The Story of Matilda

[AceGopher]

Myself, my wife, and two daughters recently had the opportunity to pigsit Matilda for two weeks earlier this summer while her current owners went on vacation. Matilda is an "American" brown and white female about four years old.

Before and during our time with Matilda, we did a lot of research on the internet. Before Matilda I was against guinea pigs in our house (now we have two, which I will introduce shortly . Matilda is how I found this forum.

I have mixed feelings about Matilda, though, and I thought I would share them for your comment. Matilda is a "floater". She moves from home to home in our small community, in her store-bought cage. She seems to get a lot of "floor time", at least at her current home. The thought among the floaters is that instead of making a full-time commitment to a pet, that they can have the guinea pig for awhile and when the kids tire of it, or another family really wants it, they pass it along to the next eager family.

In away, Matilda is performing a service. Otherwise, some or many of these families would buy petstore guinea pigs in store-bought cages, lose interest, and then abandon or at least ignore them. This way, the "itch" is "scratched" without harm to the overall guinea pig community. And in some cases, like my family's, it sparks a greater interest and now two rescue pigs have a permanent family (ours, see my avatar picture, that's Kambiri on the left and Cayenne on the right).

But in some ways I feel bad. She doesn't have a permanent home (though she's been at her current home over four months I think), and she lives in a store-bought cage. The pellets they were feeding her had "extras". When we gave her back we mentioned that as well as supplied her with a bag of Oxbow Timothy. So I think we did some good.

While we had her, Matilda did seem happy (though not as happy as our new guinea pigs, but they are younger), and though she didn't run around a lot, her coat was full, and she seemed in good health. She is apparently at least four years old.

Anyway, I was just curious what you all think...I have mixed feelings...she does get a lot of attention, mostly from good, responsible kids and adults, and she probably does prevent some impluse-purchase-later-abandoned guinea pigs. But she also will never have the same life as guinea pigs you all have, and she will never know a permanent home.

 

[Cherryrosed]

First of all, let me say congratulations on becoming responsible piggie owners. Your piggers, Kambira and Cayenne, are beautiful and I am sure, very happy to have you as their slave.

I also have mixed feelings about poor Matilda. It sounds as if she is mostly with people that are willing to care for her, but I am very sad that she has to live in a petstore cage. If people want to share a pet they should be responsible enough to make sure she gets only the best foods and gets to live in a cage that is large enough for her. She should also have a friend to live with so that at least something in her life would be stable. Despite the human companionship she has, she must be a very lonely pig. I am glad that you shared some information with her current "owners", and left her with good hay. Maybe you could print a copy of Guinea Pig Care brochure from Guinealynx and share it with her current people. The more information they have the better off Matilda is going to be. Maybe at some time in the future Matilda can have a "forever home".

 

[Plummie]

Welcome to Cavy Cages and congrats on your new additions!

Would you consider taking Matilda in and giving her a permanent home? I think it is hard for any animal to be forced to move from family to family, with no real stability. Cherryrosed is right about getting her a companion too. Piggie life is socially structured and she's probably lonely with no cagemate and no human to call her "own".

In my eyes, Matilda has done her service and earned her right to a forever home. I hope you can encourage her current owners to keep her and give her the proper care she deserves, i.e. a big C&C cage, lots of attention, and the best diet available. Please keep us posted!

 

[kat_0521]

Welcome to the forum!
In part, I think it's a good thing that Matilda is a "floater". Many families buy or adopt piggies with no idea what they're getting into and no clue on how much care is actually needed. Matilda is like an ambassador. The families she goes to gets to experience GP owning first hand; if they smell or not, interaction with her, and cleaning and care for her. If they decide to continue with GP owning, they can either keep Matilda (I think), or hopefully will go and adopt. It also gives younger kids an idea of responsibility and how to properly care for a pet.
On the other hand, I'm not sure I like how she gets "passed on" when the family gets tired of her. I'm a firm believer in the fact that animals have feelings and emotions too, and getting passed around like a hot potato will mess with anyone's head.
Go ahead and adopt her. Sounds like you would give her a GREAT home. Good luck with everything and let us know what happens.

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

But she isn't being cared for properly. She really needs a C&C cage and a friend.

Is she getting lots of hay and veggies? She needs them. Who pays for her vet bills?

 

[AceGopher]

Matilda is "owned" by the five families currently in the "co-op". Families have joined, and dropped from the co-op. I did share what I learned with the current family, and will make some print-outs and give them. She is given veggies, hay, and pellets, and is well treated by her families (save the store-bought cage). Because Matilda is owned by the families, I don't think I could adopt her, but I will let them know if there ever comes a time when no families are willing to take care of her properly, that we will take her in.

 

[Plummie]

Seems like a sensible thing to do. Until then, you can keep an eye on her and make sure she's being cared for properly (like a guardian angel).