Behavior 3-Legged Piggy - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Dichotomy83** · #1 11-04-09, 06:09 pm

Hello.

A local shelter near my house has an adult male pig that is quite the special little guy. He is missing almost all of his back right leg! Something about him pulled on my heartstrings and I have placed an email to the shelter to find out more information on him. (Still awaiting reply)

Here is a link to his info:
http://http://www.petfinder.com/petn...petid=14923178

Anyways, having never owned a special needs pet, and also having two able bodied boars at home, Im curious as to how Wells might fit into our family. I currently have a 5x2 c&c cage and am willing to expand or build him a separate cage if need be.

Do any of you own any physically disabled cavies? Are they living with a herd of other (physically okay) piggies? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

**rahunter** · #2 11-04-09, 07:22 pm

Our Tiffany has issues. A rescuer that I met the other day seems to think it might be genetics. She is blind, does not walk on one back leg and has an ear that is split (looks like she has two ears on one side) and is smaller than the average pig. We rescued her fom horrible conditions and I forgot to ask alot of questions before leaving. I was just ready to get out of that place. She was pregnant when we brought her home and she delivered two perfectly healthy boars 4 weeks ago.

She functions just like any other pig. She is able get around the cage just fine. She is pretty docile so her sister and the newest cage mate are the ones who chase each other playing.

Things may be different w/ males but I know our girls get along just fine. So far I have not had any issues.

**NicholsS10** · #3 11-04-09, 08:13 pm

I don't own a special needs pig, but since I live in southern WI and northern IL, I have actually kept an eye on this pig. I WOULD adopt him if I had the resources, but I just can't afford another pig. I have been hoping that he gets adopted by a good home! I REALLY hope he goes to someone who can treat him right, like a member of this website!

**GizzyandMe** · #4 11-04-09, 11:22 pm

Bless you for wanting to give this little guy a better place!

**Dichotomy83** · #5 11-05-09, 01:14 am

I got an email back!! Im so excited about this guy already. Its kind of an impulse if I go and get him, and I know meeting him will seal the idea in my head. Im SO thrilled. I really hope he's a good fit for my guys!

The email:
Hi ******,

How nice to hear from such a knowledgeable cavy owner! Wells is a super sweet boy and we're all very fond of him. We've had some inquiries but no commitments, so he is available for adoption.

He came in as a transfer from a shelter where he was in danger of being euthanized for space. I'm 90% sure he is one of those whose paperwork was lost by the originating shelter but I've asked the staff to verify my recolllection. A lot of pigs arrived in a short span of time when he came in so I want to be sure I haven't misremembered. I do know that I named him because he didn't have one when he came in.

As far as age, absent paperwork I hesitate to guess. He's not a terribly big cavy, so it's possible he has a little more growing to do. Maybe he's just a smallish boar. He's certainly not a young fast growing pig and doesn't looks like a senior I realize there's a lot of middle ground between those two poles but I don't want to be wrong. Most of our pigs arrive at between one and two years of age, and I can easily see him fitting into that range.

He arrived as a singleton and we haven't tried to bond him to any others. As far as temperament, he seems like a very mellow guy. True, it takes him longer to get up to a piggy sprint than four-legged piggies but trust me, he can reach pretty good speed if he wants to - he just never seems bothered enough to try. He is an excellent snuggle-in-your-arms pig

I don't see any reason why we couldn't arrange a piggy meet 'n greet, or, if you'd prefer, we can send him home on a foster-to-adopt program.

Best regards,

*****
CatNap volunteer

Sugar&Ellie · #6 11-05-09, 01:19 am

Yay! 3 legged piggy gets second chance!

**fleafly** · #7 11-05-09, 01:59 am

aw sweet! Hope it goes well for you all

**Wheekie** · #8 11-05-09, 02:57 am

Good for you...and great for him!

**CavyMama** · #9 11-05-09, 07:10 am

Awwww that sounds amazing! Good for you for opening your home and heart to this special needs pig!

**NicholsS10** · #10 11-05-09, 11:01 am

I'm thrilled that he is going to someone on this website! PLEASE keep us updated on the adoption process and this precious boy!

**Dichotomy83** · #11 11-05-09, 02:49 pm

Well, I have been in contact with the shelter. My boyfriend and I go in to meet Wells this Saturday at 10am. Assuming everything goes well, he will have a forever home with us!

Please pray that him and my boys get along well!

Regarding the introductions...If he was housed alone at the shelter and has a clean bill of health will I still need to quarantine? How long?

**Heady** · #12 11-05-09, 02:55 pm

Dichotomy, this is terrific!!!! The thread, and then the letter, brings tears to my eyes

I love it when people have a special place for special animals! I'm so happy for you and so happy for Wells!

**Dichotomy83** · #13 11-06-09, 12:05 am

Im just so glad I can help him out. Especially since he might not otherwise have gotten a forever home. I was originally hoping to put a hayloft on our cage, but Im thinking with his disability it might make more sense to keep everything on one floor.

**Wheekie** · #14 11-06-09, 01:09 am

I know I posted before, but I'm just so glad that you're really getting him and it's a 'done deal'. Congratulations...and lucky him!

**piggiecrazy** · #15 11-06-09, 01:33 am

Congratulations. It is so exciting to get a new piggy. I am so glad you are able to take in this special little guy. Wishing you the best with him. Cant wait to see pigtures.

**suzilovespiggie** · #16 11-06-09, 05:54 am

This is wonderful!! Keep us posted and post lots of pictures.

**Peggysu** · #17 11-06-09, 11:01 am

Oh I don't know how I missed the rest of this thread. I followed it when it was first posted.

I'm so glad that you're going to try and get him to be apart of your herd. This is great. Keep us posted.

**wigglesgiggles1** · #18 11-06-09, 04:42 pm

We need pigtures ASAP. It must be so cute.

**Cogni** · #19 11-06-09, 05:22 pm

It is so amazing of you to do that for a piggie that others considered too damaged to want. Rahunter's description of Tiffany suggests another great cavy person. You guys give us inspiration!

**JessicaS** · #20 11-06-09, 07:38 pm

I have a 3 legged piggy and he gets along just fine. Believe me, you really can't tell he is missing a leg by the way he runs around. He is housed with a regular boar and they both popcorn and zoomie around like normal. He can even lean up both front legs on the grids of the cage to ask for treats (kind of standing up on the 1 back leg). A little wobbly when he does that but he can do it.

I don't have a hayloft, I just put the hay on the ground since they both like to hide in it. Sometimes I put it in a box lid (about 1 or 2 inches deep) to contain it and he can jump into and out of it perfectly.

I'm just careful when putting him down, I usually put his front legs first or do a real gentle butt first.

You can check out some pics of him after his surgery on my profile.

That's pretty much it, 3 legged piggies can lead very normal lives.

Thank you for giving him a chance! The special needs pigs really tug on my heartstrings and just steal my heart away.

"Thank you, Cogni, for this useful post," says:
rahunter (11-06-09)