Post by PigPog on Feb 5, 2008 15:54:21 GMT
The Story of Sprout
Although Sprout has now passed away, and some of you already know how I came to find him, I thought I'd tell his story again for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of reading about him.
In December 2005 I went to a pet shop for some feed bowls. In the sale pens I spotted an adult Rex boar being attacked by an enormous rabbit. He was up on his rear legs trying to bat the rabbit away with his front paws and he was crying.
I called to the staff who took the top off the sale pen, and I scooped the boar up in my arms and held him to my chest. He was screaming so loud the other shoppers were turning to see what was going on.
There were no fiddlesticks or igloos in the pens for the guinea pigs to hide in, and all the animals were a mix of rabbits and guinea pigs, so I shouted at the staff in the middle of the shop and planted myself there until they put some hiding places in the pens.
They let me take the boar home for free because they said he was rather big now and they thought he'd be difficult to sell because of his age.
Simon drove us home, and I took the boar out of the cardboard box and he put his head under my anorak. I still believe he was relieved to be away from the shop.
We called him Sprout because it was a few days before Christmas.
Sprout in quarantine at home
A couple of days later I took him to see the vet, and Sprout was covered in bruises and teeth marks from head to toe, and he had a clump of hair torn from his back. He also smelled really badly of rabbit pee. His nails were overgrown too.
Torn out fur and teeth marks
Overgrown nails and a miserable expression
I had Sprout for two wonderful years. He adored having his chin and lips tickled and he always gave me a lick on my nose every day. He was very sensitive and to this day I maintain that I could actually have a full conversation with him - something I've never done with any other animal.
Sprout showing off his teeth, chin and lips!
Sadly, he died on 31st October 2007 when his lungs filled with fluid. It appears he had a heart defect. He was two and a half years old.
I miss him to bits and telling his story is always hard, but I think people should know about him because he was the most amazing creature I've ever met and it was a privalege to have had him.
The last photograph taken of Sprout. I think he was smiling
You may have noticed the dedication to him at the bottom of this forum. That's how much he meant to me.
Although Sprout has now passed away, and some of you already know how I came to find him, I thought I'd tell his story again for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of reading about him.
In December 2005 I went to a pet shop for some feed bowls. In the sale pens I spotted an adult Rex boar being attacked by an enormous rabbit. He was up on his rear legs trying to bat the rabbit away with his front paws and he was crying.
I called to the staff who took the top off the sale pen, and I scooped the boar up in my arms and held him to my chest. He was screaming so loud the other shoppers were turning to see what was going on.
There were no fiddlesticks or igloos in the pens for the guinea pigs to hide in, and all the animals were a mix of rabbits and guinea pigs, so I shouted at the staff in the middle of the shop and planted myself there until they put some hiding places in the pens.
They let me take the boar home for free because they said he was rather big now and they thought he'd be difficult to sell because of his age.
Simon drove us home, and I took the boar out of the cardboard box and he put his head under my anorak. I still believe he was relieved to be away from the shop.
We called him Sprout because it was a few days before Christmas.
Sprout in quarantine at home
A couple of days later I took him to see the vet, and Sprout was covered in bruises and teeth marks from head to toe, and he had a clump of hair torn from his back. He also smelled really badly of rabbit pee. His nails were overgrown too.
Torn out fur and teeth marks
Overgrown nails and a miserable expression
I had Sprout for two wonderful years. He adored having his chin and lips tickled and he always gave me a lick on my nose every day. He was very sensitive and to this day I maintain that I could actually have a full conversation with him - something I've never done with any other animal.
Sprout showing off his teeth, chin and lips!
Sadly, he died on 31st October 2007 when his lungs filled with fluid. It appears he had a heart defect. He was two and a half years old.
I miss him to bits and telling his story is always hard, but I think people should know about him because he was the most amazing creature I've ever met and it was a privalege to have had him.
The last photograph taken of Sprout. I think he was smiling
You may have noticed the dedication to him at the bottom of this forum. That's how much he meant to me.
I really miss him to bits. He used to give me little kisses on my nose. 
