Pigsitting Worried about week-long boarding

[4boipigs]

Next month, I'm taking my first vacation since owning guinea pigs. I'll be boarding them at the local gpig rescue (where I adopted Gimbly and Gungnir). Is such an event stressful for pigs? Is there a way to help them relax when I wrangle them all to travel half an hour to the rescue?

I'm mostly worried about Maple Leaf, who shuts down when alone. I'm sure the rescue will make sure everyone is next to their usual divided cage mate. I feel bad that everyone may be scared and in an unknown place, but at the same time the rescue is full of wheeking and pig smells. So they won't really be lonely.

Unfortunately, I don't have anyone I trust to give them the same level of care I provide, so using the rescue is our best option. As a bonus, they'll try bonding the boys into pairs, so I hope to have at least a pair when I pick them up!

 

[bpatters]

They'll be fine. A rescue should certainly be able to handle boarding two guinea pigs.

 

[sorensmom]

I used to work at a dog kennel and ended up with two guinea pigs for a few weeks. at the facility, they were placed in a back room and weren’t having clean water/food/bedding nearly enough, we’re kept in temperatures far too cold, and had to listen to dogs barking near them almost constantly, so I opted to take them to my apartment where I had soren. they were at the facility for about a week and then my place for a week. very stressful to say the least, and both piggies did great and went home to mom when the time came. I think they’ll do great seeing they’re in proper care

 

[SSLee]

About 4 years ago, I boarded my two girls for a week at a rabbit and small animal rescue when I went on vacation. When I went to pick them up, the staff member told me my girls were really vocal and always chatting to the other piggies there. They seemed very happy and not in a hurry to go home with me. It took me about 1.5 hours on public transit to reach the rescue. I put the piggies into their carrier with some wet veggies for the trip. Now I just paid my nephew, who lives in the upstairs unit to take care of the piggies whenever I go on vacation.

It is a wonder service that the rescue will try to bond your pigs into pairs. Good luck and I look forward to hearing the positive result.

 

[4boipigs]

About 4 years ago, I boarded my two girls for a week at a rabbit and small animal rescue when I went on vacation. When I went to pick them up, the staff member told me my girls were really vocal and always chatting to the other piggies there. They seemed very happy and not in a hurry to go home with me. It took me about 1.5 hours on public transit to reach the rescue. I put the piggies into their carrier with some wet veggies for the trip. Now I just paid my nephew, who lives in the upstairs unit to take care of the piggies whenever I go on vacation.

It is a wonder service that the rescue will try to bond your pigs into pairs. Good luck and I look forward to hearing the positive result.

Yeah I am happy they are willing to do it and won’t charge extra. If I have even one successful pair I will be happy, and so will the boys! I will be able to open the divided cages to the full 2x7 size.

 

[4boipigs]

I took them today to be boarded. They all went in seperate carriers and they did okay. Gungnir tunneled into his bedding in the carrier. I don't recall being like that before. Hopefully he wasn't too scared. I had him and Maple Leaf facing each other in the car, so Maple Leaf didn't shut down. It's lonely without them. I'll miss them, even if it's just a week.

 

[4boipigs]

I got the piggos back last week and they're all fine. The rescue tried to pair Trishula and Gungnir but they "Weren't sure about each other". They tried Talwar and Maple Leaf, and they seemingly got along really well at the rescue and rode home in a box fine. Well once they got home, they couldn't get along and kept fighting. I cleaned the cages, the hides, and washed everything. I decided to put the divider between them. I may see about trying to pair Gungnir and Trishula since they're doing okay being in a divided cage - but they look great together.