergency housing for another 5 months where I wasn't even allowed to keep the hamsters, luckily my trusted friend took them for me. Then last month we FINALLY got a new home of our own, where we're allowed any small pets we want apart from cats and dogs. My friend gave me my hamsters back, and when I went into the pet shop to get their supplies I noticed the guinea pigs and really wished I could get some, then I realised I could! I got home and joined this forum and started doing all my research straight away. When I got everything that I needed and was confident I'd done all the research I needed to do, I got Willow and Acorn!

How many guinea pigs do I have now? two!

How many guinea pigs have I had in total? Just the two ^-^

Wow that’s quite a story @FurryBabyMama. Must have been quite an emotional pregnancy going through all that. The main thing is you’ve got your lovely piggies to add to your wonderful family now xx

 

[FurryBabyMama]

Wow that’s quite a story @FurryBabyMama. Must have been quite an emotional pregnancy going through all that. The main thing is you’ve got your lovely piggies to add to your wonderful family now xx

It was quite crap yeah, haha. Tried for two and a half years to get pregnant and when it finally happens my partner nearly dies from sepsis (found out I was pregnant the day after he came home from hospital) and then we lose our home! Things are finally looking up now though. Our new flat is perfect for us, my little girl finally has her own bedroom (when she's ready to actually sleep by herself and not in my arms), her illness is getting way better and my mental health is improving so my partner can look at going back to work. The piggies definitely help to make our family feel more complete. I adore my hamsters but being nocturnal I really wanted a pet that was awake during the day! I just got wheeked at for food for the first time.. Acorn stood by the veg bowl, looking up at me and wheeking loudly like he's been starved when they've just had a bowl full of fresh grass and dandelion leaves!

 

[Zarina Johnson]

I became a guinea pig slave in March of this year. I have two one-year old girls. They’re so cute

 

[teddymouse]

my lst piggies was in 1965.a pair of black and white sisters. a very long time ago.l still have a very deep love for piggies.