Huntington Woods Library Adopts Guinea Pig

The 's new resident is a real pig.

He doesn't clean up after himself. He chews with his mouth open. He never makes his bed. He isn't even potty-trained.

But that's OK, because the creature living in the library's lower lever is a guinea pig. And so far, the 1-year-old rodent has been a hit with children, library Director Anne Hage said.

On Thursday, Hage and library visitor Carly Saltsman, 7, peered into the brown-and-white pet's two-story cage as they tried to lure him out of his "pigaloo" – a plastic dome resembling an igloo, in which he likes to hide. He responded to their entreaties with low, gentle purring noises and ventured out a time or two to snag a proffered carrot.

"He's lucky," Carly said. "He's got a big house. He's got everything he needs – toys, food, people who like to visit him."

The guinea pig needed a home after his previous owner left for college, said youth services coordinator Tina Talbot. So, she thought, "Why not bring him to live at the library?"

Now that he's moved into his new digs, the next big change for the library's furry guest is to get a name.

In April, children will be able to vote on a list of 10 names, Talbot said.

Carly had an idea Thursday as she tried to coax him to nibble the carrot she held out to him: "Maybe we should call him Scaredy Pig."