Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Julia Mitchell

The pets I’ll never forget: Pudding and Popcorn, the guinea pigs who saved me during lockdown

Julia Mitchell’s guinea pig Pudding
Julia Mitchell’s guinea pig Pudding. Photograph: Courtesy of Julia Mitchell

The therapeutic effects of having a furry friend are well documented; many people made the best of being at home during the Covid lockdowns by welcoming a new cat, dog, rabbit or rodent into their home. This is where I found myself in the autumn of 2020. I was living alone for the first time, having left the hustle and bustle of London for rural Hertfordshire with my two guinea pigs, Pudding and Popcorn.

I met the boys during a visit to This Little Piggy, a guinea pig rescue run by volunteers in Richmond, south-west London. I was introduced to big pigs, little pigs, confident pigs and shy pigs. When I met these two, I realised they were the ones. As they licked my fingers and leaned in for a cuddle, I knew that I had to take them home.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.