| Guinea Pigs and Rabbits |
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| When I was 10 and 11 years of age and living in Australia, my brother and I use to have guinea pigs. The first two were dark brown and ginger. The ginger one was mine and going by memory I think it was called Speedy. Their pen was kept in a closed off part of the yard with the gate locked so the dog couldn't get at them. Unfortunately however, the dog, Max, one day managed to force his way through while we were all at school or work. He then dug under the house part of the hutch and got the guinea pigs. Dad hadn't put any mesh under that part. We don't know if my brother's guinea pig got away or not, he was good at jumping so he might have survived. We never found any sign of him one way or another. But a couple of weeks later Max decided to add to my pain by digging up Speedy and leaving his poor, furry, cold little body in the middle of the lawn. So here is a tribute to my dear little Speedy, with the most gorgeous ginger face I ever saw. I love you Speedy and I'll remember you always (if not the name!). May you rest in peace. Out second lot of guinea pigs were females, and adult and a youngster. I had chosen the adult and my brother the young one. I do not remember their names. It was only a few days after they came home that I went out to feed them one morning and had the misfortune of finding my brothers little guinea pig had suffocated under my own. I was horrified. I felt incredibly guilty for owning the guinea pig that had unwittingly killed my brother's pet. I do not remember what became of my guinea pig, but I believe Max got at the cage again and it may have had the fortune of escaping rather than being killed. That was our last attempt with guinea pigs and Max. CASHFLOW Just before Christmas of 1999 I was riding my back back home when I went past a trade and axchange store. Sitting out on the small grass patch was a lawn cage with a couple of guinea pigs. Me being Me, I stopped to have a look and was shocked to find two guinea pigs in the tiny cage with nothing to hide in but a big, jagged edged bucket. The water in their water bottle had turned green and their claws were extremely long. I immediately went to ask how much they were. I was told the small female was sold, but that the black, white and tan male was available and only $5 dollars. I had some money on me, so I bought him there and then, arranging to come back and get him once I got my bike home. Jan came with me to pick him up in the car and agreed to help me build a cage for the little guy and not to tell mum until the cage was built. But mum got home from work and was immediately suspicious about the 'Keep Out' sign on my door. No matter how many times I begged her not to go in and that I was hiding a present, she knew something was up. She opened the door, saw the big cardboard box, heard the scurrying and immediately asked 'Michelle. WHAT is in the box?'.... Well, the cage didn't get built too quick, so Cashflow as he became named spent his first few weeks living inside with frequent visit to the path to wear down his claws. I finally convinced mum that he would need company once I went back to school. She actually asked at a pet shop if this was true (mum obviously thought it was a mere hoax to get another animal, but I try to stick to the truth on such things!), and came home and agreed that he would need a companion. So off we went to the drury pet store to get a friend for my mottled, mongrel guinea pig. So it was that mum came home with Bunny/Slipper/Houdini, the pedigree dwarf french lop-eared grey sealpoint rabbit. They were a comical pair. Unfortunately Cashflow passed away on Wednesday May 29th 2002 in his sleep. I feel that he had a good life in the end and was well loved. I hope to post some photos of the adorable little guy. Bunny/Slipper/Houdini Well, Bunny had several names, but in the end he was always Bunny (or sometimes Dummy, as the occasion demanded). Bunny is a pedigree dwarf french lopeared grey sealpoint rabbit, and he was Cashflow's companion. Since Cashflow left us Bunny has moved to another resident and now lives with a nice couple and their daughter, who have lots of guinea pigs and a couple of other rabbits. Houdini was the first name mum gave to her rabbit (he was officially HER pet) because he learnt very quickly to jump out of their indoor box, where they slept while the hutch was a work-in-progress. We ended up putting an old washing basket over the top so he couldn't get out. Slipper was the name he was given by my brother who swore that if Bunny ever piddled or pooped on him or chewed his clothers he would, quote 'kick him up the ass so hard he'd turn in to a slipper'. He didn't really mean this though! But our tendeny for someone simple names (such as 'Puss' for the cat that adopted us) carried on to the rabbit, and so he became Bunny (aka: Dummy, Dumb Bunny, Bummie (he had a terrible tendency to try humping the poor guinea pig sometimes), Dooshbag and assorted other names). He was a lovely looking rabbit, if a bit lacking in the brains department. He had no problem with dogs or cats and stared straight back at the fox terrier, a type of dog known for STARING rabbits and guinea pigs to death, but he was afraid of heights and trembled visibly whenever he was picked up and clung to you when he could. Cashflow however never had this problem and in fact went on several walks with me up the hill near home. He could also be trusted to wander about near the cage as he never strayed far from hiding. I remember wearing my ankle-length sarong one time during summer. I had Cashflow out and he was munching the dandelions. Mum asked me to check the mail and Cashflow came all the way there and back with me, keeping up underneath my Sarong and eating any dandelions on the way. Progress was slow, but it's a memory that warms my heart. My pet lamb, Zeknei also loved dandelions. I miss you Cashflow, rest in peace. |
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