This is my man! Tooey…Too-Man-Chu…my little buddy. Andrew, my son, and I went to the pet store just for fun about 5 1/2 years ago. Just browsing…no purchase intended. But lo and behold….right as we walk in the door, in a large open glass tank, there sat (or ran) two guinea pigs. Oh how pretty the one was! Gray and bright white, pudgy physique, clear dark eyes…sooo handsome! I always wanted a gray one and in my 35 years of guinea pig ownership I never had one! And he was free! Just buy a bag of food! Well, you know what happened. Spartano, as we called him, was going home with us.
“But Mom! What about the other one? He’s all alone now!” Andrew remarked rather sadly. “I don’t know if I want him, Andrew. He has a pointy nose and looks like a rat. I already have two and three will be enough.” “You can’t just leave him here by himself! Pleeeeease get him! He’s free!”
As the mom of seven kids, Andrew the youngest, I should have had a grasp on the parenting thing by that time. But there are times kids seem to have better intuition on some things. Maybe because their brains aren’t as clogged as ours are yet. Free. I like free. “Ok…we’ll take him, too.” I caved. Ratatouille was the full name we gave him and nick named him Tooey.
Only days later it became clear. Tano was a bore. Very little personality. Pretty, but boring. But Tooey….!!! Feisty, funny, frisky, friendly, and a complete joy!
Almost six years have passed since then. I can’t imagine life without him now. He is still feisty, funny, frisky, friendly and brings more joy than ever to me now. Loving animals has taught my children gentleness, responsibility, sacrifice, joy, sorrow, unselfish giving, and has developed more character in them than I could have ever imparted to them by myself. Pets change us from just being animalkind, to mankind….or more accurately for most people – to just plain KIND.
Tooey sleeping in my greenhouse in March
I love you Tooey! Thank you for all the wonderful moments of laughter and for adding that bit of extra sweetness to my life.
***
This weekly feature will share fun and interesting pet ‘tales’ – everything from helpful tips, funny stories, breed information, great links…really anything having to do with pets. And not just limited to dogs and cats – all pets are included here! Your stories are welcome and encouraged! Special focus will be placed on the local Portage animal shelters and rescues that have pets for adoption, so be sure to check weekly to see who might be eagerly waiting for their FURever home! Send your story or suggestion to patty@littleacornmedia.com with subject title: bow-wow & meow