Yesterday, we upgraded our Zhu Zhu pets, to a REAL LIFE guinea pig.

There was no umming and ah-ing in the decision making process.

It was a case of spot, hunt, chase, catch and adopt!

Saturday evening, while walking the Scruffy Mutt, we spotted a guinea pig playing on the verge a few houses down. The Scruffy Mutt was going berserk trying to chase it into the garden bed. Some neighbours stopped and asked if the guinea pig belonged to us, as they had already checked with everyone in their street.

Boo was beside herself, worrying about the guinea pig, outside, all alone in the dark. She could would not eat dinner. We grabbed a torch and went in search of the little escapee.

The lady from the house came out, and said it had been in her garden eating her parsley for about a week. Assured Boo that it was very good at hiding from the cats, it wasn’t hungry, and she would help catch it in the morning.

This is where I said if it was still there in the morning, and we could catch it, she could keep it!

Boo was up bright and early, Sunday morning (well 8am is bright and early for Boo), and no sooner was she out of bed she was ready for a guinea pig hunt.

Box, carrot and apple in hand, we headed down the street. Another man and his little girl were coming to spy on the guinea pig, and offered to help us catch it. So for about 20 minutes we played cat and mouse with the guinea pig before it outsmarted us and ran under the fence!

After lunch we headed off down the road again, box, carrot and apple in hand. The lady from the house was gardening. True to her word she helped me catch the guinea pig.

This made Boo, the proud new owner of Parsley (name subject to change), and meant I needed to make a trip to the pet shop for a hutch (too late in the day to hunt for a 2nd hand one), straw, water bottle, food, and food bowl!

It’s warmed my heart today watching Boo and Parsley bond. He obviously has missed his cuddles in his week or so living rough, and has just happily snuggled with Boo all evening.

As for the Scruffy Mutt, he is NOT at all impressed!