Pig Sitting

[SkinnyPiggys]

Thank you for taking care of Rover and saving his life! I am a teacher also and am sickened by this woman's behavior. What kind of an example is she showing the students? How could she possibly say that she is so attached to him and not even take care of him.?!!


I know this sounds terrible but at this point if it was me, the next time that you pet sit for him I would pretend that he died and then just keep him.



Good luck. I hope that she reimbursed you for all of the medical bills.

~Julie

 

[Lacy&Buttercup]

Thank you! Believe me, the thought of telling her he died has crossed our minds more than once. My hubby and I discussed it last time. We have raised our children not to lie and what kind of example would we be setting if WE did it and then forced him to lie to his teacher. We just can't do it. I have just continued to pray for his health and that eventually, she'll give him to us. Like she did with Lacy. She offered to reimburse us for the vet bill but we refused. It is going to be so hard to give him up again. He deserves what we can give him even if it is only for a short period.

 

[Lacy&Buttercup]

I picked up Rover yesterday. He was stopped up again. He has two additional problems now. His hair is just shedding something awful and he has black specks falling off of him. No bald spots or signs of anything living on him. He's not scratching excessively but does what I call full body shivers (shaking his body and fur). When you hold him, it comes off on your hands and clothes. I bathed him yesterday. He is also hopping instead of walking. I have read on GL that it's a vitamin C deficiency so I've started him on some. Can anyone tell me what the black specks are and how to treat him? He weighs 1.82 lbs. I switched it to grams and it was 697. Does that sound right? I'm illiterate at math. Thanks!

 

[Slap Maxwell]

He is way underweight.

You need to speak to this teacher NOW and keep him. He will die if he is kept at that school any longer. Do not let him suffer like that.

Treat him with Ivermectin and bring him to the vet, he needs it ASAP.

 

[Percy's Mom]

Sigh! I can't help it, I can't say no to him.

I wouldn't be able to either. He's lucky that someone loves him at least part of the time. Did you weigh him last time you had him, so you know how much he has changed? The black flecks could be a lot of things, dirt, lice, really dry skin. Poor little Rover. If he's 1.82 lbs, that would be slightly over 800g according to the guinealynx weight conversion chart. http://guinealynx.info/weight_conversion.html. I hate to say it, but it sounds like Rover needs to see the vet again. You should definitely turn in your vet bills to her or the school and refuse to give him back again.

 

[Lacy&Buttercup]

I didn't have my scales the last time I had him. I've called the teacher. She wanted to know if she should get him back and take him to the vet. I told her I would see to him and take him if he needs to go. I told her I was waiting on a response from you guys and told her I would let her know something. I have also called the local farm supply store. They have a 50ml bottle of Ivermectin 1% Injectable for $32.99. I'm going to go get it. Can someone please tell me the proper dose to give and how often to give it? I want to do it right. The vet's office is closed until 2:30. He is chewing slowly but definitely eating everything he should be eating for me.

 

[Percy's Mom]

Here is a link to the topical Ivermectin instructions on guinealynx Lacy. It also includes that weight conversion chart I gave you earlier. http://www.guinealynx.com/ivermectin_topical.html
Good luck with Rover. Since you told her you were waiting for a response from us, you might also want to tell her that we think it's appalling how he was being housed and the condition he's come to and that we think you should keep him till the end of what might very well be his unfortunately shortened life because of his previous living conditions.

 

[cavypaulita]

Ohh how I feel for that piggy

Can you tell the teacher that you talked to the vet or to other people and that they all said that if he's still kept in the same conditions he will die?
and that you need to keep him to give him the proper care that he can't receive there in the classroom? That the pig needs to be constantly watched, or something like that?

I would refuse to give him back.
I read what you said about lying...but I would at least tell her something like that...that he's deteriorating in the conditions he's kept in, and that you can't let that happen..

I hope you can keep him...
It saddens me so much to know that he may return to the same place :weepy:

Pauli

 

[Lacy&Buttercup]

Thank you for the link Percy'sMom! He has had his first dose. I'm going to call her at home tonight, when she's away from the older teacher that actually ownsRover. She seems more willing to care for him properly or is at least interested. I know. I'm going to just lay it on the line and tell her he's going to die if kept at school. I will tell her in detail how much space, exercise, veggies, etc. that he needs everyday. I will see if she is willing to take him home and do right by him or else give him to me. I can't keep trying to get him healthy then giving him up, just for him to backslide again.

 

[fourbwabbys]

Good Luck! Remember to be persistant, don't take no for an answer. Try mentioning to her that if she takes him back, then you will have no choice than to call and report her for abuse.

 

[BabyGrl]

Try mentioning to her that if she takes him back, then you will have no choice than to call and report her for abuse.

Definitly. I would also talk to anyone I could find from that school, administration, parents, whoever and tell them the story. I still think this lady is taking advantage of your generosity and it needs to stop. She should not get that pig back. End of story.

 

[cavypaulita]

Yes, I totally agree...
and tell them that everytime she gives it to you to take care of him you have to try really hard to get him back in shape and to help him recover and then he declines again and that the poor piggy doesn't deserve this, that you put a lot of effort to bring him back to health only to receive him in bad conditions again next time they ask you to take care of him.

Don't give him back. I would refuse to give him back. I would say that I can't give it back because it is like killing him as you've seen how he declines every time he goes back to the school.

Poor little piggy.
let us know what happens
Pauli

 

[Herbie Girl]

You are in a tough position.. I still don't think she is attached as much as she says she is because if I was that attached I would bring him home for the holidays and would bring him home daily and on the weekends. I would have the school cage and then the c&c cage at home so that little piggie wouldn't be alone at night...and maybe is she cared so much for his well being she would let you take him and give him the home he deserves. I know of owners who love their pets and are attached but also know they can't love and take care of them like they should so they find a better home. That is how I got my poodle mix. This girl loved her dog but because of circumstances couldn't take care of him so she tried finding him a better home so he would get the attention he so much needed. Of course she was attached and could have kept him but she knew she wouldn't give him the attention he needed. This teacher should realize what better care the guinea pig would have and that he would be much happier.. I feel for ya girl.. Hope things work out.. I know its tough to have to keep taking him back..

Becky

 

[Percy's Mom]

Lacy - You mentioned that the vet's office was closed till 2:30. Did you take Rover in to check him?

 

[missesd]

Just checking in to see if there were any updates. Please let us know how this little guy is doing. If I have missed a new post would someone help direct me to it?

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[Percy's Mom]

Lacy - You haven't reported in several days. I hope this means that sweet little Rover is on the way to a full recovery, and you have been spending your time playing and cuddling on him. Please let us know how he is doing.

 

[Lacy&Buttercup]

Hi, all. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I had my mother here for Christmas and this is the first time I've been online. I didn't take Rover to the vet. I decided to wait and see how he would do with the Ivermectin and vitamin C. He has had two doses of the Ivermectin and vitamin C daily. He is doing well. He walks now instead of hopping. He's gained a little weight. He's up to 728 grams from 697. He's eating very good. He's also pooing formed poos, on his own. His hair is shedding much less. He wheeks all the time when you talk to him and comes to you when you call him. He is so precious! With everything that has been going on around here, I haven't had a chance to call the teacher yet. I am dreading it, more than you know.

 

[angelwise]

Nice of the teacher who owns him to dump a problem piggy on the other teacher who has him in her room, isn't it. If the owner really cared, he/she would have kept the piggy in his/her room and made sure he was cared for. Maybe you could tell the teacher that the owner will have to come to you to talk about proper care and reimburse you for the vet bills before you will consider releasing him back into her custody. Make them come to you. After all you were doing them a favor. Maybe they are just lazy enough to not show up to get him. Or better yet... you could deliver the cage, supplies, and a bill and tell them you will release custody of the piggy only after you are reimbursed and are assured that they piggy will be properly cared for from this point forward since the bills and medical problems stem from neglect and lack of proper nutrician. Sounds like they are two cheap and lazy to even think it would be worth it. They probably care more about their stuff than anything else.