Would you think this man was weird or wonderful?

[missmouse101]

My lovely friend is 27 and a sweet, funny man. He is also single. We both really like guinea pigs (!) and he is planning to get two gorgeous piggy babies. He is worried that any potential girlfriend would see him as a bit of a weirdo keeping guinea pigs, whereas I think it would only endear him more to a woman? He asked if I could find out what people might think, so here I am! Thank you in advance!

Yes, totally agree about rescuing them. I will look into that.

Neither. People have pets.

I would certainly think him wonderful!

I had a (beloved and very spoiled) pet hamster when I was in my 20s and I never had any shortage of interested men. I would see it as endearing and an animal lover is always more attractive than one of these 'I don't like pets' people.

I don't have pets due to landlord but I'd be happier to be with a guy with guineas pigs than a guy with snakes.

My point is it's a personal choice. Some people will thi k I'm awful for not liking snakes. Others think it's weird that cats unnerve me. No reason why there is an "acceptable" pet for a grown man (u less he refers to Teddy bears as his pets and then run like the fucking wind

"Pet lovers make good dps imo."

But not great boyfriends. You don't want someone leaving early in the morning to walk the dog or whatever or not coming on holidays because they've got pets to look after.

love the piggy pics, so gorgeous, he's an animal lover, good for him.

I think it’s lovely, guinea pigs are lovely and totally agree he should adopt some rescues.

What is the attraction to keeping a caged animal?

I could never be with someone who didn't love animals. Definite plus in my book.

My friend’s boyfriend had guinea pigs, he was a lovely guy with a responsible job, good friends, all that jazz. He was very funny and sweet. It wouldn’t put me off. A dislike of animals certainly would though.

My dh and I both love GPs and have always had them on and off over the years'. Delightful

It would put me off.

Off putting to me.

Not sure why it'd put someone off, but maybe as the owner of an elderly pig I'm a bit biased. Any man who'd find that strange or off putting would be told where to go anyway.

I think I would see any animal lover as a positive in a potential partner. Tell your friend he should be himself, have the pets that he wants and the right person for him will love his pigs too.

I love my dog more than I do most humans and if someone I was dating didn't like her, I would get rid of him and not my dog.

I love animals but I'd probably hesitate to date him.
Pets can be restrictive

He’d be a hit with the Peruvian ladies!

Guinea pigs aren't that restrictive though surely, easy enough to find someone to take care of them for a few days. They just need feeding and cleaning out. Cuddling is optional. (Mind you, we once left a pair of GPs in the care of XBIL and came back to find one dead and the other not very well... as far as I could work out he'd given them about enough food between them for a hamster )

I agree with other posters in that I would find it a bit 'wet' and a childish sort of pet (I know I will get flamed for that on a board of guinea pig lovers...!). I would worry that he was immature/tragic.

The only thing I’m thinking is that he is using the whole “is having pet guineapigs weird” thing as a scapegoat to cover up some actual full-blown weirdness in some other way! - owning a couple of guineapigs is hardly taboo is it!

It might be off putting for the spontaneous types or those who like to go away a lot but he might not be looking for that.

I’d read it as ‘can’t be very spontaneous, no weekends away’. Also, I’d assume they smell and leave mess around the house. Maybe they don’t, but since I’d probably hear about them before seeing them, it’d still be a factor.

It’s a no from me. On the upside, my 8yo DD thinks it’s the best idea she’s ever heard and now wants to marry your friend. 🤩

They are very smelly though !

I love guinea pigs so it wouldn't put me off at all!