|
 |
| Name: |
Ticochon
|
Age: |
Deceased, Two years old
|
| Gender: |
Male
|
Kind: |
Angora Guinea Pig
|
| Home: |
Switzerland
|
Ticochon
died one and a half years ago. No need to say that I miss him
to tears. I have a special reason to miss my previous guinea pig. These
animals are more able of communicating with us humans than we may
imagine - in one word, they are more intelligent than we judge them to
be. I think it all depends on the quality of contact we establish with
them.
Ticochon understood a certain number of words. When he wanted something,
he looked up very intensely in my eyes - as if he wanted to tell me
something. So I approached him with my hand and gave him a list of words
he knew, like: salad, seeds, cucumber, bread, water, watermelon, pee
(when a guinea pig is in our arms, we risk being sprinkled, but they
always warn us before, if we are able to interpret their warning) - and
also scratchy scratchy? (they like to be scratched where they cannot
reach themselves). This with my palm up - when I said the word he
expected me to say that was what he wanted from me, he tapped his little
paw twice in my hand - and was so happy and uttered the sound
brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (one of the typical sounds of these little
darlings). Actually, he was the one who made me try this out with my
palm, one day he was staring at me so intensely, so I came closer to him
and put my hand at his reach, and when I said the word (salad) for the
first time, he tapped twice his little paw on my palm, and he was so,
but so happy, he uttered the longest brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr and
put up his head so I could stroke his neck - he was really happy that he
could communicate with me.
I am an unconditional fan of these little animals who smell so nice, who
are so tender, who utter so sweet sounds (they almost constantly express
themselves through various sounds). I miss Ticochon.
|
|
|
 |
|
