[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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