[Gpdd] MISC The piggy who came in from the cold.

[Penny Charlesworth]

Last Sunday, here in the south of England, we had a lot of heavy snow. The manager of my local animal shelter decided to send all the staff home early as the little country roads were becoming dangerous and no visitors were expected in that weather.

One of my sons works there and he was just packing up to leave, when a car appeared through the blizzard and a man came into Reception carrying a box containing a matted ball of fur.

He signed the animal over saying that his ex wife had given into their daughter's pleading for a guinea pig and bought the first one she saw at the pet store. It was his day for visiting rights and when he saw the piggy he told them that they were not looking after it properly and that he was taking it straight to Raystede ( the shelter in question ).

My son offered to stay and look after the piggy and together with one of the volunteers, set to work. There was no way to comb through the mucky, tangled mess so out came the electric clippers. From out of a huge pile of clippings, there emerged a little boar just waiting to be loved. The pile of discarded hair was bigger than he was and photos were taken for their records. 

A sore place on his back was attended to and he was settled in for the night in the cosy hospital wing with a big pile of hay and veggies to await a check up with the vet in the morning.

Kevin, my son, wants to bring all the piggies home, of course, and if I had the room they probably would all live here, but this little fellow seems destined to become a Piggyfriend. The head of the small mammal section has been off sick but when she returns to work, I expect there will be a "Reserved" card on his pen. Kevin suspects that he is probably a Texel, not the sort of piggy for a first time pet, especially for a child but we shall see what he is when his coat grows back properly and is brushed and cared for.

I hope that no-one else claims him first and will let you all know what happens. Kevin would have liked to bring him home that night but he has to follow shelter protocol.

If I lived on the Treasure Coast ( I think that's Florida ) I would take all those piggies that Sara posted about and I do so hope that they all find loving homes. At least all the piggies at my shelter are assured of a safe home for life even if they are never adopted out.

Penny and the Piggyfriends.