Can I have a guinea pig? 'G-Force' movie's popularity fuels interest in cute critters as pets

When kids saw “101 Dalmatians” and “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” they sat up and begged for a title character of their very own.

And so it goes with the guinea pigs of “G-Force,” the Disney flick that scurried to the top of the box office last weekend with $31.7 million.

Aww, fuzzy, adorable little guinea pigs - great pets, right? We asked Dani Anderson of Lee's Summit (in suburban Kansas City, Mo.), whose Wee Critters Rescue saves these rodents from homes where they're no longer wanted.

Q. Why do guinea pigs need rescuing?

A. They're so cute and adorable as babies. And then you get them, and they are a lot of work. People don't research guinea pigs; they'll research dogs. They will have them for a while and then say, “I can't do this anymore” and try to dump them. That breaks my heart.

Q: Young children are the biggest fans of “G-Force,” but should they get to own a real guinea pig?

A: No. If you get a guinea pig for a child younger than 11, the adult has to be the primary caretaker. They're complicated little animals. They're intelligent and very cuddly, and they're one of the least likely pets to bite. But if they get sick, it goes badly very fast. They can be squeezed and hurt pretty easily. So you have to be paying attention. I think they're more of an adult pet.

Q: “G-Force” guinea pigs drive cars, parachute and generally look after themselves. Do the real ones need much care?

A: If they are a domesticated animal, they are absolutely helpless without you. You have to make sure you feed them fresh vegetables twice a day. They have to have timothy hay, the best hay for their digestive system, to keep their teeth ground down. They have to have their water changed every day and their litter cleaned out every five to seven days for one guinea pig. When they get older you have to start keeping them clean.

Q: We know only CGI guinea pigs can talk. How do real ones communicate with their owners?

A: They make different sounds. They have a sound that means don't do that, don't come near me. They click their teeth. When you hold them they will purr. They make noises when you bring in food. They'll just start hollering and say, yes, I'm hungry. And they're very intelligent. I've had one that chirped and mimicked a sound, “week week week.” She would holler for attention - please come in and pet me now.

Q: Where can people get more information?

A: Look for a vet that specializes in pocket animals or small exotics like rabbits and guinea pigs. There are quite a few out there.