From the humblest of beginnings to stardom, Charlie’s story is one of character, strength and pure luck!
We saw a local Facebook post on the 3rd September 2021, asking if anyone could help with taking care of a tiny Guinea pig. The next day I called around to find their cat had brought this (less than 1 week old) poor baby home in its mouth and left it on the front lawn. This cat had several times brought its owner ‘offerings’, and on checking the latest delivery, found it to be a frightened and helpless Guinea pig. As we have cared for guinea pigs for many years, we ‘adopted’ this new fur baby and took it home to arrange a visit to SASH for a welfare check. We decided on a name that would suit both male or female, so our new fur baby became ‘Charlie’.
The SASH Emergency Nurse confirmed that Charlie was female. We were all amazed that Charlie was in such a fine condition, with no physical trauma or injuries from a trip in a cat’s mouth from an unknown location!
Charlie had found a loving home, settling in well in her new environment. After several weeks, it was time to find her a ‘sister’, as guinea pigs being herd animals need company. In the first week of November, Charlie met her new buddy Abbie.
We had applied to a guinea pig rescue service for a female friend for Charlie, and made an appointment to take her to the rescue service to hopefully pair her with the best ‘match’. Abbie was a little older than Charlie, but the two seemed to be very comfortable together. In the days that followed they became inseparable.
In October 2023 Abbie became ill and was under the care of SASH North Ryde Exotics. Her diagnosis, true to form with Guinea pigs, was a mystery and the Exotics Vets and Nurses tried everything to diagnose and resolve the problem. At the same time, Charlie decided to come down with a bladder problem showing signs of pain when passing urine. An X-ray of Charlie’s bladder showed a small stone which needed to be surgically removed. So the sisters became room-mates at SASH North Ryde awaiting surgery.
We were asked if Charlie’s operation could be filmed for an episode of Bondi Vet, and were happy to allow this to occur. Under Dr Olivia’s skillful and caring hands, in front of the Bondi Vet cameras, Charlie underwent the procedure to remove a larger than expected stone with Abbie watching on. Sadly, not long after Charlie’s operation Abbie succumbed to her illness and Charlie lost her best buddy on the 30th October 2023.
Charlie mourned her lost sister, as Guinea pigs do, and we allowed that to run its course. A week later, on the 6th November Ellie came into Charlie’s life. At first, Charlie was uncertain. This wasn’t Abbie, so we kept them separated for their first night together. Ellie was only a few months old and ‘full of beans’. Whereas Charlie was settled in her domain. However we needn’t have worried, they hit it off and new best buddies were formed.
Regular check-ups at SASH North Ryde with the wonderful Exotics Vets and Nurses ensured our two girls stayed happy and healthy. In June this year we were asked if Charlie and Ellie could take part in filming for Pet Circle’s new advertising campaign. They seemed quite willing, so studios were booked, makeup applied and cameras rolled!
From starting out in the mouth of a pet cat, found on the front lawn of a neighbour, nursed through a major operation, losing a best friend and making a new one, to become a star in an advertising campaign, Charlie has had one amazing adventure with, I’m certain, many more to come!
– North Ryde NSW, Western Sydney NSW
