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A question for those who run rescues......

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Logiebear

Logiebear

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I was just wondering if there was a point, financially speaking, when you decided it best to put the little piggy to sleep as it is just too expensive to sort them.

I am sure this sounds very harsh and quite difficult to answer but I am aware that there is not a bottomless pit for them. Do you have to be strong or do you let your heart run your purse?
 
there are rescues that put poorly guineas that'll need a lot of care up for sponsor - so people can help pay for the medical bill while getting the joy of sponsoring a piggy :)

I think that's a much nicer option then putting the pig down if it will still have a good quality of life
 
I own my own rescue and would do anything to save the animals providing it will not suffer and that it will have a good life..My guineas in my rescue mean the world to me and become part of the family while they are here with me..If it ran into the hundreds then i would be forced to ask for help from another charity and of cause the guinea pig forum and i would do fundraising etc carboots,fairs,jumble sales and the local paper now that they are helping me and my rescue by featuring my guineas needing homes in the local paper every other week.since my local paper did a story on my rescue i have had so much help from people ,hutches giving.donations givin and sheds givin to my rescue the support was over welming......:):):)
 
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I think many of us who run self-funded rescues have been known to spend hundreds of pounds on a pig, I know I have with Captain Jack who needed a major op to remove a huge lump, the vets bills and after care went into the hundreds. However it was worth it as he's had another 6 months of life, and is a happy chappy despite his age.

With Rupert, a young chap who needed a simple (but still expensive!) eye op before he could be homed, everyone on the forum rallied round and donated money to his appeal and the op went really well and he found a new home.

I think if the prognosis is good then I'd do the same again... but it's all about quality of life and if the guinea had something that wasn't going to get better e.g kidney disease which is untreatable, there would come a point when it's not fair to keep the pig alive.

Pigs that need long term care or who have health or behavioural issues that make them difficult to rehome spend their days with us and join our sponsor scheme, as Kira said. It means the cost of their long term care is subsidised and we've found it a godsend.

Sophie
x
 
How do you go about doing the sponsership thing please? We took a piggy from a "freind" of mine and she hadn't been handled or had any attention for nearly a year! I don't know how it had happened but we noticed the first night we had her that she wasn't using her back right leg properly. Took her to the vet's yesterday and she had to stay in over night last for x-rays this morning. We have already paid £110 for painrelief and the x-ray and sedative etc etc and depending on the results today we may have double that for after care etc. I don't think we can afford too much more than that but she is a beautfil piggy and so sweet. I guess I will just wait and see what the vet says later today first.

Thanks for the replies ladies, as always you are a great help xx
 
A good rescue will never put a healthy pig, or a pig whose quality of life is still good down. When you put an animal down you are ending that animals life, existence, that animals right to live. I believe that should only be done in special circumstances - and those circumstances are when that animal is in extreme discomfort from a terminal illness.

If you cannot care for an animal who requires extensive medical work - whether you're a rescue, shelter, animal center, owner - then the kindest, and least selfish and best option for that animal is to have it rehomed with someone who is willing, or able, to make that financial sacrifice for that animal.

Places which attempt to locate homes for animals or accept surrendered animals that will euthanise an animal in its care is called a "Kill shelter" I only support "no kill" shelters because they support my beliefs.

It's about doing what's best for the animal. I can't imagine any rescue or sanctuary (there is a difference) would ever put an animal to sleep; and those that are constrained in care in terms of finances should seriously consider that the number of animals in their care is too much for them and should seek help from a local no-kill rescue or sanctuary and regulate their animal load better.
 
My best example is Billy - Billy the pig with the cauliflower ear. He came from a huge rescue where, sadly, some of his friends had to be put to sleep due to medical reasons. Unfortunatly those pigs were too far gone to save - and it was kinder to end their suffering rather than persue the tiny remote chance of them pulling through treatment. The decision was nothing to do with finances, it was all about the pain and misery the poor things had already(and were) in.

But Billy, who was essentially a wild pig (I know, I chased him around my kitchen for a good half hour once!) came in with a horrible infected injury to his ear. Instead of passing him on to the rescues I was ferrying him between, I decided he needed to see a vet right away and he's stayed with me since. Personally I have spent £100's on his treatment, but is well worth it as he is now one of the friendliest, happiest pigs I know.

But as teadragon said, all the rescues I have worked with treat all their pigs as their own - one will always have to draw a line with piggy suffering somewhere, but if there is a chance they'll persue it, and find the means somehow. Which is why I think all the rescuers on this forum deserve our thanks a hundred times over.

It's not just money they invest in these neglected pigs, its love and heartbreak too.
 
I totally agree with all the comments made above. As a rescue you have to be very aware that ANY animal you take in comes with the potential of large, sometimes extremely large, vet bills. If you rescue an animal and then deny it necessary treatment for any reason then there is no point in rescuing it in the first place.

As Sophie quite rightly says, if the prognosis is good and the animal is likely to have a good quality of life after any treatment then there is never any question as to whether the treatment should be carried out. However, I do appreciate just how expensive vets fees can be, so asking for sponsorship or donations to help towards costs is an excellent way to boost funds and so many people are wonderfully generous when it comes to our 4 legged furry friends.

Although the finances have to play a part in any situation regarding vets fees it is also important realise the amount of time that is often needed to nurse sick animals back to health and I'm sure that any of us who have been in round the clock nursing situations dont regret one second of the time we put in :)

Sadly not all rescue piggy cases have happy endings and very occasionally a a piggy cannot be saved - thankfully this is very rare and the happy stories out number the sad.

Teresa x
 
I totally agree with everything depending on quality of life after treatment. It isn't about the finances and I am aware that taking in a piggy means I take on the bad times too. I have not thought about having Chocolate euthanised just because of money. I was simply asking if those who do it from their own pocket would ever do that. And then somebody mentioned sponsorship which seems like a great idea:(|)

I am not really planning on running a rescue but we have taken in 3 piggys in 2 days last week that really needed rescuing. I think we will probably keep these ones but if took any more in I would have to think about starting place them with other people, doing home checks etc. I hope I'm coming across ok here as I worry with the written word that it can so easily be taken the wrong way.

I think those who run rescues out of their money are amazing people and it takes a special kind of person x
 
Hey I think you have come across wonderfully and you don't sound bad at all.

Good for you taking on those piggies. have you posted any photos and i've missed them (I'm a sucker for pictures)

:)
 
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