This Little Piggy & Me

Where Every Little Piggy Finds Their FOREVER HOME

Steve recently built a second-story hayloft for our girls’ habitat. However, everyone except Maggie will use the ramp; she prefers stretching up as far as she can to eat hay. No matter what we tried, she will not go up the ramp so we now have a hay rack on the first-floor just for Maggie. Believe me, she strongly expresses her dissatisfaction when ‘her’ hayrack is empty!!

~Keep reading for the rest of Maggie’s story~.

MAGGIE
DOB: February 18, 2006
Released to TLP&M: April 18, 2006
Adopted by Abby: May 1, 2006

Yes, Maggie is still with us and is now 4 years 3 months old. One thing has really changed with her though . . . she’s become a Daddy’s girl!! That’s right - she loves Steve much more than me!! When I pick her up from the habitat (if I can catch her, that is), she is nothing but a squirmy ball of fur. Totally different for Steve though - she coos and loves all over him. It’s enough to make me very jealous!!

But . . . she is still NOT a lap-pig!! Maggie will tolerate being held for about 2 minutes. Our little Maggie is definitely a home-body and very happy to just be left in her habitat with her 3 friends (and the food, of course!).

GABBY
DOB: June 18, 2006
Released to TLP&M: December 12, 2006
Adopted by Maggie and Karen: December 12, 2006

My former “attack-pig” is now almost 4 years old and still the most petite of all our furball-children. But want a transformation this little girl has performed! When Gabby first arrived she really ‘earned’ her nickname of “The Attack-Pig”! Shortly after her arrival we discovered her previous owner (an 8-yr-old boy) used to carry her around by her neck. That explained everything!! Any time I would try to stroke her head, scratch her ears or touch her neck, she would spin around and strike – just like a snake!! I hoped and prayed I could show her enough love and gain her complete trust so she wouldn’t feel the need to protect herself from me forever.

And my hopes and prayers were answered!! Today, Gabby is my little sweetheart who loves to cuddle, be held and be stroked all over her body, especially her head and neck! While watching TV, she and I will be in the recliner together. She will lay on my chest or drape herself on my neck and under my chin. And if I go to sleep, she will lay there until she wants more attention . . . then she will begin licking my nose to wake me up!!

She is also TLP&M’s biggest ambassador!! She loves going to pet fairs or any other place pets are allowed. She wants everyone to know how wonderful Guinea pigs are as pets and will let anyone pet or hold her. And then there’s this: Our friend Donetta, a pet communicator, says it’s because she wants EVERYONE to know how beautiful she is!!

~Keep reading for the rest of Gabby’s story~

HEPZIBAH (Heppy, for short)
DOB: around July 12, 2008
Released to TLP&M: April 12, 2009
Adopted by Karen: March 1, 2010

If anyone has a white strand of rawhide about 6 inches long and would attach it to my adorable Heppy’s rear-end, they would swear she was a rat. But that is what is so endearing about my little lab baby, Heppy!! And yes, I said “lab baby”. She, along with 21 of her closest friends, was rescued from a medical lab where anti-body harvesting was performed. After such a horrible beginning, it’s a wonder any of these little girls would ever trust humans again. But that’s the most amazing part of their story – every one is sweet, lovable, adorable and loves to be held, cuddled and talked to.

One look at Heppy with her stand-up ears and pointy nose and I just could not resist (although I tried for almost a year). My biggest concern though, was how Maggie and Gabby would react to another little girl invading their “territory”. Even though Gabby was smaller than Maggie, she was the Alpha female (and she was my little sweetheart) so Heppy had to submit. If she were to try to gain control of the herd and hurt Gabby – well, that would be the end of that!! I wouldn’t be able to adopt her.

Steve went to work building a new, much larger habitat for our females. If we introduced the three of them on neutral ground, it just might work. When Steve brought the new habitat into our living room, I was amazed at its size - it took up about 6 feet of floor space and was about a yard wide! - and it was absolutely beautiful!! Once ready for occupation, the three girls were introduced to their new home and to each other. It took just a couple of days but our 3 girls are now happy as little clams. Heppy and Gabby climb the ramp and eat hay together! They all three lie under the second level and take their naps or just talk and hide!

Heppy’s the funniest whenever you try to eat cantaloupe or a banana! She will literally try to climb out of the habitat while her nose is straight up in the air. And she will not quiet down until you give her a big piece of what you are “trying” to eat!! Another one of her favorites is pineapple. I think she would give you ANYTHING for pineapple!!

TAZ
DOB: around July 11, 2005
Released to TLP&M: July 11, 2009 and again on May 1, 2010
Adopted by Karen: May 16, 2010

Sometimes our success stories do not have the happy endings for which we so hope. Taz is one of those. She found what we thought was her Forever Home the very same day she was released to TLP&M. Jean fell in love and Taz had a home where she was spoiled rotten by every member of the family. Then, almost a year later, we received the news – Jean had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and would have to bring Taz back to us although she really didn’t want that to happen. Taz arrived back and I know Jean’s heart broke the same day – May 1st.

The introduction of Taz to the rest of our female herd of Adoptables just did not go well at all. The younger girls began picking on Taz which we just would not nor could not tolerate. Taz was removed from the habitat but we were unsure where to house her. We didn’t want her to be alone.

Then a brainstorm hit Steve and I at about the same time - why not try housing her with our girls? She would probably be staying with us anyway - it takes a very special person to adopt a 5 year old furball and we had found those to be few and far between. And so the trial began . . . and we kept our fingers crossed.

Within a few seconds we knew this would work. Gabby, Maggie and Heppy all greeted her like a long-lost friend. From the very first moment, our four girls have gotten along as if they have lived together all their lives!!

Smokey
DOB: July 27, 2004
Released to TLP&M: April 25, 2008
Adopted by Karen: May 2, 2008

Smokey . . . the eldest member of our Senior Citizens. It is so fitting that Abby’s grandson was born on my youngest son’s birthday! Of course my first thought was to adopt Smokey immediately and make sure he stayed with us forever. But then Stephanie, a licensed vet tech, arrived on April 10, 2005 and I knew she and Smokey were meant to be family. I said my good-byes and cried.

Three years to the day later I received this e-mail:

I was overcome with emotion. I was thrilled at the thought of having Smokey back in my life but I felt so very sad for Stephanie.

My response was short and sweet:

Karen - I have a tough situation on my hands. My husband and I are moving to Texas in the next few months and both agree trying to move Smokey in a car 14 hours is not going to be safe or healthy for him. He’s a mature gentleman and I’m afraid the stress and anxiety would be the end of him and I’d feel so guilty, God forbid, anything should happen. What I’m getting at is we would like to return him to you so he can live out his last years with his original family. I know Smokey has a very special place in your heart and I know he still loves and misses you guys. E-mail me back when you can and let me know what you think. I really hate to do this but, like I said, it is truly the best for him. - Stephanie

You better believe he can come back!!!! Give me a call so we can schedule a time.

Smokey came back home on May 2, 2008 and will only leave when he goes to Rainbow Bridge to be with his dad, Spot; his Aunt Caramel, Uncle Oreo, Cousin Omega and Grandma Abby. He developed a fatty tumor under his chin which is now about the size of a golf ball. It really doesn’t seem to bother him - heck, he eats, drinks, pees and poos with the best of ‘em. Because of his age and the location of the tumor, surgery is pretty much out of the question. And I can’t believe he will be 6-yrs-old in July!!

Joey
DOB: around February 7, 2006
Released to TLP&M: February 7, 2009
Adopted by Karen: March 10, 2009

Chloe arrived on February 7, 2009. Yes, you read that right . . . HIS name was Chloe upon arrival. But once we discovered his manhood, the name just HAD to change so he is now Joey!! Pretty clever, even if I do say so myself!!

From day one we knew Joey was very special. He was such a lover and he loved EVERYBODY!! But as fate would have it, he kept being passed over for smaller and younger furballs. It was so sad to see the disappointment in his eyes week-end after week-end. We decided to find him a buddy; someone with whom he could share his habitat, time and food. And yes, I was smitten!! My “Why don’t we try him with Smokey?” met with Steve’s “If we do and it works, we won’t be able to separate them, ya’ know.” Ummmm - of course I knew that which is why I suggested it!

Their special brand of bond was almost instantaneous - they tolerated one another. They slept apart; they ate apart; they wouldn’t occupy the same end of the habitat at the same time . . . for about six months. Then it happened! They began looking for and talking to one another. They took meals together and even shared one house once in a while. When you gave attention to Smokey, Joey would come over to get his share.

Little did we know this was the beginning of our male herd of 4!

Dakarai
DOB: May 12, 2007
Released to TLP&M: June 13, 2007
Adopted by Karen: August 4, 2007

January 13, 2010 was a very sad day for Steve and me but the loss of Washington served its biggest blow to Dakarai. Washington was his cage mate but he was so much more than that. He was also Dakarai’s nanny, mentor and surrogate father. There were no two pigs closer than Washington and Dakarai which is why we were so worried about Dakarai after Washington’s passing.

Dakarai became depressed and began only picking at his food. He wouldn’t eat his Cheerios which he used to leave his greens to get. Would a baby help Dakarai; someone he could mentor like Washington had him? We tried it but Dakarai wanted nothing to do with this little puffball who popped and ran around wanting to play. It was time for Plan B . . . . but what was Plan B?

Maybe he just needed a neighbor and a change of scenery. Dakarai was moved into ‘the Annex’ where he could live alone but next-door to one of our Adoptables. This seemed to work for a little while and then the newness wore off and the neighbors became less attentive. Could we come up with a Plan C?

Plan C was definitely a long-shot. We had past success with pairing two males who weren’t related (Smokey and Joey being a fine example) but would it be possible with three? All we could do was try - and keep our fingers crossed and the towel ready to throw should a fight erupt. Would our two Senior Citizens accept this young whippersnapper who was always such an imp??

We tried the playpen first - lots of room since it is 4.5 feet wide and 7 feet long. Everything seemed to go very smoothly. I think Smokey, being the eldest, must have laid down the law to this youngster. So began the shuffling of pigs in order for these three to have an enclosure equal to our girls and the move was made.

Yes, Dakarai is still the imp. He still flips what he doesn’t like out of the food bowl but like Washington used to do, Smokey, Joey and now Chewie just go behind him to clean up. He will still eat your hair if you get too close and he still has to smell your hand after you have handled the girls (he knows that’s as close as he will ever get to a female!!)

~Keep reading for the rest of Dakarai’s story~

Chewbacca (fondly referred to as Chewie)
DOB: around March 13, 2006
Released to TLP&M: March 13, 2007 then April 5, 2009 and again on May 14, 2010
Adopted by Karen: May 16, 2010

Chewie’s story is another of our successes without the happy ending for which we so hope. Beginning life as a classroom pet and then given to a family as a gift, he first arrived on March 13, 2007 because his family was allergic. Just two weeks later though, he was adopted by a wonderful and loving family who adored him. Unfortunately, a little less than 2 years later, his buddy Tyler developed an allergy to Guinea pigs and, once again, Chewie found his way back to TLP&M. Almost a month passed by and it was Chewie’s day again!! He was adopted and became the companion to 4-yr-old Ginchers and the very best friend to Emma. Life just couldn’t be better!! (or so we thought.) It only took a year for Emma to develop allergies and again, Chewie returned to TLP&M at the ripe old age of 4.

Steve and I just couldn’t believe it!! Chewbacca had 4 different homes in his short life. We just couldn’t put him through any more. We wanted him to have stability and a place to call his own. Besides, he was such a wonderful guy! And what’s one more to love and care for gonna cost us? It was truly a no-brainer . . . that is if Smokey, Joey and Dakarai would let him join their little herd.

Just as our girls had accepted Taz, our boys accepted Chewie. Dakarai still likes to aggravate him sometimes but Chewie just stands his ground and puts Dakarai in his place with lots of approval from Smokey and Joey.