[Gpdd] Why a Guinea Pig?

[Maren Fouts]

Hi all!

I had always had pets when growing up.  My sister had fish, we had hermit
crabs, parakeets, dogs (always), gerbils (when I was REALLY young), and I
heard we used to have a guinea pig named Barney.  Of course, we didn't have
all these pets all at once.

When I went to college, I couldn't have any pets (except fish which I don't
really consider pets, you just watch them mostly).  So, I had to be
miserable and suffer with no pets while I lived in the dorms.  Then I moved
to apartments and still couldn't have a pet.  I made a friend in one of my
classes that had a couple of rabbits.  I always thought rabbits were cute
and she seemed to think they made really great pets.  I got to a point in my
life (after 6 years being petless) where, apartment or not, I was really
wanting a constant companion.  Someone I could take care of.  I spent a lot
of time considering which pet to get and decided that rabbits were too big
to hide easily and hamsters weren't quite what I was looking for.  Somehow,
I decided I would really like to have a guinea pig until I got into a home
where I could have a dog (that's what I've always wanted).  This decision
took about a year to make.

The summer before I graduated, I came to MD (from Ohio State) for an
internship.  It had to be one of the most lonely times of my life.  I've
suffered from depression most of my life and by this time I was taking
medication.  However, the constant alone time in what I consider to be a
substandard apartment (the cost of living in that area is outrageous) pushed
me over the edge.  I needed someone to take care of and to interact with.  I
finally got Sam (as a baby), from a pet store (ick).  He was sick and we
went through a lot together.  Me taking him to the vet and complaining to
the pet store and it's headquarters as well as animal services at the police
department.  The pet store paid for Sam's medical care IN CASH (this always
struck me as a little fishy).

So Sam and I developed a REALLY strong bond.  My husband called him a mama's
boy.  He always acted so tough, but I knew when he was scared he would come
running to me wheeking for help.  I started him off in a cage that was way
too small.  Fortunately, that only lasted a month and he was still growing.
Once I got back to school I built him a C&C cage.  Two years later I lost
him (as some here may remember).

Sam just loved people.  When we took him to the vet for mites he ran to the
side of his travel cage where he could be closest to her as if to say "oh!
A new person!  Who are you?!?!"  He loved his dad too.  Everytime he heard
keys in the door he would wheek.  I had him on the floor one evening when my
husband was supposed to be coming home from a business trip.  Sam heard the
neighbor come home and jingle his keys and he RAN to the front door, plopped
his butt down and squealed waiting for dad to walk in the door.  It broke my
heart because no one was coming in our apartment.  I couldn't help but laugh
though.

I still want a dog, however, I will always keep piggies in my life now.  We
have Rosie and Charlie now and they are just too funny.  They make me smile
everyday.  Somedays I can really use that pick me up too.

Sorry for the length!

Piggy kisses to all!
Maren, Rosie, and Charlie