Adopting Renaming a guinea pig

[Trega]

Hey guys, I have kind of a weird question. Do you think it is considered rude or wrong to want to rename a guinea pig you are adopting from another family? Just curious what you guys think.

 

[arionat799]

It...depends. We need more of a specific situation.

 

[zaylea]

I don't think so at all. I think it's maybe even expected if you're going to adopt an animal. If they're giving up the pig, they don't really have any say in it and should just be glad it's going to a good home. Whatever name they gave the animal probably won't have any significance to you, so why keep it?

I usually even rename dogs I've rescued, because to them it's just like learning a new command (the command being "look at my face and be adorable.")

 

[Trega]

Ok so I am possibly adopting a pig within the next week. The family is very loving and very careful about to whom their pig is going to. If it was someone who was a bad owner and didn't really care or if it was from a rescue or something, I think that would be different.

 

[arionat799]

3 questions:

-#1: Does the pig know his/her name?

-#2: Are you going to be keeping in touch w/ his/her current owner(s)?

-#3: Do you personally know his/her current owner(s)?

 

[zaylea]

I think in that case, maybe you should just ask them if they'd mind if you renamed it.

 

[Trega]

I guess that is the best option, just to ask them. I am not sure if he responds to his name and I do not know them personally. I worry over silly things as you can see lol.

 

[arionat799]

lol well i think that like zaylea said, asking is your best bet. So just ask.

 

[pinky]

I almost always rename mine. I've even changed their names after I had them for awhile. The guinea pigs don't know the difference. As far as the prior owner, I doubt it would matter to them as much as you giving them a good home.

 

[Mrs_Ames]

If you know the family you are adopting from personally or if you plan on keeping in touch so they can check in on the piggie...Then I would consider leaving the name. I renamed both of my adopted piggies. I don't know the previous owners so I renamed them.

 

[Trega]

Thanks for your help guys! I will think it over.