[Gpdd] [MISC.] Pepper's 6 Year Anniversary & Sweetheart's 6th Birthday

[sherry bevins]

Hello Fellow Piggie Enthusiasts!

We just wanted to share a couple of milestones in the lives of two of our 
nearest and dearest piggie pals. Pepper, who not long ago celebrated her 6th 
birthday, became a member of our family on April 30, 2001. So, we have just 
celebrated the 6th anniversary of her arrival at her forever home. We are 
thrilled to have shared 6 wonderful years with this gentle and loving 
piggie. She came home with us from a pet shop, though we did not intend to 
bring a guinea pig home with us on that particular day. We went looking for 
a new hedgehog, as our hedgehog friend, Porky, had passed away that 
afternoon. He had been with us for 5 years, and though he wasn't exactly a 
cuddly pet, he was very cute and had adorable little mannerisms. My youngest 
son was determined that we should try to find another hedgehog right away, 
so off we went to the place where we had purchased Porky, only to find out 
that they could no longer offer hedgehogs for sale. As I was talking to the 
sales clerk, my son approached with this little black and gold bundle in his 
arms. I was reluctant at first, but was soon won over by the kind expression 
in this little guinea pig's eyes. It was as if she were pleading with me to 
take her home with us. And the rest, as they say, is history. It was one of 
the best decisions I've ever made.
Our adorable Sweetheart is now 6 years old as well. We decided that her 
birthday should be on May 1st, as she was estimated to be about 8 weeks old 
at the time that she came to live with us. She is, as you know, quite an 
inspiration to me as an artist. This is a piggie that can express more with 
a glance than many people can express with many, many words. She overcame 
two serious illnesses in her first few months with us...a respiratory 
infection, and a serious ear infection. She was ill when we brought her 
home, but we didn't realize it until some days later when her breathing 
became very rapid. Thankfully, she was able to overcome this, and later the 
ear infection, with veterinary help and lots of TLC at home. Later she 
developed problems with her bladder, and this has been an ongoing issue with 
her for several years. Through it all she has remained a very loving...and 
rather feisty, at times...family member and loyal friend. We have had some 
rather close calls with her these past few months. Her appetite, once so 
healthy that she weighed well over 3 pounds, has diminished to the extent 
that I have had to begin syringe feeding her every day, several times a day, 
to keep her from wasting away to skin and bones. She will eat her hay and 
pellets, but she has become extremely picky over the past year, and will 
only eat what little bits that appeal to her and no more. She does love the 
syringe feedings, and rushes up to me with great enthusiasm  when she wants 
to be fed...which is pretty frequently. She also has some arthritis in her 
spine and back legs, so she moves a little stiffly now, but can still get 
around quite well and doesn't seem to be in any pain. She still has the 
wonderful sparkle in her eyes that she has always had, which makes me think 
that she is still young at heart...and after all, this is what really 
counts.
I could go on and on, as anyone who knows me will tell you, when talking 
about my beautiful piggie pals. But you understand...don't you?!! :o)

Have a great day, my friends!
Sherry and the Piggie Pals

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