The Boy and His Dog (and Guinea Pig)

I'm not what one would peg "an animal person." Yes, I had my share of goldfish (won at the fair, of course) as a child. And then there was Mindy, the much-loved little mutt that my dad unexpectedly surprised us with when I was almost 10. She was a feisty, high-strung little dog, but we loved her.

However, in adulthood, I never had a strong desire for another pet. That is...until God blessed our home with three boys. As they got older, I felt compelled to give them the experience of caring for and loving a dog. I wanted them to experience that faithful, furry comrade with whom they could romp and roam. There's just something about a boy and his dog.

Six years ago, God provided that friend for our boys in a dog named Gunnar. He is the most laid-back, gentle dog I ever did see. In all these years, he's never nipped at the boys or given us cause for alarm. At the age of 10, our poor dog's hearing has gone and he doesn't have the energy he once did, but he's still the sweetest dog ever.

While our boys adore Gunnar, our middle animal-loving son has long desired a small mammal that he could keep in his room. I was so relieved when he finally settled on a mammal, as once upon a time, he'd dreamed of having a reptile. Now that freaked me out!

A friend of mine recently let me know that they were looking for a new home for their guinea pig. So, knowing that I was nuts...maybe a little crazy...I immediately e-mailed my husband at work. What did he think of the prospect of us bringing another pet into our home? And so, long story short, Li'l Nipper joined our family this week.

These past days have been filled with lots of squeals, screams, and laughter as we've tried to get to know this little fella and learn how to care for him. The boys love feeding him vegetables and playing with him on the floor (despite the fact that he momentarily escaped and had to be rescued from beneath the sofa-sleeper).

The boys and their beasts.