Survivor Thomas getting TLC at home
THOMAS the guinea pig has survived surgery and is getting ‘‘plenty of tender loving care’’ in his Dunedin home.
The 3yearold pet and his hutch and bowl were stolen from the front yard of the Pettigrew family home in Glenleith overnight on June 18.
The pet was found in his home yard in Garden Pl on June 20 with injuries including a ruptured eyeball and swollen back.
The family initially decided to put the animal down because of the high cost of surgery.
Rachel Pettigrew said they later agreed to Thomas having the surgery to ‘‘honour the generosity’’ of the people offering to pay the veterinary bill.
An online campaign raised the money needed in less than a day.
Thomas ‘‘got though the surgery well’’ and was eating but was ‘‘not out of the woods yet’’.
He was on antibiotics and painkillers and being administered ‘‘plenty of TLC’’ from the Pettigrew children — Freya, Aila, Felix and Amos, she said.
‘‘We are relieved he’s OK,’’ Aila said.
‘‘It’s a miracle,’’ Felix said. Although the family was overjoyed the public had rallied to save Thomas, the ‘‘feeling of disappointment’’ remained that someone had injured their pet.
‘‘It’s really weird . . . it’s not a nice feeling,’’ Rachel said.
The hutch and bowl are still missing.
shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz