Halloween is for everyone, even Guinea pigs

EPHRATA - Janet and Tim Peterson's two house mates really get into Halloween. In years past, they have been witches, firefighter and nurse and will dress up again for years to come.

The only difference between them and other trick-or-treaters is that "Piglet" and "Lou C. Furr" are Guinea pigs.

"It began when I sent a picture of one of them in a Santa hat to my mom to cheer her up since she was in a nursing home," Janet said.

Each holiday season, Janet dresses up the two Guinea pigs and snaps some pictures. In years past, Janet has dressed them as reindeer and angels for Christmas cards but said was running out of ideas when she found some tiny witch hats at a craft fair.

"If they don't want to do it, I won't make them," said Janet. "But they pretty much go along with it."

Janet says they got the Guinea pigs, called cavies, to keep her company when she and her husband moved from Kodiak, Alaska. Tim Peterson is allergic to most pets, and Guinea pigs were one of the few animals the couple could keep.

The Petersons lovingly refer to their pets as "carpet cattle" and keep an area of their Ephrata house specifically for the critters. Janet says they are very well behaved except for some begging when they hear the refrigerator door open, and then they will wait for treats.

Piglet is almost 6 with a birthday coming up in November and Lou will turn 2 later this week.

"They are awesome little animals," Janet says. "People just don't give them the credit they're due. They are so social."