Gingeranna Jones, Adventure Pig, died today. Taking bets...

[Zookeeper]

on how long it will take my (older) children to realize she is gone.

Our sweet old guinea pig has been resting peacefully in a shoebox in the freezer since I found her dead in her home this morning. Her cage is still there, but none of my three kids has noticed yet that she isn't.

A school teacher friend wanted to adopt her for a pre-school class, and my daughter, who paid the least attention to the piggie, was heartbroken at the thought of giving her up. And she is always the one that wants to adopt a new cute little pet. So, at the risk of being the Most Wicked Mom In The World, I'm waiting to see how long it takes the kiddos to notice that Ginger is "gone." I'm considering it insurance against the next impulse to adopt another pet.

Meanwhile, I'm taking bets on how long it will take them to notice. The prize is being the Best Guesser on DU.

BTW, we will have a proper funeral when they notice that she's dead.

Edited for typo.

[donco6]

1. My bet - 48 hours from TOD

So sorry for your loss, not that you sound ALL THAT broken up about it!

:)

[Zookeeper]

2. Well, I just loved her....

she was a very sweet old piggie, but unfortunately was competing with several more active and vocal pets for attention. The kids did take responsibility for feeding her (when she "wheeked").

I'm not above using tragedy to make my point, though... :evilgrin:

[donco6]

8. Ha!

Actually, I've thought about getting one - they do look pretty cute. But I'm afraid the lifespan of a guinea pig in my home with two rat terriers would be quite short.

[Zookeeper]

10. Oh, I have a rat terrier, also...

"Pearl" was very interested in Ginger for a while, but got over it. Although she never lost interest in Ginger's food. We had Ginger pretty well protected from Pearl, though, just in case.

[donco6]

11. So - Adventure Pig - what's that about?

I can only imagine what type of adventures she had.

My two ratters are Gracie and Greta. Gracie I can see getting over Ginger, but Greta - I dunno. She's pretty darn persistent. She chased a mouse behind our siding and would not let it rest until she'd pulled the whole darn piece off! I have no idea as to the fate of the mouse, but I fear the worst.

[Zookeeper]

13. "Adventure Pig" ended up being an ironic name...

for Ginger. She grew up to be very sedate.

Pearl goes nuts over bigger "game" like squirrels and would love to play with our cats who absolutely hate her. She is also regularly tormented by the chipmunks living in our yard and once got stuck under the deck after chasing one.

LOL to your mouse under the siding story. RT's are very persistent!

[JVS]

3. Umm, do you think that this is wise?

I could imagine the kids being totally freaked out when you say "She's in the freezer. I was just waiting for you to notice she died"

[Zookeeper]

6. Yes...it's a bit risky,

but my youngest is almost ten, so I don't think they will be deeply traumatized. And we will have a properly mournful burial. But, I do hope they will understand that adopting a pet is a responsibility for the full lifetime of the animal and avoid anymore impulsive adoptions.

[bif]

4. Cryogenics like Walt Disney?

Are you going to bring her back when the technology is available?

[bif]

5. What happens when they reach in for a popsicle?

And pull out a frozen furball?

[JVS]

7. That is when the life long bad memory begins

[Zookeeper]

9. She's in a locked basement freezer...

at first I put the box on the bookshelf, then realized they might be curious about what was in the box (I don't really want to traumatize them). I'm not all that familiar with this process, but glad I thought to put her in the freezer since it's 80 degrees outside and they still haven't noticed.

[trof]

12. Not till the week end.

[Zookeeper]

14. Very possible. It's now 6:00 pm. They haven't noticed. n/t

[Zookeeper]

15. Update: It's 9:00 pm and they still haven't noticed...

I'm beginning to think I should just tell them if they haven't figured it out by tommorrow morning.