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Keeping Warm Knitted Sweaters for Skinnies?

mama_

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Nov 15, 2012
Messages
221
Those of you who have been following my recent posts know that my son's preschool class got 2 skinnies (which I'm very unhappy about). I have given them the proper information they need regarding how to care for the piggies and stressed that they really don't belong in the classroom. I let them know that if they decide not to keep them, I'd be happy to adopt them. I will also be taking them home on the weekends.

I explained that skinnies get cold easily and the classroom just won't be warm enough at night. I put scraps of fleece in their cage for them to cuddle up to. One of the teachers told me today that her grandmother is going to knit sweaters for the piggies. I'm not so sure if that's a good idea. In my mind, the fabric would irritate their skin, it's dangerous due to the possibility of strangulation, and the piggies might consume the sweaters which I can't imagine is all too healthy. But I'm not very familiar with skinnies and maybe others have attempted to outfit them with a sweater or something.

Can anybody give me any information on this? If it's ok, please let me know. If it's NOT ok, please give me a list of reasons why so I can pass this information along to the classroom.
 
Those of you who have been following my recent posts know that my son's preschool class got 2 skinnies (which I'm very unhappy about). I have given them the proper information they need regarding how to care for the piggies and stressed that they really don't belong in the classroom. I let them know that if they decide not to keep them, I'd be happy to adopt them. I will also be taking them home on the weekends.

I explained that skinnies get cold easily and the classroom just won't be warm enough at night. I put scraps of fleece in their cage for them to cuddle up to. One of the teachers told me today that her grandmother is going to knit sweaters for the piggies. I'm not so sure if that's a good idea. In my mind, the fabric would irritate their skin, it's dangerous due to the possibility of strangulation, and the piggies might consume the sweaters which I can't imagine is all too healthy. But I'm not very familiar with skinnies and maybe others have attempted to outfit them with a sweater or something.

Can anybody give me any information on this? If it's ok, please let me know. If it's NOT ok, please give me a list of reasons why so I can pass this information along to the classroom.

Not a good idea. I agree that there's a risk of strangulation, plus they can catch a nail on the yarn or ingest it.
 
So, I think if it were me I'd try a different approach. I just read through your other thread and your mentions of this topic in other posts. I know you have a few posts on this so I'll just give you my thoughts on all of them. Instead of pointing out all they're doing wrong and all the reasons that a classroom shouldn't have a pet, why don't you volunteer to help them build a 2x3 C&C cage, get them info on proper size, diets, specific needs, etc.? I think that way you're addressing two issues - you are getting the pigs (hopefully) an appropriate environment, appropriate food, etc., and also showing them that it's probably waaaaay too much work for a preschool (or preschool teacher). My guess is that they'd eventually end up looking for a home for them, anyway, and you'd have put yourself in a prime position to take them by showing all the knowledge you have and that you would be an excellent caretaker and provide a wonderful environment for them. I think it's a lot more likely to reach them that way than by telling them they are not suitable classroom pets for whatever various reasons and then shooting down every idea or solution they come up with. The fact that someone is willing to knit sweaters for them is a very sweet sentiment and says to me that they are open to receiving information. Continuing to shoot them down over what will probably be perceived as silly concerns (strangulation or catching a nail I could see falling into this category) might work against you in this case and that's not what is going to be best for you or the pigs that need your help. If they really want to put something on the pigs, I'd suggest a sock or something similar, I know that I read a thread about someone doing that for pigs with a very severe case of mites and self mutilation as a result either on this forum or Guinea Lynx. I think I'd suggest someone make a cuddle cup/cave for them or donate one if you're really worried about them staying warm overnight.
 
Thanks Paula. It may seem like I'm coming down hard on them based on the posts I've made on here but that's only because I can truly express my frustrations on here rather than to the classroom. I'm very encouraging and nice about my suggestions and haven't shot down any suggestions they've made. They're extremely worried themselves about how to care for the pigs and came to me for information because they know I own a pair. Unfortunately, another cage for them isn't possible. The only spot for the pigs is on a bookshelf which they have bungied the petstore cage to. There is no other open area in the classroom that would be safe for a cage to be built.

I do agree it's a very sweet gesture to offer the guinea pigs sweaters. And at first, I thought it was a good idea and didn't say anything about it. After leaving the classroom this morning I started thinking more about it and realized it's probably NOT a good idea. Which is why I'm on here trying to get some guidance as to how to gently break it to them that although it sounds like a good idea, it may be somewhat dangerous.

I think they already want to give the piggies up but don't want to offend the parent who brought them in. I'm making myself very available (and have already offered) to take them if they ever need a place to go. Thank you for reading my previous posts and giving your input though. :)
 
I understand them not wanting to upset the parent, and that's understandable, so maybe you could approach him/her/them yourself? I'd think that if the idea of giving the pigs to you comes from the parent who "donated" them, it might be easier for them to do. And the sooner, the better, for the health of the animals and so they can't make an argument that the kids are "already so attached" that they can't give them up. Or approach the owner/principal/person in charge and explain that it's probably only a matter of time before some child (or parent/teacher) has an allergy to the hay or bedding so that they can approach it from a "health of the kids" standpoint. Best of luck, I know it's probably a dicey situation that's difficult to handle.
 
How about offering one last time to take the piggies in and offering an easier pet like maybe butterflies, a hamster, or a fish?
 
How about offering one last time to take the piggies in and offering an easier pet like maybe butterflies, a hamster, or a fish?
How "easy" an animal is perceived to be has no significance - animals are living, breathing things that are not a novelty or amusement or "teaching tool" for responsibility. The lesson needs to be that a classroom is not a suitable environment for any animal.
 
How about offering one last time to take the piggies in and offering an easier pet like maybe butterflies, a hamster, or a fish?

I was surprised they took the piggies in the first place. They already have two mice, a bird, and a lizard. In my mind, that's plenty for the kids. They've also had walking sticks, fish, a frog, a hamster, more mice, and butterflies in the past. All of them have died pretty quickly which is why I'm really worried about these pigs.
 
I'm not familiar with skinnies, but I, too, don't think it's safe for them to be wearing "sweaters" at night, especially when they're not being monitored. The could try to wiggle out of them, and this could be dangerous, or even fatal if the sweater got caught around his/her/their neck. I agree, whatever fabric the grandmother or whomever is making the sweaters out of, chances are it won't be safe or edible for their delicate little bodies and digestive systems. All in all, I just don't think it's right for the classroom to have a class pet as guinea pigs. In Kindergarten we had one (1) hamster and although she would bite, none of us would hold or touch her, but she wasn't as delicate as a piggy. On that note, I've been following your posts regarding the pigs and I think it's really really great what you're doing. I totally agree with you trying to take the pigs or at least push for the teachers to learn and care for them better. When it comes down to it, what matters most is their safety; the parents that donated the pigs should understand this. It's better for you to take them and care for them better than they currently are, then them being unhealthy, possible passing away, and the kids just shouldn't be around that kind of emotion anyway.
 
I didn't really mean easy, I should have worded it differently. I meant, something that isn't as time consuming and can get by with less interaction than a pig would need. Sorry to offend. That is true that animals shouldn't be kept in a classroom. @Paula
 
It's actually all perfect timing. I got my boys a couple months ago and I swear they're addicting. I quickly wanted more. I even posted something on here asking peoples' opinions about whether I should get more or not (barely 2 weeks ago) and ta-da! my son's classroom gets a pair haha. I AM a little nervous about having skinnies because I feel like they have special needs as far as skin/temperature go. But that is also why I'm so darned concerned about them being in the classroom. I have a heater that automatically goes on if the temperature goes to low. I highly doubt a preschool would want to pay for heat during the night when none of the kids are there. Those poor popsicle piggies!
 
I have a feeling come summer the teachers will be looking for a new home for these piggies to go to. They sound as if they have a lot on their plate with all the other animals and all of those little ones.
 
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