Question on Looking to Adopt

[kimmee]

First of all, hello everyone! My name is Kimberly and I am nearly 18 years old in Massachusetts, planning on adopting a pair of cavies.

I've read a lot about cavies on CavyCages and CavySpirit, but I have a question... On CavySpirit it recommends that you don't buy a guinea pig for a household with children... well, I still live at home and am the youngest in my household, would I be considered and adult or a child? LOL it sounds weird asking that... but in relation to things I'm not sure what to do.

Also, it said not to house cavies in a child's bedroom because that would make it the child's pet and not the family's pet. I would house the cavies in my bedroom, just like my other small pets, but they would be part of the family and get regularly planned floortime, attention, etc. from everyone. At least I'm assuming so, as that is how it's been with all my other small pets despite their cages being in my room.

Another note about me adopting...

I'm currently a Junior in High School, so in two or three years I may be going to college. I doubt I would be able to take a cavy at least my freshment year (the college I'm planning on insists that freshmen stay in their dorms, where I can't have my cavies!) but I do have a plan or two about that! I'm lucky enough to live in a town that has a community college, so if I wanted to I could take two to four years of classes while still living at home with my parents. So that means that I could be leaving home in two years, or in as many as seven years.

Anyway... back to adopting. I would love to adopt a pair of older cavies in need! Partially because it would allow me to take care of them, and not worry about not being able to see them through their entire lives. BUT, mostly because I want to help some cavies that are in need. I know that a lot of older cavies that need to be adopted, don't get adopted because they may have or develope health problems due to age... which can be costly.

I currently have one job (online, part time) and am looking to apply for another job at a nursing home I volunteer at (part time), once I do turn 18 (in March) so I'm pretty much a shoo-in for that job. So in a few months, I'll have two paychecks coming in, probably enough to cover the expense of a cavy that needs extra medical care. Unless the vet bills were extremely high (like over five-hundred dollars a month) I would be able to pay for it on my own, and if it were at or under a thousand dollars a month, my parents would probably willingly chip in for the rest (but then again, never having had a cavy before, I don't know exactly how much vet bills would/could cost!).

I'm also considering being a foster-parent for some guinea pigs in need of a permanent home, but I don't know much about that process, so I would need some more advice on that. That would allow me to have guinea pigs without having to worry about them once I want/need to leave for college. I considered being a volunteer at a shelter or cavy rescue, but two problems; I already have one volunteer job, and there isn't a shelter or rescue reasonably close to me for me to go there that often. So that's not really an option now...

If I did get cavies I would build a cage, again in my room, and design a playpen that I can setup and take down every day for them to run around in. I've read a bunch about cavy care, and am fairly certain I am compitent to take care of a pair.


SO, anyway... I want to have your opinions on me either fostering a pair of cavies, or adopting an older pair of cavies. I am sure that I would be a responsible pet owner and all... having had my own pets and taken care of them for something like 12 years. But I'm not sure if it would be best for me to get a pair of cavies, I do after all want what's best for them!

I posted about this on another site's forum and was told that in my situation I shouldn't get cavies, but the logic that person used didn't completely convince me. So I wanted to ask some people that I thought may have more experience with cavies is all.

OK this is an extremely long post, to sum things up...

I am planning on going to college and leaving home in as few as two years, or as many as seven years. I want to either adopt a pair of older cavies in need, or foster-home some cavies for a few years. I would be able to afford the cavies (at least I'm fairly sure I could Lol) and would have the time to care for them, etc.

Do YOU think I should get a pair of cavies, or not? Why?

Thanks in advance for any replies

[Percy's Mom]

First of all, I don't think you would be considered a child by any means. I believe what Cavy Spirit is referring to is young children (toddlers - pre/early teen) that would be more likely to lose interest in a few months or neglect taking care of an animal, so the parents would be the primary care givers.

As far as the college issue goes, I think that's something you need to discuss with your parents. If you decide to go away to college in a couple of years and aren't able to take your animals with you, would they be willing to care for them with as much attention as you would? If not, maybe finding a reasonibly close rescue that needs foster parents would be a better decision. If your family is as eager as you plan to be, I think your idea of adopting a bonded pair of older pigs is a wonderful idea. The older ones tend to be more laid back, and if you're not ready for hyper little piggies or you might be leaving them with family while you're at school, they could be just the thing. The babies with their cute factor tend to get swept up in fast adoptions anyway, and the older ladies and gentlemen need good homes too.

Personally, I think it's great that you're thinking about all of this now instead of a couple of years down the line when you might have to deal with the consequences quickly. Good luck with whatever you and your family decides.

[Critter Connect]

You have definitely given everything a lot of thought which shows you are very responsible. As long as your parents are supportive of your decision I would have no problem adopting to you. You'd make a great foster home if you were closer. When you have a chance check out our website www.ctguineapigrescue.org and let me know if anyone interests you.

[kimmee]

Percy's Mom thanks for your reply! I will deffinately be talking with my father about adopting some cavies, I'm not sure yet how he will respond when the time comes. I had an initial agreement with him, so I must do some "chores" around the house before we can discuss the aspects of possibly adding some new family members, I will keep you all updated once I get those out of the way! I'm a bit worried what my father would say, but I do know that if it came down to the line he would deffinately take care of my animals if for some reason I suddenly couldn't anymore. He is very compationate with animals just like me, though he is a little reluctant to let me have yet another pet I think... anyway I will update you once I talk with him (probably in about a month).

Originally Posted by Critter Connect

You have definitely given everything a lot of thought which shows you are very responsible. As long as your parents are supportive of your decision I would have no problem adopting to you. You'd make a great foster home if you were closer. When you have a chance check out our website www.ctguineapigrescue.org and let me know if anyone interests you.

Thank you for your reply! I'm really glad to see someone in the New England area like this, even though it'd be a long drive I can drive to CT to adopt a guinea pig. Like I told Percy's Mom, I'm going to discuss the whole process in greater depth with my parents in about a month's time (as we've agreed). I did look at your website and two of the files caught my attention; Kiss, Shasta, and Skippy as well as Jethro.

For Kiss, Shasta, and Skippy, they sound wonderful and look adorable! I'm not sure if I would have sufficient space to keep three cavies at once though, as I am limited to one large table in my bedroom for cage space (I know it's big enough for two, but probably not for three). Also they are a bit young for my situation, where it says they are 1.5 - 2 years old... I think I need one more around the age of 4 maybe?

As for Jethro, he would be perfect if something could be worked out! He is quite a handsom man, and from the description he is deffinately in need of a good owner that is willing to deal with his health problems! I would love to be that owner.. but I'm worried that if he could be put with another cavy at the time I get them (after a few weeks quarentine at my home I mean). It says he has mites, those sound like it could affect the health of another guinea pig housed with him. Anyway, could I ask that you keep me updated on Jethro's condition? I wouldn't be able to adopt for at least one month, as agreed to with my parents... but if he is still in need of a loving home in a month's time, I would love to see what I could do for him! I can give you my e-mail if you'd be willing to keep me updated on his condition, however if this is too much work for you to do I understand! Maybe instead I can just contact you in about one month, and ask how he is doing then?





Thank you both again!

[Critter Connect]

Actually Jethro is doing great, he's mite free and healthy. I do have a couple of folks interested in him. When you are ready to adopt I am sure we can find someone that will fit what you are looking for. Depending on where in Massachusetts you are there is another rescue called Amiable Animals in New York. She has a few foster homes in Massachusetts so she may have some piggies available that are closer to you. Either way, it sounds like some rescue pigs will have a great home. Stay in touch. you can email me directly at info@ctguineapigrescue.org if you would like.

[kimmee]

Ah, thank you very much! I will surely e-mail you when I have a more definate answer

Thanks again,
Kimberly

[AmiableAnimals]

Thanks Cindy! Yes - we have foster homes in Lowell, and in Worcester, and we have lots of pigs that need homes. We also have volunteers available to transport. So, if you of the pigs call out to you, let me know . . . http://www.amiableanimals.petfinder.org

[kimmee]

Originally Posted by AmiableAnimals

Thanks Cindy! Yes - we have foster homes in Lowell, and in Worcester, and we have lots of pigs that need homes. We also have volunteers available to transport. So, if you of the pigs call out to you, let me know . . . http://www.amiableanimals.petfinder.org

Ah, thanks! I think this would be a better option, as I'm over two hours away from Durham CT... I will absolutely contact you as soon as I've got an answer and a timeframe.

Thank you both, I really appreciate it!

[CavySpirit]

On CavySpirit it recommends that you don't buy a guinea pig for a household with children...

Wow. That's a hugely wrong misquote. But congrats on adopting.

[kimmee]

Originally Posted by CavySpirit

On CavySpirit it recommends that you don't buy a guinea pig for a household with children...

Wow. That's a hugely wrong misquote. But congrats on adopting.

Oops,

Sorry, I guess I was overly generalizing what I had read *shrug* Didn't mean to offend

[kimmee]

A note to people... I am much more sure about where I'm going in the future for education, so I believe I'll be around for three and a half more years if everything goes according to plan (probably longer if things go wild on me). This will be good because I won't be as concerned about leaving any of my pets behind, though in the end I may end up leaving my kitty... but not a shorter-lived animal such as a cavy (because my cat is 12 now and still going strong! Probably has another 8 years on her I'd guess!).

Anyway I'm looking into both foster care, and adoption... not sure which I will do yet