The Big (Little) Sisters of Bro Let’s Go!

Now may of you don’t know, Brodie wasn’t our first fur baby! Back in 2018 we were randomly walking around Petco in West Orange, NJ (waiting for the liquor store to open for a party-our best friends’ going away party-that we were going to that night). We had been having a constant debate of getting a pet for a while-Dan traveled a lot for work at that time and I HATED being home alone for long periods of time. I (of course) wanted a dog, but since I worked multiple jobs and long hours, that wasn’t the best idea. A cat was also discussed, but there are SO many friends and family with allergies that we started to move away from that idea. As we walked around Petco we walked passed the hamsters and Dan mentioned that he had one as a kid and loved it!

Well I was NOT a fan when the store associate put one in my hands and it bit me…now I know that happens a lot, but I was just not a fan. So she asked why were were looking at hamsters and after going through the whole story of me being home alone, can’t get a dog, kinda want a cat but unsure of allergies, she said “well have you considered a guinea pig?”

Before that we had never thought about it. Ironically enough, the friends who were moving (the party we were going to that night) had LITERALLY just rehomed their guinea pigs…but we always say “everything happens for a reason.” So she showed us the guinea pigs. I asked to see this super cute baby who had black, white, and tan coloring. When she put that piggle in my arms, I was sold. I instantly fell in love with it. She cuddled up on my chest and just seemed so at home.

I knew in that moment that I wanted to take her home and enjoy all the cuddles she had to offer!

But then the saddest thing happened. We didn’t have anything for a guinea pig at home, knew absolutely NOTHING about them, and had that party to go to that afternoon. So I had to put her back in that glass cage they keep them in and walk away. We went to the liquor store, got what we needed for the party…and then decided we had to have her. We called our friends and they got SO excited for us. They had an extra cage from the pigs they had just rehomed and gave it to us-along with an okay to come to the party a little late!

And off we went to go get our baby! We prayed she was still there and we did a TON of research on our way back to Petco! Earlier that day when we had met her I had named her Charlie (I thought she was a boy and I LOVE that name-plus it just seemed to fit her). Luckily when we got there, Charlie was still there and we were able to get her! And it turned out Charlie was a girl! I honestly didn’t even care and was just so happy to have her!

We LOVED having her! Charlie fell right into our home like she had always been there. Those of you who know me, know I was instantly obsessed and dove right in with proper care. But in all that research, I learned that guinea pigs weren’t supposed to be alone. They were supposed to be in at least pairs…although Charlie seemed extremely happy to be on her own (and looking back, she totally would have been).

But that constant thought in the back of my head-guinea pigs can’t be alone-kept repeating in my head. We started looking at guinea pigs that were available at shelters and rescues, but were nervous to mix our 6 month old baby with an older piggy who may not be nice to her. And then one night-literally like less than an hour before Petco in Parsippany closed-Dan convinced me to go and just LOOK. When we got there they almost didn’t let us look at them because it was too close to closing, but when we said we were highly interested in this cute-SUPER tiny- brown/brindle and white one, they said okay! Dan instantly fell in love and I was just as happy.

That’s how we brought home our Leslie girl! She was a tiny thing, but oh so fierce. The completely opposite personality to Charlie! They didn’t love each other at first and within the first month, or so, they both had to be separated for various illnesses-Charlie had an eye infection, while Leslie ended up with an abscess from jumping up and out of her playpen…yup. You read that right.

Now, 3 years later, we’re one big happy fur family! Charlie LOVES Brodie-Leslie, eh, she tolerates not being the baby anymore. Brodie is in LOVE with them. Completely fascinated and can spend hours and hours just watching them.

And with Brodie’s increased training (and our extremely watchful eye), Brodie and Charlie run around the house together, Charlie exploring and Brodie herding her so she doesn’t go under furniture. It’s such an adorable relationship to watch unfold. When Charlie gets tired, she even curls up in Brodie’s legs! (Again-don’t worry! We are literally right there. Typically with Dan holding Brodie’s collar/leash/something to be sure nothing happens. Because you know, they are animals.)