I've had it with the free ads.... ARGH!

[daftscotslass]

I've been in contact with someone who took in a guinea pig, it got sick, she can't afford vet care so she advertises him on the free ads (UK equivalent of Craigslist). I'm naturally concerned so email about him.

She wants to do a home check. Fair enough. No problem. I can even provide vet and rescue references if need be. I'm proud of the setup I have and the level of care my animals receive. I say in my reply that it's a concern he is not getting vet care while these "home checks" are carried out.

I got my reply this afternoon stating he "seems ok" and that home checks would be carried out and his home decided the same day. She then goes on to say that she would like to visit him sometimes. Does anyone else think this is totally inappropriate? I replied stating such - a new home should be a new home.

Overall I think this person is looking for someone to come along, pay the vet bill and give him back well so that he can live a mediocre life. I will see what the next response is but I'm sorely tempted to give up.

 

[Percy's Mom]

Yes, I find it highly inappropriate. I applaud this person for admitting that she can't care for her animal, trying to find him a new home, and even the home visit part, but if he is given up, there need not be any visits. If you CHOOSE to keep in contact, that's a different matter altogether.

 

[Maisiepaisie]

I would tactfully point out that its not really convenient for her to be visiting and offer to update her with photos every 6 months or so instead.

 

[Jennicat]

Just to offer a dissenting opinion, I prefer to do home visits a while after we rehome guinea pigs, because people will make everything 'perfect' for the initial inspection and then try to switch their setups. I know this is a different situation, but I can understand wanting to visit, at least once, to make sure things are still sympatico.

 

[daftscotslass]

Jennicat - you have experience in rescuing and rehoming pigs so I understand the desire to follow up on an adoption.

However, a random person who can't even provide something as basic as veterinary care for the animal wanting to "visit him sometimes" has no right to own an animal let alone visit them when they give them up, in my opinion. The email was not worded as though it would be a follow up visit, it genuinely sounded as though she just wanted to shirk off the responsible part of the ownership but still enjoy the cuddles once in a while.

Not surprisingly, having aired my concerns that the animal needs vet care as soon as possible, she hasn't contacted me again.

 

[DaisyGP]

I've been in contact with someone who took in a guinea pig, it got sick, she can't afford vet care so she advertises him on the free ads (UK equivalent of Craigslist). I'm naturally concerned so email about him.

She wants to do a home check. Fair enough. No problem. I can even provide vet and rescue references if need be. I'm proud of the setup I have and the level of care my animals receive. I say in my reply that it's a concern he is not getting vet care while these "home checks" are carried out.

I got my reply this afternoon stating he "seems ok" and that home checks would be carried out and his home decided the same day. She then goes on to say that she would like to visit him sometimes. Does anyone else think this is totally inappropriate? I replied stating such - a new home should be a new home.

Overall I think this person is looking for someone to come along, pay the vet bill and give him back well so that he can live a mediocre life. I will see what the next response is but I'm sorely tempted to give up.

I do not find it inappropriate that she would like to stay current on how her formal animal is doing in the new home. Yes, it's not good that she isn't providing vet care, but maybe that's the whole reason why she is placing him into a new home. Ask her.

If she feels bad and realizes that not providing him with health care is not good, it is only fair for her to keep in contact with the new owners, to make she that he ends up in a home that does. You may be providing health care now, but X amount of time from now you may suddenly not be able to, and staying in contact with the new owners would be the only way for her to find out if this happens.

I am not saying that you aren't going to provide health care in the future. I am just trying to say that this could be her thinking, and if it is it's a very valid concern.

Would you rather she not care at all about what happens to her formal pet and just drop it off at your house and never think about him again?

 

[MCR_Rox]

This is only my opinion, but maybe she will just miss him a lot. Maybe she also want sot make sure that you do not feed him to a snake or something. Maybe letting her have a few visits would make it alright.

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

I wouldn't do it. People like that usually have issues. She may continually harass you after.

 

[hydrohoki]

Staying in touch and wanting to visit are two different things.

I send the rescue lady I adopted from updates on the various trouble that my pigs create. Personally, I think she enjoys the "someone pooped in my shoe and neither pig is fessing up to it" e-mails. However, she's also not asking to come over for playtime. I think this is appropriate.

If the lady in question had rehomed and then politely asked if perhaps she could visit sometime I think it would be different than demanding visitation rights.

 

[daftscotslass]

You may be providing health care now, but X amount of time from now you may suddenly not be able to, and staying in contact with the new owners would be the only way for her to find out if this happens.

What you've said here is completely inappropriate. Let me take the point, what if this does happen? What if I do still keep in touch and then suddenly something happens and I can't pay for vet bills? Is she going to take him back so that she won't look after him and he doesn't receive vet care from her either? However I know personally that I will NEVER be in a circumstance where I will not be able to pay for my guinea pigs and have provisions made should something happen where I can't - so please stop making unwarranted assumptions there.

Have you ever taken in owner surrenders, DaisyGP? Have you seen the state that some of them are in? Would YOU be willing to see the neglect (which is exactly what this is until the animal finds a new home - it's illegal here in the UK to deny an animal vet care, even for a short period of time), fix up the animal and then let its original owner see it or have it back? What would you do if you got a phone call from the place you adopted your guinea pigs from to say that their original owners wanted to visit?

Personally I'm not willing to let anyone who surrenders an animal to me come and visit them. In circumstances like this I wouldn't mind at all keeping in touch with updates via email or even phone. But I do believe that someone who is not willing to pay for vet bills but is willing to take on a pet has no right to own one. It is NOT the case here that something has happened whereby a sudden change in circumstances means that she can't afford it, it's that the animal is sick and she doesn't want it any more because it involves a vet visit. Enough said.

I'm not a petting zoo where people can come round at their leisure (from the tone of the email I get the impression that this was what was desired). She is more than welcome to do a home check as I've said already. Landhermie - if you'd seen my setup in the form of an initial homecheck I think you could be quite sure that I wouldn't spend that amount of time and money to be going and feeding my pigs to a reptile.

This whole game is really starting to put me off trying to help pigs in need.

 

[JarBax]

Just for the record, Lorna's set-up is impressively impeccable. Anyone thinking of surrendering a guinea pig would be bowled over at a home visit. Noone could wish for a more dedicated arrangement than this.

I know nobody made assumptions, but I wanted to state the facts, that if this lady were wise enough to take Lorna up on her kind offer to take in the poor piggy, she would be left with no doubt in her mind that it would be going to a wonderful home where the set up and care are beyond her wildest dreams.

This is what I find so sad, that some people have not got a clue as to the proper and decent care of these little helpless creatures, completely reliant on whoever has chosen to 'look after' them. Veternary attention is one of the basic essentials - as much as good, safe housing, hay and water and fresh vegetables. Whilst, along with PM, I applaud her honesty in admitting that she can not look after him properly, I too agree that she over steps the mark concerning her visiting 'rights'.

But I do believe that someone who is not willing to pay for vet bills but is willing to take on a pet has no right to own one. It is NOT the case here that something has happened whereby a sudden change in circumstances means that she can't afford it, it's that the animal is sick and she doesn't want it any more because it involves a vet visit. Enough said.

Absolutely. This is what it boils down to. If the lady is not willing to look after the guinea pig properly in the first place, then she should think herself very lucky indeed that the person offering to 'take him off her hands' is willing to stay in touch atall.

I understand that this must be incredibly frustrating and infuriating, but I honestly hope this needy woman doesn't put you off helping other wee piggies in desperate need of your help. Just think of the three you took up to Thistle a week ago - without your help - where would they be now?!

 

[daftscotslass]

Just for the record, Lorna's set-up is impressively impeccable. Anyone thinking of surrendering a guinea pig would be bowled over at a home visit. Noone could wish for a more dedicated arrangement than this.

Except anyone wanting to homecheck your setup! Thanks Jane, it means a lot.

 

[DaisyGP]

What you've said here is completely inappropriate. Let me take the point, what if this does happen? What if I do still keep in touch and then suddenly something happens and I can't pay for vet bills? Is she going to take him back so that she won't look after him and he doesn't receive vet care from her either? However I know personally that I will NEVER be in a circumstance where I will not be able to pay for my guinea pigs and have provisions made should something happen where I can't - so please stop making unwarranted assumptions there

.



Daftscotslass, I think you may have mistakingly not read, or perhaps did not understand, what I was saying in this line that was stated right after the line you quoted....

"I am not saying that you aren't going to provide health care in the future. I am just trying to say that this could be her thinking, and if it is it's a very valid concern."

What I was saying is that a pet owner who needs to re-home a animal, for whatever reasons, should be very concerned with who they place their animal. Sometimes, you only find out, through a follow up visit, that a animal wasn't screened well enough and needs a different home. I am NOT saying that you are not a good home for g-pig, or won't provide vet care, or anything to that effect. I'm saying that, just because any owner wants to have a follow up visit after placement, doesn't mean they just want to bank out of providing the animal proper care and than come over to play with it.

If you want to know her intentions of these visits, be straight forward; ask her. If she tells you she is just trying to make sure that her former pet was placed in the best possibly environment, than you will know for sure.

I'm sorry that you thought I was implying you were not a good home for the little guy/girl. I was not implying that AT ALL. :weepy: I was just trying to shed some light on what her reasonings could be and how to find out what her reasonings are for sure.


Best of luck!

 

[PiggieMamaKelly]

I would not only forbid this woman from "visiting" her pig (which she loves so much to miss, but not enough to scrounge around for vet money??), but I would be even hesitant to allow a home check because she would then know where to find you in the event she wanted to "drop in".

I have adopted a pig from a woman on Craig's List who comes around to see him sometimes, and keeps in contact via email. I have no problem with it and actually enjoy keeping in contact. HOWEVER: This woman is a fantastic pig owner who had to give one up due to her own health problems. She is sweet, considerate, and does not see me as a "babysitter". I just don't get that impression about the woman you are dealing with. She sounds like plain old T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

 

[Jennicat]

This whole game is really starting to put me off trying to help pigs in need.

Then maybe you should take a break from it, if it's making you so unhappy and angry. :sad:

You said yourself she took in the pig, then it got sick, and she can't afford the medical bills. Was that a stupid move? Yes. But that doesn't suggest to me that she doesn't care about her pig. How many pigs would benefit if their owners would recognize what they can and can't realistically provide?

You seem to be prescribing a lot of maliciousness to what seems to be to be a case of blissful ignorance at most.

 

[daftscotslass]

Why is it so hard for someone to say "no" to an animal when they are not willing to pay for vet care? Does the fact that she's blissfully ignorant make it excuseable that she won't (yes "won't", not "can't") pay for vet treatment when she is willing to take the animal on and fork out for day to day care?

Let me rephrase what I said - I don't mind helping the pigs in need, I am sick of (excuse the pun) pig ignorance of certain owners.

Don't even dare to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. Perhaps you should take a break from it if you're starting to think it's OK for people to shirk off animals when they have to fork out for basic vet care?

 

[Jennicat]

Hey, whoa, simmer down there. No need to be snarky at me. I gave you my opinion based on my experiences. Nothing that you've posted here suggested that she took in a sick pig when she was unwilling or unable to pay for it. You said she took it in (I'm assuming it was healthy at the time, at least to her ignorant eyes), and then it got sick. Maybe she was ignorant of the fact that they COULD get sick and/or the extensiveness of their vet bills. Is that an excuse? No. But she is rehoming him with someone more able to care for him.

I know that I personally didn't know how expensive vet bills were for pigs until I dealt with a rescue. Heck, I didn't know they had vets. That didn't make it right, and it was a stupid thing, but I wasn't some sort of monstrous animal abuser who didn't care for my animals.

I apologize deeply for suggesting that you take a break from something which is obviously upsetting you so much if you feel the need to attack me for even daring to post something which goes against what you personally feel on the situation. I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do (and what good would it do, you're on the other side of the globe). Obviously any post on here is a suggestion and not an order.

Nowhere in any of my posts did I suggest that it was ok for anyone to to shirk off on basic vet care for an animal. I'm simply reading, from what you've posted, that this woman isn't some hideous animal abusing demon, but ignorant about guinea pigs. Do I get frustrated with ignorance? Deeply, painfully so at times. But the best thing that you can do when you start getting burned out and not wanting to help pigs because of the ignorance is to take a step back and give yourself a break in many cases.

I'm not trying to be patronizing, I'm trying to be sympathetic as someone who has been there, and understands, and sometimes you've got to take care of yourself.

Forgive me, again, and good luck with this guy.

 

[DaisyGP]

Why is it so hard for someone to say "no" to an animal when they are not willing to pay for vet care? Does the fact that she's blissfully ignorant make it excuseable that she won't (yes "won't", not "can't") pay for vet treatment when she is willing to take the animal on and fork out for day to day care?

Let me rephrase what I said - I don't mind helping the pigs in need, I am sick of (excuse the pun) pig ignorance of certain owners.

Don't even dare to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. Perhaps you should take a break from it if you're starting to think it's OK for people to shirk off animals when they have to fork out for basic vet care?

No one here is saying that not providing health care is a good thing. We aren't condoning her irresponsibility in the situation. However, even a poor owner should make every attempt to place their pig with the best possible new owners. Just because the pig wasn't in the best care before does not mean that he shouldn't have a chance for it this time around. A follow up visit is a good way, for even unfit owners, to do one thing right for their pig by ensuring its safety into a new home.

That's the extent on of it. No one is saying you aren't a good pig parent.