Samantha Mesher thought two guinea pigs would bring simple joy to her home in Taunton. At first, it worked. Her daughters, aged four and 11, named them Coco and Fudge and fell for them immediately.

Then everything shifted. Within weeks, both animals died suddenly. Samantha says the speed of it left her children shaken. She expected the normal lessons that come with caring for pets. Instead, she faced grief twice in a matter of days.

Samantha took Coco to a vet linked to the retailer and heard different possibilities for the illness. However, she remained convinced the signs pointed to a streptococcus infection. Acting on advice not to leave the remaining guinea pig alone, she cleaned the cage thoroughly and introduced a new companion. Sadly, that guinea pig also died soon after.

As her family tried to process the loss, Pets at Home temporarily paused guinea pig sales after identifying infections in a small number of animals. The company says it managed the outbreak and contacted recent buyers with guidance. It also says it cannot confirm whether Samantha’s pets died from the same cause. The retailer provided a refund and offered a free check-up for the family’s remaining guinea pigs.

For Samantha, the core issue remains trust. She wants clearer warnings, faster support, and better protection for families who bring small pets home with big hopes.