Oliver and Greg, my two good boys.
This is probably an obvious statement, but having pets creates a unique sense of joy in our lives. Whether you have a pet, more than one, used to have pets, or simply enjoy your friends’ and family’s pets, it’s a recognizable happiness. So today I’m going to talk about my own slices of happiness: my guinea pigs Greg and Oliver.
Greg
Biography:
Gregory Pen is a three-year-old American guinea pig and I celebrate his birthday on February 9th. He has grey and white fur (I think the fancy term is “silver dutch”) and big brown eyes. He was originally my cousins’ and was confused as a girl for a while, but, because they had multiple pets, they chose to rehome him so he could have a more comfortable life. I had never considered having a guinea pig, but my cousins reached out to my mom while I was in the works of getting an emotional support animal (ESA). She sent me a picture of him and my first thought was, “He’s so big!” In reality, he’s pretty average, but I’d always thought guinea pigs were just a bit bigger than gerbils. But regardless of his size, I said yes. Greg became mine on December 22nd last year and I quickly fell in love with him. He was perfect cuddling size, the sound of his munching on veggies was delightful, and I couldn’t (and still can’t) get over his happy little smile. As I bonded closer to him and my last semester of classes rolled forward, he became my rock. Talking aloud to myself was something I had always done, but having someone to talk to – even if he couldn’t talk back – was fantastic. My first night away from him was uncomfortable; I could really feel a hole in the room. He’s truly a big part of my stability.
Likes and Dislikes:
Likes:
- Being pet under the chin
- Climbing onto my shoulders
- Rick and Morty
- Craisins
- Music by The Beatles
Dislikes:
- Living in a large cage (he likes his travel cage better!)
- Having his butt pet
- Fire alarms
- Strawberries
Nicknames:
- Fluff potato
- Honey bun/bear
- Whisker biscuit
- Cuddle muffin
- Chitter bug
- My sweet baby/love
Benefits:
Greg is pretty docile in nature and loves to snuggle. He’ll melt into my lap or chest, thus melting my heart. He’s also fine with just curling up next to me on his own blanket while we watch Netflix. Being able to cuddle with him when I’m really upset or have had a long day is something I’ll never take for granted.
Oliver
Biography:
Oliver Lane is a year old (his birthday is celebrated on May 12th) and is an Abyssinian. That means that his body is covered in little crests of fur called rosettes and he’s quite energetic! He has dark brown fur with some patches of blonde around his face and little black eyes. His previous owner adopted him from a local animal shelter (under the impression that he was a girl) and was soon shocked to find that he had impregnated one of her other pigs. We connected through Craigslist after I had been approved to get a second pig so Greg could have a companion (in other words, an ESA for my ESA) and I got Oliver on June 22nd, exactly six months after Greg. When I introduced them to each other, they weren’t too thrilled; Greg had never seen another guinea pig since he was a youngster, and Oliver went straight to humping him. Flash forward two weeks later and, although they still get grumpy with each other every now and then, they’re pretty good buddies.
Likes and Dislikes:
Likes:
- Ignoring the food he already has and begging for more
- Music by Fleetwood Mac
- Getting the zoomies
- Taking up the entire large cage for himself
- Laying under his water bottle
Dislikes:
- Cuddling
- Being fed second
- Having his fur brushed
- Trash bags being opened
Nicknames:
- Sneaky little butt
- Cookie face
- Fluffer hug
- Pointer
- Muncheroon
Benefits:
As well as giving Greg someone to spend time with, Oliver always puts a smile on my face. He can run around the room or up and down and back up the ramp in his cage to make me giggle, climb up on the walls of his cage, or popcorn from his own excitement. Being around Oliver will either cheer me up or make me even happier than I already was.
I love my piggies more than words can describe. I’m so lucky to have them and I hope they feel the same about me. A palm reader once told me that I was going to have two boys and should get a minivan in the future, but I think the pet stroller that’s currently in the mail makes a lot more sense.
Thank you for reading and have a grade-A day!
The Life of Linn 