PET OF THE MONTH…Un-Leashed!
By Marna Gale of the Beach Metro News - Filed May 2008
Owen (Photo by Marna Gale )
If Pigs Could Fly!
A pair of wings might have come in handy for OWEN about a month ago. That's when somebody chose to dump their Guinea Pig collection in a back alley behind a pet store. Nine little pigs - one of each known fancy breed (Owen representing the Himalayan Teddy variety) - heartlessly discarded in a cardboard box.
Things were looking pretty grim from the bottom of that box. But pig 'tales' have a habit of curling upwards, don't you know! Rescued in the nick of time, their squeals of joy could be heard around the world! Well, at least around the block.
Maybe it has something to do with their location next to the Horses Pavilion at the CNE Grounds. Whatever the inspiration, the folks at TORONTO ANIMAL SERVICES - SOUTH REGION (TAS-SOUTH) never discriminate when it comes to an animal in need. Rushing to the rescue of dogs and cats is only part of it. Throw in chickens, quails and even pot-bellied pigs! Everything matters, including little home-style pigs like Owen and his pen pals.
Heroes don't brag, so we don't always hear about the selfless acts performed behind the scenes…or the stables for that matter, depending on the critter in question. Many happy tales are left untold when their grateful subjects go out the back barn door, finding new life at animal sanctuaries outside Toronto.
But of course, Owen and his pig-mates are city slickers! And they deserve the best the city has to offer. After all, Guinea Pigs are like mini dogs that require veterinary care when health issues arise and thrive on family fun when they're in the pink!
Since heroes don't brag, I'm taking the liberty of bragging for them through this story. Who better to join our story now than Sarah, founder of GUINEA PIGS R US RESCUE (GPRU)?! Long-time friend of TAS, Sarah is always the one to call when a guinea pig needs a little specialized service! The plan was to spring as many of the nine guinea pigs that Sarah's rescue group could take so they would benefit from the comfort of loving foster homes until permanently placed. As for those remaining at the shelter, Sarah would call on her friends and supporters in an effort to send any prospective adopters in its direction.
Among the sprung was Owen.
Wings or no wings, Owen is an angel. He and his doting foster mom visited my home for the interview. Foster Mom did most of the talking. As you might expect, Owen only speaks (or rather squeaks) 'pig' which sounds more like he's cleaning the windows than talking. That's okay. There are other ways he communicates that speak volumes, like his piggly-wiggly kisses and his piggly-wiggly purrs and the way he curls up into a little fur ball on your lap for as long as you'll let him. Also worth mentioning is this inexplicable piggly-wiggly power he seemed to have over my youngest beagle who, as difficult as this is to admit, fell hopelessly in love with Owen. Try telling your dog that he can't have a pet guinea pig…
Never mind if pigs could fly. This little piggy just wants to go Squeak, Squeak, Squeak All The Way Home…to YOU!
Owen is a young male adult Himalayan Teddy Guinea Pig in the loving lap of Guinea Pigs R Us Rescue, www.guineapigsrusrescue.com. Looking for a lap-pig to love? Look no further!