AARP Online Community: SIMPLETREASURES

SIMPLE TREASURES

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Date Created:
April 5, 2008

Category:
Family & Friends »
Pets

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Public

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jacobirose

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SIMPLE TREASURES

SIMPLE TREASURES ARE stories of interest about anything related to animals,be it your pet,a story you read.an experience you've had with any animal.any story that touches the heart is welcome.

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POST STORIES OF ANIMALS THAT TOUCH THE HEART

By: jacobirose on March 19, 2008 | Posts: 98 | Latest Post By: jacobirose on February 3, 2010

Ways to Save on Your Pet's Next Prescription

By: SCPharmacist on January 16, 2010 | Posts: 0

simple treasures may be laid to rest

By: jacobirose on April 8, 2009 | Posts: 7 | Latest Post By: cancersurvivor4 on October 30, 2009

KATE'S PETS2

By: katie62 on May 16, 2009 | Posts: 1 | Latest Post By: jacobirose on May 17, 2009

KATE'S PETS

By: katie62 on May 16, 2009 | Posts: 0

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I grew up in a family of six. I am the sister of three younger brothers. I must say, it was an "interesting" situation. But that's for a journal of a different type. From as far back as I can remember, our family included an added member in the form of a dog. I've written stories about each of these guys and will eventually post them here. I have some very wonderful memories. I have two children and as they grew up they had pets of various varieties, including a hamster, a cockatiel called Jimmy, kittys, dogs, a rat called Bethoven, and even a baby rattlesnake! We didn't know it was a rattler, but were fascinated that it struck the aquarium glass each time we came near it. My son brought it home and we assumed it was a garden snake. It had no markings and it was very small. A friend came by one day and we showed the new pet to him. He gasped and asked did I realize what we had. I said, "A garden snake?" "Nooooooo", he said. "What you have is a rattlesnake!" He explained to us how lucky my son was that the snake didn't bite him. It seems that baby rattlers, unlike adults, don't control how much venom to use on victims and therefore inject far more than is needed to make one sick. They are truly much more lethal than adult snakes. But babies have no markings, nor do they have the rattle. They resemble a harmless garden snake.

Gulp! Needless to say, Mr. Snake ended his stay with us as of. . . .immediately!

But for now, I'll write about my newest baby - Toby. Toby is a guinea pig. I'd never had a guinea pig before, so I'm happy I made the decision to bring one home to keep me company during my lengthy stay here in England.

Everything I've read about guinea pigs suggests we have at least two little critters cause they are very social. Our flat (apartment for my American friends and family) isn't large enough to accommodate two so we have replaced a second one with sounds from the computer. I've found some great sites that play guinea pig sounds. Now, when Toby sees me open my computer, he starts squealing cause he thinks it's his buddy. How cute is that! Also, when we go to the fridge to get out plastic bags of his veggies and fruits, he squeals with delight. He knows we are getting food for him. He's so precious! We love him to bits!

All the websites say he needs a companion guinea pig because they are very "social." We don't have the room for a hutch big enough to house two so we are his companions, and he considers us as such. It's really cool. When he's in his playpen I'll go over, crouch down on the floor to his level, and call to him. He eventually comes over to me and visits for a few minutes. You would think that would be an automatic, but it's not. It's taken time for him to build up the courage to trust me. He now licks my finger as if he's giving me kisses.

Our original intention was to have him as my companion while I wait for USCIS to get their act together and then give him to a loving home when we leave. Well, needless to say, we have so fallen in love with him that we can't bear the thought of leaving him behind. We have been investigating what all is involved in taking him to the states with us.

GUINEA PIGS ARE REALLY COOL PETS!

Toby has been with us about six months now. He is finally comfortable enough to express personality. We lay out a blanket on the couch between us and put Toby on it to sit with us a couple of hours each evening. After placing him on the blanket, I sit down next to him and he comes over to me immediately, looking for his most favorite treat - a slice of cucumber. I wait a bit then walk into the kitchen and as soon as I open the fridge to get him another slice, he starts his high pitch squeal with delight. We always have to laugh, it's so cute. We're teaching him to go to my husband, Andy, first, so I hand him a slice and then walk back to the kitchen. After Andy's given him his slice, I return with my slice and he walks over to me looking for it. It won't be long before he'll realize Andy is first to treat him. He's very clever!

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