Advice I'm so mad! - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**jenniwat001** · #1 04-10-09, 09:18 am

Apologies in advance for long post...

A bit of back ground-My boyfriend lived with some friends from uni, one of whom had guinea pigs when she was younger, which she showed and bred. She decided she wanted another pig as a pet. She went to a pet shop and bought a pig and a very small cage. I had never owned nor known anyone who owned guinea pigs, as she had had over 30 when she was younger I assumed she knew best (I was wrong and I quickly learned).

I suggested that Piggle might like a friend and said I would buy the friend if we got it from a rescue (all my childhood pets had been from rescues) so we got wiggle, a rather sorry looking pig that we barely expected to live.

But live she did and I quickly became very fond of them both and decided to find out more about the delightful creatures, which is where I fond this site. Well, what an eye opener! I really tried to implement all the advice and their life did improve.

My friend started to lose interest in the pigs and so I became primary carer- getting them out for floor time, buying veggies and food etc. She still maintained they were hers though.

At Christmas my boyfriend and I moved in together and we were asked to look after the guinea pigs whilst our friend went home for Christmas. We had them for three weeks and she never asked about them once. We built them a c&c cage and they got loads of love and attention. When she finally demanded them back I refused to give her wiggle, I would have kept piggle too but she wouldn't let me (and would just have bought more).

I persuaded her to build a c&c cage so at least they had some standard of living. She bought piggle a new friend (from the rescue we got wiggle from) and I bought wiggle a new friend.

Heres the dilema-

The friend (losely used now) is moving back home and her parents have refused to allow her to take the pigs (probably as they know they will end up looking after them). She is expecting her new housemates to care for them but hasn't asked them (we figure she will just move out and leave them, expecting someone else to deal with it (she is a lazy, ungreatful person).

Her housemates have discussed the situation andhave decided that theyhave neither the time or money to care for the guinea pigs (fair enough as they are supposedly hers) and have told her that she needs to find somewher for them. We (my boyfriend, I and her housemates) doubt she will do this and they will be left with the housmates.

So we are trying to sort out a contingency plan- the housemates have asked if I would take them but I can'tafford in either time or money two extra pigs, I could take one but the other (the petshop pig) doesn't get on with my existing two (we tried it several times) I just don't know what to do...I feel awful we "rescued" three pigs only to have two them given back.

I can't believe how selfish and irresponsible she is being. Poor pigges. We are in the North West of UK.

**erikahand83** · #2 04-10-09, 12:51 pm

Yeesh, some people. If I were near you I would take them in but considering were a full ocean apart thats not an option. Hope everything works out well for these piggies.

AllysGuineas · #3 04-10-09, 01:16 pm

Thats a sad story! If you could get your hands on all of those piggies, if i where you, i would build a split part to your C+C and put the piggy who doesn't get along with the others in there, and also put the one that piggy did get along with in too if you want. But yeah, in your case, i would take them all, just storm in there, put them in a carrier, and storm out! That person shouldn't own piggies.

**cookie_gal** · #4 04-10-09, 01:17 pm

As you are in the UK may I suggest your friend or you advertise them on www.guineapigrehome.org.uk? Its a website linked to numerous rescue's in the UK and there would be a better chance of a really good owner rehoming them there.

**hannah101** · #5 04-10-09, 02:51 pm

Hi there - that's such a sad situation. I'm in Manchester myself but I have my hands full! How about rehoming them via Tameside Rabbit and Guinea Pig Rescue.I have the details if you would like them?

**jenniwat001** · #6 04-10-09, 05:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by hannah101

Hi there - that's such a sad situation. I'm in Manchester myself but I have my hands full! How about rehoming them via Tameside Rabbit and Guinea Pig Rescue.I have the details if you would like them?

That's where we got them from! I'm trying to find a way I can house them at mine but the cage already takes up more space than we really have. I'd feel really bad taking them back to where she got them.

Also, do you think it would be better to take the pair to the rescue together or house one myself (which I have space for) and take the other to the rescue?

**hannah101** · #7 04-11-09, 06:55 am

oh dear that really is a pain! how much spare space do you have at the moment ? I don't think it would be wise split the pair, what sex are they?

**pigsmakemesmile** · #8 04-11-09, 10:23 am

Hello,
You have quite a dilemma. It's ashame she put you in such a bad positiion.
As hard as it might be, ask yourself if your really up to keeping all the pigs. If the answer is yes then you'll need to find a new c/c arrangement to accomodate the pigs. If not, I know this is really hard, but it would be to the pigs' advantage to return them to the rescue minus the one (s) you'll keep. At least at the rescue they'd be able to screen the adoptees and properly rehome them. I know your trying to do the right thing. If you decide to keep them, you can redesign your c/c and put a grid divider between the one pig from the others. I have 5 pigs. 2 are in one end of the pen, 1 is in the center and the other 2 in the other end this way, the loner pig which doesn't get along with the others can still share companionship without injury from fighting.
Good luck with whatever you do.