(Being devils advocate here) Or the child who is responsible for it has neglected it and it got matted and not bothered? He even comments why is he having to do it... they get all these animals at the kids request then the kids lose interest and she is certainly not going to get up and do anything for them, so he gets stuck doing everything including cooking her lush food lolLong haired guinea pig owner here and in my opinion Joyce was being way to rough brushing that poor piggie, you could hear it squeal everytime he dragged the brush down it , little bit heavy handed after a few afternoon beverages perhaps?