A Lot has happened!
It’s been a hot minute since my last post. I’ve been SUPER busy with the shop and life in general.
First off, on June 11th, 2023, I attended a “Foster Appreciation” party that was hosted by Second Chance Cavy rescue, to give thanks to us fosters and volunteers. It was a fun day. I enjoyed meeting all the other fosters and volunteers and sharing our guinea pig stories with each other. I brought my two foster guinea pigs, Sophie and Sadie, with me since a couple of potential adopters were also going to be showing up to take a look at the foster pigs that were ready for adoption. The absolute nicest couple met Sophie and Sadie and fell head over heels in love with them. They were so cute. They held them for quite a while as I talked about Sophie and Sadie’s history and story and our experiences with them in our home. The husband was smitten with Sadie and didn’t want to put her down. Sadie actually started to fall asleep in his arms!! I was so happy they adopted them. But at the same time, it was a bittersweet moment, I love those two piggies so much, and being my first fosters, I felt like a proud parent seeing my kids grow up and leave the nest lol. But I am so happy and full of love, knowing that they are in a wonderful home and being given all the love they could want!
My farewell photo with Sadie before she was taken to her new home.
A little after they left the party with Sophie and Sadie, I looked to Diana (The owner/operator of Second Chance Cavy) and told her I’ll be ready for new fosters as soon as I get the foster cage cleaned up. She was thrilled to hear that. So a few days later, on Wednesday, June 14th, I brought home more fosters. A momma and her two 3 week old babies. Momma’s name is Munchkin, and we named the babies, “Mocha” and “Mikko”. Mocha is a female who had black and rust colored fur. Mikko is a male with solid black fur. Both are Abyssinians so they are cute and furry! The momma definitely has crested breed in her since she’s got that telltale crested mark on her head. she’s also a mix of black, white and rust, but that’s is about the only resemblance she has to her babies. Her coat is very unhealthy, and so thin in places you can see her skin. The fur is very coarse and dry, but we aren’t sure if that is part of her poor nutrition or if she may have some teddy in her as well that makes her coat that texture. Time will tell as she is fed a well balanced and nutritious diet here. In fact, it’s been 1 week now since I’ve brought them home, and she’s looking a lot better. Munchkin’s belly was also very large. She looked pregnant again, but that was impossible given how recently she gave birth and the only male she was with was her baby, who’s not quite mature yet, (but soon!). So we were thinking it was another sign of poor nutrition where she was severely bloated. Her belly has already gone down and looking more normal in size. She’s also such a sweet heart. She’s still shy, BUT, she has found an absolutely passion for pea flakes! I thought my own herd loved pea flakes, but it’s nothing compared to Munchkin’s love of them lol. She tolerates ANYTHING so long as there are pea flakes available. From the very first night with us, I was already hand feeding her, and by the second night, I was able to pet her with my free hand while she ate from my other hand. Now, she willingly comes to my hands when I put them in the cage, looking for treats of course. She still runs a bit when I try to pick her up, so I just slowly move my hands around the cage, as low to the cage floor so I’m not chasing her from above. I don’t immediately put my hands on her, but stop near here when she stops and then I let her venture to my hand when she’s ready and feels safe. I don’t always pick her up either. I am really trying to instill trust with my hands and not imprint that hands mean “GRABBY GRABBY!” all the time. But when I do pick her up, she’s so sweet and calm. She enjoys being pet. Her babies are just as cute. Mikko, being male, is super brave and is always the first to check things out, while Mocha prefers to just stick to Munchkins side and only check things out if Munchkin is checking them out. But the babies are very calm when you hold them, for the most part…. There’s been some instances where one would go from being super calm to suddenly leaping from my hand to my shoulder to climb up lol. I’d be fine with them on my shoulder, but I don’t trust they won’t fall or sometimes they try to climb across my back as well and I am scared I’ll drop them. So when they start getting too adventurous, we put them back in the cage.
Mikko will only be staying with us for another week or so. Seeing as he’s male, he’ll be taken from his sister and mom before he matures enough to impregnate them. Diana will bond him to another male to be adopted out together when they are old enough, while I will continue to foster Munchkin and Mocha until they are both ready to be adopted.
I’ll be posting regular pictures and updates on the fosters as well as my own herd, so feel free to check back often!
Have a wonderful day!!
-Robyn Wheek Dreams Designs
