A pitiful existence for a lonely rodent

[Sue_P]

I put my very beautiful much loved rodent Pretty Fat down over a week ago. She wasn’t well and given her age (5 years 4 months) I thought it was the best thing to do. However that has left me with her sister Ugly. Ugly and I have never liked each other, we just both loved her sister. Pretty Fat was my favourite, Ugly is just ugly. Ugly never wanted my attention, she only wanted Pretty Fat’s attention. I never wanted to stroke Ugly, I only wanted to stroke Pretty Fat. Although I’ve never really liked Ugly I don’t want her to be a miserable lonely rodent.

Since Pretty Fat died I noticed that Ugly’s personality changed. First she became less confident. I gave her strokes against her will, if she was feeling her usual self she would have jumped right up, protested and ran away but she just laid still and took it and was all depressed. She wanted to hide a lot and seemed scared to come out from her box without her sister around for moral support. She might have felt a bit intimidated too because all my attention was on her for once, I’ve never really given her the time of day before, I used to give all my attention to Pretty Fat. Ugly lost her appetite a little too.

Anyway time has now passed and she’s eating normally and she’s still allowing me to give her strokes and pokes, I think she may secretly like strokes and is getting used to it. I’m out all day though so my time with her is limited. Do you reckon’ life’s still worth living for her? How can I enrich her life without getting her a new playmate?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! I am very sorry that you have had to pts Pretty Fat because of illness. She has had a good life span, though.

Ugly has been grieving for her friend. Your dilemma is that even when guinea pigs pick up life again, they still could do with the stimulation and interaction from another guinea pig (not all old sows will allow another piggy into their space). That is something that you as a human simply cannot fully replace, as much as you try. The fact that Ugly has become a lot tamer means that she is really missing this stimulation and interaction from her friend and that she may profit from company, especially as you are not around all day.

Could you speak to Sue from Cavy Corner sanctuary in Doncaster? She is a very kind and kind-hearted lady that will help you work out a solution together with you that is best for Ugly's and your own needs and possibilities, especially if you say that The Guinea Pig Forum has sent you to her. We can help you work out a transport to the sanctuary if the best solution is to take Ugly to the sanctuary to find a companion of her choice that returns to the sanctuary when she dies, so Ugly has got the company she needs but you are not left with another bereaved single piggy.
I know what a caring owner you are (and have been over many years) and how much you want to do the best for Ugly!
https://www.facebook.com/cavycorner

 

[sport_billy]

Hello Sue, Nice to see you again.

Sorry for the loss of your piggy. Wiebke has gave excellent advice above and as you know Sue at Cavy Corner is a very caring lovely lady.

We all know how much you love your piggies and want the best for them.

 

[VickiA]

I’m so sorry that you had to make the decision to PTS Pretty Fat. It’s so hard but shows your love & commitment to her. Hugs x
As for Ugly I agree that the best thing would be to try to find a “loan” foster piggy from a rescue like Cavy Corner so that she can have cavy company until she passes. Then the piggy could go back to be rehomed after her passing.

 

[Sue_P]

Thanks.

Hmn, I’ll give more consideration over borrowing a rodent or two. I wouldn’t need to go to Doncaster for one though, that’s nowhere near me but there is a small local rescue very close by (not Milhaven who wouldn’t give me a rodent when I needed a replacement after Rumball died). I haven’t checked to see if the other rescue currently have rodents but I imagine there probably would be. I’ll think about it some more. Cheers.