Caramel was the third addition to our guinea pig family back in 2000.  I had seen her several times in Petco when we were picking up other things and really wanted to get her.  However, we already had Aya and Eve and didn't think we really had enough room for a third guinea pig.  One day when we were in the store, the worker who knew we liked Caramel said we could have her for half price since they were getting lots of babies in.  We brought Caramel home that day - the best $12 I've ever spent!  Our dad built the guinea pigs a new larger cage to accommodate all three of them and they spent many happy days together. 

It was interesting to see the dynamics form between the three pigs once Caramel was introduced into the group.  Caramel liked to tease Aya, but she buddied right up to Eve.  She had a tendency to scare Aya from behind so she would turn around, and then Caramel would run to the other side and steal whatever Aya had been eating.  Aya always wheeked like crazy for the food and Eve and Caramel were more than happy to eat what she worked so hard for (no wonder Aya liked spending time with us more than the other pigs!).  Caramel was unfortunately the one that introduced the others to biting on the cage bars to get our attention - one of the most annoying things they ever did.  (Thanks, Caramel!)

Caramel was a little bit quirky and had more than her share of health problems throughout her life.  She got ringworm along with Aya and Eve, although Caramel never showed any of the symptoms and had none of the problems that Aya and Eve had after taking the medicine.  Caramel's front teeth broke without reason twice over the years but quickly grew back in.  She constantly battled ear problems and ended up with an adorable head tilt from the infection.  She had plenty of vet visits in her life, and the last one she ever went to was when we learned she had a tumor in her belly.  All we could really do for her was take her home and make her as comfortable and happy as could be for as long as we had her.  The vet assured us that we would know when the end was near, although Caramel's death four months later was very much unexpected because she acted completely normal even up until the night before.  We found that she had passed away during the night when we saw her the next morning.

Caramel was probably the most eccentric pig we have ever owned, but that made her all the more unique and special.  She had so many issues throughout her life, but she was happy through it all.  Caramel was definitely one of a kind, and we are so glad that we decided to bring her into our piggy family all those years ago.

- Liz