Latte, a long-haired guinea pig, scurries cautiously across the park grass, her tiny nose twitching as she explores her surroundings.
Shy, she stays close to her human, Juliana Jasman, while nibbling on the fresh greenery. It’s a rare treat for Latte to roam freely outside her cosy enclosure, and her trust in Juliana keeps her from wandering too far.
“She won’t run away. She gets scared and stays close to me. She’s well-behaved, and that’s why I love her,” Juliana, 40, told FMT Lifestyle with a smile.
This bond between Juliana and Latte is a testament to the care and dedication that have defined their relationship since Latte first came into Juliana’s life.
Juliana, a mother of three from Sungai Buloh in Selangor, embraced guinea pigs during the Movement Control Order in 2020. With her children schooling from home and outdoor activities restricted, she sought ways to keep them engaged while teaching them responsibility.
“We had hamsters before, but they aren’t suitable for kids as they tend to bite. We started with two guinea pigs, and now we have 20,” she shared.
Latte quickly became the family favourite. “She is naturally shy and needs to be handfed daily to build a bond. She doesn’t like being caught, but loves having her head patted.”
She also tends to show her feisty side when put together with other female guinea pigs. “She only accepts males. She doesn’t seem to like females,” Juliana revealed.
She said unlike hamsters, guinea pigs are easy to handle and are low-maintenance, making them ideal pets for children. They thrive on a diet of hay, pellets, and fresh vegetables like cucumber, carrots, capsicum and leafy greens.
“What’s cute is that when they want to eat, they make this whistling sound. Can you imagine entering a room with 20 guinea pigs and all of them whistling to get food?” Juliana laughed.
Juliana’s love for small animals extends beyond guinea pigs. As a full-time homemaker, she dedicates her weekends to a mini petting zoo called Furbabies Story, bringing her small animals to malls across Klang Valley.
“It’s my passion – it’s not easy, but it’s rewarding. Seeing the joy on children’s faces and knowing I’m educating them about animal care makes it all worthwhile.”
Her mini petting zoo also includes cats, sugar gliders, rabbits, hedgehogs, hamsters, and birds.
“My youngest daughter, who is six, is like my apprentice. She’s very passionate and confident, and teaches other kids how to hold rabbits properly at the petting zoo,” Juliana said proudly.
Still, she acknowledges the challenges of running such an enterprise.
“Transporting the animals and setting up the zoo requires patience and a dedicated crew. I learnt from experience that outdoor events aren’t suitable for small animals as they can die from heat exposure. So now, I only do indoor events.”
Ultimately, Juliana’s goal is to educate people about guinea pigs. “They are often mistaken for hamsters, but their needs are different. Guinea pigs are social animals that thrive in groups and only eat vegetables,” she stressed.
Now almost two years old, Latte remains a beloved member of Juliana’s animal family. “Guinea pigs only have a lifespan of five to seven years, so every moment with them is precious,” she concluded.
Follow Furbabies Story on Facebook.
This article was written by Dinesh Kumar Maganathan @ FMT Lifestyle. Read more pet stories here.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.