The following story is one that was written about a wonderful pet of Martha Shuman's, Lochinvar. He was very special to their family, but succumbed to a fatal heart  condition. The Shumans now have two Hedgehogs and possibly more in the future!

"My name is Lochinvar and I'm an unusual pet--an albino African pygmy hedgehog. Since I am nocturnal, I sleep all day in a two-level ferret cage under a folded hand towel to keep me warm. My cage stays clean because I use an aluminum litter pan located on the second level. To keep looking my best, I use my back feet to scratch from the top of my head to my toes every night; I even keep my nails trimmed.

My owner feeds me dry and canned kitten food, cottage cheese, carrots, and fruit--but my favorite treat is mealworms. I enjoy running around on the lawn on warm, late afternoons and being held and petted by my owner. If I get a runny nose or eyes, start coughing, throwing up, or bleeding, I go to see Dr. Houghton right away. When I get a little older, I hope to be the proud boar of a family of hoglets. But for now, I am happy and content with an owner who loves me and takes good care of me."