6 year old Boar very lonely following loss of partner

esmepickle

esmepickle

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 26, 2021
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Location
SUTTON COLDFIELD
Hi, I hope everyone out there is well...
Two months ago we lost our darling boy Oreo, he was 6. This leaves our other dear old boy Waffle alone now. They are the same age and have been together from babies. Waffle is ordinarily the most outgoing and characterful piggy, very inquisitive and usually vocal, active and sprightly. However, since Oreo died he is not himself at all. He spends most of the time in a small wooden hut, even though he has a full 7ft indoor run with access to the entire room aswell, he has stopped venturing out and despite having as much Piggy enrichment possible, he is seemingly a sad lonely boy. We have given him so much fuss, and I have birdsong/gentle music running during the day. He also goes out on the lawn in a large run, but again he isn't really coming out to graze or be active much at all. We give him extra fuss, and strokes but he is just indifferent. Hence I now think he is just terribly lonely and needs a friend of his own kind.
Can you help at all with my options and guidance on what is best to do. I care immensely for him so my key focus is him being happy of course.

I've read that possibly I can bond him with a younger piggy who we could foster? Or how do I go about getting him a friend? Even if this means he doesn't live with us any more I am prepared to do this if its the best option for him. I don't want to be selfish and keep him on his own, however I also don't want to end up in a cycle of having Piggies (ie its not practical for me to have a younger boar and then have to get another when Waffle passes over the rainbow)

Sorry for such a long message! I would be so grateful for any help you can offer to get Waffle happy again in his Autumn years, he really is an amazing little character 🙂
 
Hi Waffle is very lucky to have you to look after him and put his needs first. So do you want Waffle to be your last piggie? 💙
 
Hi, yes I feel I've given him a good life, but I won't have any more piggies after Waffle for now. Perhaps in the future I will again, they really are so adorable. All animals are precious and deserve a good life.
 
Yes, it does sound to me as if Waffle is lonely and missing having another guinea in his life. Where I am it's fairly easy to get a foster guinea for your own bereaved guinea, until the rainbow bridge calls, and then the foster is taken back right away by the Guinea Rescue. I've been through that twice now, since I ended my guinea parentage quite a few years ago, then adopted a trio during Covid, the last one of whom died 3 years ago, and her foster friend went back to the local rescue.

So, it's fairly common round here but I don't know how it functions or how common it is where you live. I hope it works out for you and Waffle.
 
Mrs Tiggy Winkle said:
Yes, it does sound to me as if Waffle is lonely and missing having another guinea in his life. Where I am it's fairly easy to get a foster guinea for your own bereaved guinea, until the rainbow bridge calls, and then the foster is taken back right away by the Guinea Rescue. I've been through that twice now, since I ended my guinea parentage quite a few years ago, then adopted a trio during Covid, the last one of whom died 3 years ago, and her foster friend went back to the local rescue.

So, it's fairly common round here but I don't know how it functions or how common it is where you live. I hope it works out for you and Waffle.
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Thankyou for your message. I think I shall reach out to some of the rescues and enquire about the potential of fostering. I feel quite sure now that he definitely needs company of one or maybe even more Piggies, as he has always been a little party-animal and I want him to be happy whilst there is still life in the old boy :)
 
Yes he does sound like he needs a friend.

Speaking to a rescue is definitely the best thing here - they can help find a suitable single boy companion (unless he is neutered and in which case he can have a sow or two).

Keep us posted on how things go
 
So sorry for your loss.
I agree that fostering could be a very good solution.
Waffle is lucky to have such a good piggy parent.
 
Thankyou all for your comments, I appreciate it... I've contacted several sanctuary/rescues, haven't had any replies as yet but I will persevere and make sure Waffle gets a companion to cheer him up, and it would be a good way of giving a comfortable safe home to a younger foster in need! :)
 
Where are you Birmingham way? Sorry geography is not my strong point
 
How far is Sutton Coldfield from Kidsgrove?
There are 2 good rescues around there, MerryPigs and Potteries GP Rescue
 
CTWC said:
Where are you Birmingham way? Sorry geography is not my strong point
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Hi, We are Sutton Coldfield which is North of Birmingham, so the West Midlands.
Merab said:
How far is Sutton Coldfield from Kidsgrove?
There are 2 good rescues around there, MerryPigs and Potteries GP Rescue
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Ah yes I've contacted Potteries, waiting to hear back from them. I'll also contact MerryPigs. I'm happy to travel throughout the Midlands if needed. Thankyou
 
eileen said:
Hello,I'm sorry you have lost your piggie.Nevilles Nest in Leicester are good for fostering,or adopting,then return the piggie when one passes.ive had a few piggies from Nevilles nest.
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Ah thankyou, Nevilles Nest have come back to me but unfortunately they don't have any suitable piggies at the moment. I'll keep looking at other places, and also wait as surely there will be a Piggie that needs a safe and comfortable home soon :)
 
fluffysal said:
If you have the space maybe you could find a pair of boys to foster? Neighbours would still give him some company and stimulation.
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Yes this could be an option, I've contacted a few local rescues. He is booked into a lovely local holiday-home for the next 2 weeks, they have lots of garden-pen time side by side on the grass, so they can all wheek together! At least I know he will have plenty of company there :)
 
esmepickle said:
Yes this could be an option, I've contacted a few local rescues. He is booked into a lovely local holiday-home for the next 2 weeks, they have lots of garden-pen time side by side on the grass, so they can all wheek together! At least I know he will have plenty of company there :)
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Hope you have a lovely holiday.
I’m sure Waffle will enjoy his holiday too
 
CTWC said:
Have you spoken to anyone at Merrypigs or Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue? X
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Hi, Yes I've contacted both. Neither have any for fostering. Potteries have suggested that Waffle could join their herd of senior boars who live at the rescue. I'm not ruling this out if I can't find a companion foster, because it breaks my heart for him to leave me, it also breaks my heart to see him lonely so I have to put his needs first.
Do you have any other ideas of fostering? I've contacted 6 Midlands rescues so far, none of which have been able to help. I shall keep persevering, and for the moment he has very comfortable living/enrichment and he is outdoors in grass area in the day and indoors in the evening xx
 
May I also ask anyone out there that can help on this... Waffle and Oreo lived 'Together-apart' owing to a blood drawing scrap when they were 1 yrs. They always lived side by side with c&c grid partitions, they had 5 years of living very contentedly in this way. They would sit literally touching through the grid, eat together, sleep together etc - if you too that grid away they went crackers teeth chattering and so on...
But how should I now approach having him with a new companion? should he only be matched with another side by side piggie? do they tend to be able to live in shared space if they have always had their own territory? Its complicated isn't it!? But I know some of you out there on this forum are very knowledgable, so you may be very confident in answering this question. (to note: A few rescues have told me they won't rehome to a side-by side arrangement)
Best wishes xx
 
A number of members have side by side living arrangements so can help you on that.

If you find yourself with no other options then surrendering to The Potteries GP Rescue would guarantee Waffle a lovely life.

I understand you not wanting to perpetuate your piggy journey and it’s often tough finding a way to end the cycle. Again a number of members have experienced that .

If you are rehoming on a side to side basis you may need to adopt a pair.
 
Merab said:
A number of members have side by side living arrangements so can help you on that.

If you find yourself with no other options then surrendering to The Potteries GP Rescue would guarantee Waffle a lovely life.

I understand you not wanting to perpetuate your piggy journey and it’s often tough finding a way to end the cycle. Again a number of members have experienced that .

If you are rehoming on a side to side basis you may need to adopt a pair.
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Thankyou so much Merab, I appreciate your guidance. I've received further feedback today from Blue Cross, in addition to the feedback from other rescues it doesn't appear feasible that I will get a foster that can stay on a long-term basis, for various reasons. I am sure that I don't want to take on additional pairs because I just don't have the indoor space - I suppose I could evict my teenage children and just have extra piggies, that would be lovely! ;)
 
Merab said:
A number of members have side by side living arrangements so can help you on that.

If you find yourself with no other options then surrendering to The Potteries GP Rescue would guarantee Waffle a lovely life.

I understand you not wanting to perpetuate your piggy journey and it’s often tough finding a way to end the cycle. Again a number of members have experienced that .

If you are rehoming on a side to side basis you may need to adopt a pair.
Click to expand...
So can I ask Merab, you think the Potteries is a nice place for Waffle to be? is it strange to 'surrender' him, or is this what you feel would be in his best interests? I'm sorry to bother you but I would really value your advice as you are clearly the expert in these matters. My heart would hurt so much, but I am not selfish enough to keep him just because I want him! It has to be what is best for Waffle, especially given he is now an old boy at 6+ years. Best wishes,
 
esmepickle said:
So can I ask Merab, you think the Potteries is a nice place for Waffle to be? is it strange to 'surrender' him, or is this what you feel would be in his best interests? I'm sorry to bother you but I would really value your advice as you are clearly the expert in these matters. My heart would hurt so much, but I am not selfish enough to keep him just because I want him! It has to be what is best for Waffle, especially given he is now an old boy at 6+ years. Best wishes,
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It’s no bother, we’re all here to support and help each other.
I know The Potteries and Helen who runs it is lovely and caring.
My current pair, Moses and Miriam came from there.
If you decide that surrendering Waffle is your best option then Helen would give him a lovely home.

I can’t advise you what to do but in 2024 I had 2 piggies. We were going to New Zealand and a friend had offered to board them. Unfortunately Micah died and as we were moving house just after we came home there was no possibility of finding a companion for Ruth and bonding her.
Our friend said she would give Ruth a permanent home.
It was the best option but I felt all the emotions of bereavement when head and heart were saying different things.

You obviously love Waffle very much which is why this situation is causing you so much pain.
When I have a difficult decision to make I weigh up all the options, explore all the possibilities and then make a decision.
I live with the decision for a few days.
If it feels right that is what I do.
If it doesn’t feel right then I have another think.

Explore all possibilities and opportunities then go with your heart.
I will be holding you in my heart ♥️
 
I'm really grateful for you taking the time to offer this advice Merab, and its both helpful and reassuring to me. I spoke to my husband about it more yesterday, he initially thought the idea of Waffle going elsewhere wasn't an option because he is a sentient part of our family and was surprised I am even thinking of it! But I am a highly empathetic person and I can't watch Waffle's current behaviour without knowing that its not right to keep him for our own satisfaction. Seeing him like he is is more heartbreaking and cruel than trying to give him a new home elsewhere with the chance for him to be a happy crazy boy again! I feel that I'm exhausting all the options available, I suppose I thought it might be more simple than it is to get a foster, but I see now that its complicated.
I'm so grateful to Helen at Potteries for the offer to welcome him in to their herd of boars, and so I have now asked her to take him, which they will be doing in due course when she is able to. (crying just thinking of it, but that's just going to be a natural part of this which I will have to accept)
What you said is absolutely true, let all the emotions flow in and out and see what stays. I just know that as he is getting older, I need to find him some happiness as soon as I am able. Your reassurance that he will be well cared for is so helpful, its all we should hope that any sentient creature has, and I suppose even more for those we love dearly.
Like so many things, the wonderful world of Guinea Pigs is much more complicated than it seemed 6 years ago when they came into our family. This forum is just wonderful, you do an amazing job. Sincere thanks to you all for how much you give Piggies a better chance at the life they deserve.
Love & Light, Claire 💚xx
 
Hi there, I just wanted to say how sorry I am for your loss @esmepickle and thank you for doing all you can for Waffle. Your post and the replies above were extremely helpful to read. We have a lonely 5.5 year old boar on his own, recently bereaved. I really hope you guys have a happy ending 💗
 
I have had an idea in my mind but been hesitant as it's difficult but I want every guinea to be happy but not sure if to put it on here although I always welcome anyone's feedback 🥰
 
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