Six years and still going strong

My guinea pig Pepper is six years old and still wheeks enthusiastically for her daily bell pepper (hence the name). She's slower than she was but has been in excellent health her whole life. The 5–7 year lifespan is a real advantage over shorter-lived small pets — you get to develop a genuine long-term relationship. She knows my voice, my routine, and my smell. Utterly irreplaceable.