[Gpdd] (Care) Re: Guineas and Small Children

[Stacy Harvey]

Sylvia,
  I think most people on the digest will tell you that guinea pigs are *not* appropriate pets for a 4 year old. Guineas require a good deal of care and attention, and are fairly delicate animals. All it would take to kill a piggy would be to have the child drop, step or fall on it. I know kids don't mean to, but they want to play rough and guineas can't be played with as aggressively as a dog or cat. Also, being prey animals, guineas can be rather skittish and would be frightened by an overly exuberant child. I would suggest waiting until your child is older before considering a guinea pig as a pet--unless YOU want the piggy as YOUR pet and are willing to child-proof its surroundings and very closely supervise any piggy-child interaction.
   
  Just my two cents.
   
  -Stacy and the Squee Squad

		
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