[Gpdd] [BEHAVIOUR] Interspecies friendships
DebJonSara at aol.com
DebJonSara at aol.com
Sat Aug 27 15:14:21 EDT 2005
Ruth
First let me thank you so much for telling us how you bought Babu Franklin,
the unwanted store piggie. I know it goes against all devoted piggie-slave
principles to purchase a piggie that has been deliberately bred for financial
gain, as it just reinforces the breeders' and sellers' greed and exacerbates
the problem long term, but none of us can change the world, whilst each of us
can change it for just one little individual piggie. I once bought a rabbit
from a petshop because it looked ill. She died within 5 days and of course
broke my heart, but at least she knew 5 days of human love.
We have lots of animals here - 2 dogs, 5 cats, only 1 rabbit now, 3 goats, 5
geese and 16 chickens, as well as the 17 guinea pigs. They all inter-relate
to a degree, mainly amicably, apart from the geese, who terrorise everyone!!
In the winter I have my female piggies loose in the porch. Their cages are
on the floor, and I do shut them in them at night, but during the day they can
roam about visiting one another, as all the cage doors are open. Piggie
slaves will be horrified, but the 2 dogs and 5 cats have unrestricted access to
this porch, and as it is the warmest room in the house when the sun shines, it
is a popular place to doze during the day. Initially they were only allowed
access under strict supervision, but we soon learned that the dogs and cats
did no harm to the piggies, and the piggies were not frightened of them. I have
to admit, the dogs love to eat the piggie poops, but they don't seem to do
them any harm. Our two white cats, Daisy the oldest at 17 and Tetu the
youngest at 3 (who grew up with guinea pigs) love to actually go into the cages and
curl up on the straw - I do have a photo of Soulage peeping somewhat
incredulously out of her pigloo at a white cat curled comfortably into a tight ball
on the straw just outside!
On winter evenings, the dogs lie on the settee beside us and the fire, and
when I have my piggies out on my lap they will run up and down the bigger dog,
Tzigane, sniffing her, especially her face. She just lazily opens an eye,
sees it's a piggie and goes back to sleep! I might add that we also have photos
of Tzigane using Tetu as a pillow, and lying snuggled up to our rabbit Bisou
in front of the fire. Tzigane is a big Alsatian/Collie cross, very wolf-like
in appearance, who terrifies many of our French neighbours with her ferocious
bark, but she doesn't seem to have an ounce of malice in her - she is as
terrified of the geese as everyone else!
I would never advocate leaving piggies within reach of potential predators -
I had 5 beloved piggies massacred outdoors by maurauding strange dogs in May
2003, and the pain of that day never diminishes. But in my own experience,
it seems that if one treats all ones animals as equal members of the family, as
we do, they all seem to understand that every other animal is part of their
pack or herd, and don't view them as potential prey. Geese, I should point
out, are entirely herbivorous - they don't see others as prey, just as a
potential threat, and seem to regard attack as the best form of defence. But I'm
afraid I love them anyway - they will back down if approached firmly, and have
beautiful blue eyes ... and it was lovely watching the goslings grow up!
Can I just take this opportunity to thank everyone who expressed condolences
at Chestnut's departure to The Bridge. Only we gpdd-ers know how much
comfort can be obtained through such communications. A voluntary helper we had
staying expressed absolute amazement that I had written an obituary on the
Internet for Chestnut, and that people all over the world had expressed
condolences. I suppose on the grand scale of things it must seem a little odd, and yet
to all of us on here, it seems the most obvious and natural course of events
after a piggie has passed on, doesn't it? I am so very glad to be part of this
very special community. Please forgive me for not sending personal
acknowlegements, but I am still sofa-bound, and typing is very tiring. Please know
that every word of comfort helps. I know you fellow slaves are the only people
who really understand.
This is longer than intended, but I did want to chip in!
Debbie
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