Hay friends!
Mark your calendars. Cancel your plans. Alert every guinea pig you know!
September 16 is Guinea Pig Appreciation Day!
Isn’t that uh-ma-zing?
Of course, Big Momma says she appreciates me every day. But I see absolutely no reason we shouldn’t devote an entire day to reminding the world just how wonderful we guinea pigs really are.
After all, we have a pretty impressive history.
Did you know guinea pigs have been hanging out with hoomans for thousands of years?
That’s right. Thousands!
Big Momma told me that some ancient cavy bones in Colombia and Peru suggest guinea pigs may have been pets as early as 11,000-9,000 BC. That’s a long, long, long time ago!
But that’s not all.
In 2000, some scientists digging around in Venezuela found almost all the bones of one of my ancient ancestors. It belonged to a GIANT guinea pig ancestor as big as a rhinoceros that lived millions of years ago.
While we're originally from South America, people around the whole world now love us as part of their families!
That's because as boats from Europe and Central America began trading with South Americathe 1400s, the sailors fell in love with us cuties and started taking us back to their families. (Who could blame them?)
In fact, there’s a really funny painting from 1580 of a British family in silly fancy clothes holding an adorable piggy pet. (He looks a lot like me!)
The first known depiction of a cavy in European art. (Wikimedia Commons)
Scientists also found cavy bones from the Inca tribes in the Andes from the 1600s. My ancestors were dressed up with earrings and necklaces, which apparently meant the Inca believed these cute little piggies brought good luck and healing.
Clearly, hoomans recognized greatness when they saw it.
I mean, we're adorable. We're entertaining. We make delightful little noises. And we bring lots of joy to our families. That sounds pretty magical to me!
So, now that I’ve reminded you why we piggies are so perfect, let me tell you how to properly celebrate a creature with such a long and distinguished history.
Gizmo's 5 Favorite Ways to Celebrate Guinea Pig Appreciation Day
1. Give Us Something New to Chew
Guinea pig teeth never stop growing, which means chewing isn't just fun for us. It's important!
That's why a new chew toy is an excellent way to say, "I appreciate you."
Personally, I've got my eye on Tiny Paws Fidget Sticks. They give me something interesting to nibble and investigate while helping satisfy my natural urge to chew.
It's basically a guinea pig present with a purpose.
Gizmo's Gift-Giving Tip: One chew toy is nice. Several chew toys? Now you're starting to understand the meaning of appreciation.
2. Bring on the Snacks
This is an appreciation day, people. Let's start with the important stuff.
Surprise your piggy with favorite guinea pig-safe veggies, herbs, or treats. Big Momma already knows I'll be expecting something special.
I'm not saying it has to be a pea flake. (But I'm also not saying it shouldn't be.)
3. Make Snack Time an Adventure
Don't just hand over all those delicious goodies. Hide a few around our habitat or tuck them into hay and let us search for them.
Foraging gives us something interesting to do and lets us use our natural instincts.
Yes, technically you're making us work for our treats on our own holiday. But we'll allow it since it’s also fun.
4. Spend Some Extra Time Together
Not every Guinea Pig Appreciation Day gift has to come in a package.
Sit with us. Talk to us. Give us some gentle scratches if we enjoy them. Let us have some supervised floor time or simply hang out nearby while we munch hay.
Your guinea pig may not understand the words "I appreciate you," but we certainly notice when our favorite hoomans make time for us.
And between you and me, that's a pretty great gift.
5. Take Plenty of Pig-tures!
Obviously, a day celebrating guinea pigs requires photographic evidence.
Take a picture of your piggy enjoying the festivities and share it on social media. And don't forget to tag @smallpetselect so I can see my fellow guinea pigs getting the appreciation they deserve.
As much as I enjoy having an official holiday dedicated to guinea pigs, the best ways to appreciate us are the things you do all year long: give us plenty of fresh hay and water, healthy food, a safe and comfortable home, enrichment, proper care, and lots of love.
But on September 16?
Feel free to go a little overboard.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to remind Big Momma about this very important date. Guinea Pig Appreciation Day will be here before you know it, and these celebrations aren't going to plan themselves.
Happy Guinea Pig Appreciation Day!
Love,
Gizmo
Very Appreciated Guinea Piggy
