Buddy 2004 (3?) - 2009

This weekend one of our first pets passed away. We will most remember Butterfly Fingers ("Buddy") as he/she burst on stage in 2003 as the first male guinea pig to give birth (See the article below reproduced from our 2003 Christmas Letter for details).

There was great wailing heard from the Rachiele household as both mother and daughter consoled each other.

Buddy leaves behind two children (Joe and Sue) who were given away in 2004. We are not sure if Buddy ever fully recovered from the separation.

In 2008, Buddy had a boil lanced from her backside, after which Jon found it difficult to reconcile the love of a pet with the veterinary fees. Taking this theme to the extreme was the force feedings through a syringe that Krista gave Buddy for the last couple months of her life.

Services were held this evening in the backyard. After reading Ecclesiastes 3 and some last good byes, Ian made a tombstone from his new wood burning kit (Later we found out that the real birth year was 2003 when looking through old photos.).

In lieu of gifts the family requests you send condolences through facebook.




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Buddy the Male Guinea Pig Gives Birth
Reproduced from 2003 Rachiele Family Christmas Letter.

This story could also be subtitled, "Oh My Gosh, This is Going to Make the Christmas Letter."

We bought a guinea pig for Devin's fourth birthday, as required by Devin. I made the unfortunate mistake of wandering into a pet store when she was three, and she never let me forget about it. I thought I would throw her off by telling her, "only four year olds can have guinea pigs." After Devin blew out the candles on her fourth birthday, she looked at me and said, "Where's the Guinea Pig?"

So now, we got Buddy -- more appropriately, Butterfly Fingers (Guess who named him.). Buddy (also called Bud-Bud for those close to him), had a brother, which we could not take on because male guinea pigs fight each other. Although the lady we got him from assured us that Bud-Bud and his brother got along well -- yeah, a little too well.

Well, I come home one evening, and decide to take him out for his annual petting by Devin -- Why did we get this thing again? I open the cage, and lo, there are three Buddy's.

Devin's first reaction was to name them. "This one is Joe, and this one is Sue (click to see a picture of Joe and Sue)."

Now, the first thing I think is "What did Krista do?" -- I am sure she would have the same reaction about me. I go upstairs to confront my wife -- what in God's name is she doing, getting two baby guinea pigs?

Jon: "Krista, Bud-Bud is not alone."

Krista: "What?"

Jon: "What did you do?"

Krista: "What?"

Jon: "Bud-Bud had babies."

Krista: "Oh my gosh, this is going to make the Christmas letter."