Cavia porcellus -- yet another mammal who can sleep...

This is what you call “timing.”
We’ve got some Guinea Pigs in the spotlight for “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap” AND it’s the weekend of the sixth annual legendary Texas Rustlers Guinea Pig Rescue Hoedown in Irving.
With all that excitement, who could sleep? Well, at least one Guinea Pig. This one is named Crystalline and that's her in her little quilted slumberdome.
She and her kin belong to the scientific category “cavia porcellus.” {Our crackerjack research department found that nobody really knows the origin of the name “Guinea Pig.”) Some people call the Guinea Pig a “cavy.” And, of course, some do not.  Instead they might ask, “Isn’t that thing a rodent?” Yes, it is, but the Guinea Pig, whose origins can be traced to the Andes in South American, is a popular North American pet. (Aside: Some people have also noticed the Guinea Pig’s resemblance to one of the more famous characters from the original Star Trek TV series, the Tribble. The episode was named “The Trouble With Tribbles” – some say “The Trouble With Guinea Pigs” didn’t work and the spotlight was lost.)
Our Guinea Pig tipster, Sarita Rossi of Texas Rustlers Guinea Pig Rescue, says that Crystalline, who was born on Jan. 28, was adopted by Claire Schricker. a couple of weeks ago
Crystalline’s Guinea Pig mom “was from a cruelty case of 10 Guinea Pigs rescued in cooperation with Dallas Animal Services,” according to Sarita.
Crystalline and her sister, Cream, became roomies of two other Guinea Pigs, Miss Molly and Neville, that Claire had adopted from Texas Rustlers a few years ago, says Sarita.
The photo shows Crystalline, Cream and Miss Molly – not sure where Neville is. Maybe he’s practicing for the Hoedown's owner-piggy look-alike contest.
As for sleeping, Guinea Pigs are mammals and that, of course, makes them susceptible to mammalian sleeping patterns – no doubt somewhere today there is a chubby little Guinea Pig tossing and turning and trying to find something on his i-Pod that will induce sleeping.
One of my friends asked me if Guinea Pigs run in their sleep – like household dogs. And, if they snore. So, we asked Sarita, who says, “I've never seen them snore or run in their sleep!  They do an amazing flop though with their little legs stretched out behind them. I suppose some might snore...I've heard my rabbits snore so I don't see why piggies don't.”
You can read about the Hoedown HERE.
And, probably, we should point out that if our math is correct, 2011 is the 10th anniversary of the creation of Texas Rustlers Guinea Pig Rescue.
The Hoedown is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 S. Main St., in Grapevine. It’s free. And the organizers  say, “If you bring your Guinea Pig, be sure it is in a suitable carrier with plenty of fresh water and food.  If it’s in a costume, be sure it is not too hot or too tight. No dogs or other pets, please.” (I’m assuming this is for the protection of the dog or other pets – the ferocity of a Guinea Pig is legendary. Perhaps you saw the 2009 film G-Force.)
Now, why would a Guinea Pig be in costume? Witness protection program? Nope, there’s a costume contest at the Hoedown. That’s at 12:30 p.m. – it’s the Best Dressed Piggy Costume Contest. Then, at 1 p.m.,  there’s the Piggy-Owner Look-Alike Contest (and don’t you know the cameras will be snapping for that one). And, at noon and at 1:30 p.m.  there’s the “Fast carrot-Eating Contest.” Not sure if the owner participates in that or if it’s just the Guinea Pigs – I guess if humans were allowed it would be the Owner/Piggy Chew-alike Contest.
You can read all about the contests HERE.
Proceeds from the Hoedown “will help feed and care for the approximately 200 Guinea Pigs, hamsters and gerbils” currently in the care of the non-profit Texas Rustlers Guinea Pig Rescue.
(To nominate your sleeping critter – no matter the type – for the spotlight in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send photos and info to [email protected]. Readlarrypowell.com is proud to show the world that Guinea Pigs know how to sleep. In fact, in the history of mankind this may be the first time any publication has launched a story based on the fact that a Guinea Pig was photographed sleeping.)
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