[Gpdd] Misc: New Misfit to start the New Year!

[ANDREW SILL]

Hello Fellow Digest Friends,
Well yesterday in our local Craigslist listing was a plea for someone to take 
a sick guinea pig. Well I read it and I re-read it and it wouldn't get out of my 
mind. So yes I contacted the person which was a young lady. She said she had the 
guinea pig for 7 months and all the sudden he stopped eating and drinking. She 
said his eyes were crusted shut and it looked like he was going to fall 
over. Long Long story short.. When Andy got off work we drove to her house in 
the far end of Davenport and picked up a very sick little guinea pig. Not really 
so little, he is full grown and multi- colored. When she handed him in his cage 
to us I noticed he was wet! I asked why he was so wet? she said she just gave 
him a bath as he was so dirty. Yes his cage was a horrible mess of ick.
SO I quickly took him out of his cage and put him in a snuggie. It was very cold 
outside! Well I had called our vet and she agreed to see him as soon as we got 
him. The lady also then said I will give you his bag of food too!  Well she 
hands Andy this very large 50 lb bag of Swine Pellets!!!   She had been feeding 
the guinea pig Swine Pellets!
We then left and went right to the vet. Dr Kathy looked him over and gave him 
sub-q and then gave him antibiotics and pain meds and a appetite stimulate. He 
also is to get critical care too. So far he is hang in in there.  His nails were 
long as well. This poor little fellow is so scared.  He has not started to eat 
on his own yet. So I help him with that. His back legs are a bit wobbly too. I 
am hoping the vit c kicks in and helps that.  It funny I just commented on that 
we need to not take in anymore guineas for a while. (yes are herd has grown!) It 
is so hard to say no when you know of a guinea in need such as this. I 
understand that vets are expensive, but I wonder why people get animals they can 
not take care of when they get sick. The vet cost us $86.61 yesterday.
We make it work. If we cannot take care of an animal we wouldnt take it in. So 
just wanted to let you know the Misfits started the New Year with a new Misfit.  
We changed his name to Riley.  I don't know why but he looked like that should 
be his name:) He has been given bad food for a long time.. maybe all his life so 
far? Hoping that hasn't damaged his insides as well.  He will know love here. 
And I pray he makes it thru this mess he is in.  A big welcome to Riley Misfit.
Jean and Andy (and the many misfits)