i would love to adopt a couple of Guinea pigs from a rescue at some point but what worries me is would they judge you on what you use to bed them on? ive always used woodshavings i know all the cons and everything about woodshavings but their cheap to buy in bulk £6 from my local farmways but could use newspaper :-\ i hate megazorb so thats a big no no i just worry that i will be judged with everything and it scares me :-\
Adopting a Guinea Pigs
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ahhh I feel the same way, have never had a problem with woodchip, I tried vet bed and hated it and have nowhere to get megazorb or aubiose.
Reading Guinea Pig Rescue wont rehome to people who use woodchip.
The RSPCA seem to have different rules in different areas like some wont rehome piggy to go outside and some wont rehome unless they are outside all day.
I also worry that they just wont like my home and I get upset.
Would love to adopt but scared by idea of home visits, not that I have anything to hide, I just get paranoid if you know what I mean.
Maybe if a rescue could explain what happens in a home visit it would put your mind at ease, do they reject you outright or do they give you a list of things to do and then recheck to make sure you have done them and then let you adopt.
Would love to hear from a rescue about this
Reading Guinea Pig Rescue wont rehome to people who use woodchip.
The RSPCA seem to have different rules in different areas like some wont rehome piggy to go outside and some wont rehome unless they are outside all day.
I also worry that they just wont like my home and I get upset.
Would love to adopt but scared by idea of home visits, not that I have anything to hide, I just get paranoid if you know what I mean.
Maybe if a rescue could explain what happens in a home visit it would put your mind at ease, do they reject you outright or do they give you a list of things to do and then recheck to make sure you have done them and then let you adopt.
Would love to hear from a rescue about this
To be honest I used to worry about homechecks but I have just had a homecheck from the RSPCA for Harvey rabbit and it was a very positive experience. You just explain why you have them on the bedding you do. It's all about preference. I explained the benefits of fleece for the pigs and that of megazorb for the buns (although now on hay and newspaper as they prefer it.) and they seemed happy with that.
All a homechecker is for is to make sure you live in the place that you do, that you can provide a safe environment for your new pet as well as feeding and some knowledge. I mean they won't rehome animals to people who don't know what they eat!
Good luck whatever you decide.
All a homechecker is for is to make sure you live in the place that you do, that you can provide a safe environment for your new pet as well as feeding and some knowledge. I mean they won't rehome animals to people who don't know what they eat!
Good luck whatever you decide.
I'm not to scared on homechecks as i feel all my current pets are welllooked after, massive hutches plenty of exercise daily i just worry il get judged by the things i use like woodshavings, ive done alot of reasearch on decent housing sizes for Guinea pigs and have decided on a 5ftx2ft hutch for when I'm ready to get a couple, but they would be out side (well in my shed) all year round and i know many people dont agree with GuineaPigs being outside during the winter but theres no way i could keep them indoors so i may also be judged by this :-\
S+T is you were a new owner who didnt know much, would they educate you and allow you to adopt or would you just be turned down?
Just curious at to how it all works
I know people on GPDD who have been turned down by rescues for really strange reasons, that I cant understand, like having more than 10 piggies.
Dont really understand where rescues get there rules from, I know a lot are privately run, so different people want different things, but even the RSPCA dont appear to have standard guidelines
Just curious at to how it all works
I know people on GPDD who have been turned down by rescues for really strange reasons, that I cant understand, like having more than 10 piggies.
Dont really understand where rescues get there rules from, I know a lot are privately run, so different people want different things, but even the RSPCA dont appear to have standard guidelines
Hello as a rescue myself I understand your worry but most of us are nice and want to rehome our piggys/other animals and so spking for myslef I just advice you on what I would do, I ask a few questions before rehoming a pigy like indoor/outdoor hutch? size? run on grass? but bedding isn't top of my list, I don't use woodshavings I use newspaper but I get mine free thats why, I wouldn't say no to you just because you want to use woodshavings I would just tell you what I do. I wouldn't worry! x
daftscotslass
Senior Guinea Pig
I know of rescues that don't rehome to those who house on woodshavings for good reasons. They regularly take on pigs who have horrendous skin conditions resulting from using shavings, chronic respiratory problems and even things as extreme as feet burnt by the oils in cheap pine shavings. I was shocked when I was shown the latter for the first time.
As soon as they are bed on something different (this also goes for people who haven't surrendered their pigs but instead sought advice from rescues) the problem goes.
They only want the best for the pigs which I think is quite right.
As soon as they are bed on something different (this also goes for people who haven't surrendered their pigs but instead sought advice from rescues) the problem goes.
They only want the best for the pigs which I think is quite right.
I personally don't use woodshavings because I am allergic and got terrible blisters. My doctor first thought I had foot and mouth disease! 98) So it kinda put me off. But each rescue has different ideas so M if you showed you are willing to learn and accept what they say and can show them you have taken on board everything I would imagine it would be ok.
The homechecker who came here was lovely, he had a pony! ;D Not with him though! ;D
The homechecker who came here was lovely, he had a pony! ;D Not with him though! ;D
If they did that to you Louise, imagine what they can do to piggies?
I understand why homechecks need to be done and you could always ask your local rescues what they look for in a homecheck and tell them your bedding preference beforehand etc
I was refused even a homecheck as the 3 rescues I spoke to about getting a boar friend for Timmy refused to let me try and bond two boars, they are not all like this though. Horses for courses I suppose ;D
I understand why homechecks need to be done and you could always ask your local rescues what they look for in a homecheck and tell them your bedding preference beforehand etc
I was refused even a homecheck as the 3 rescues I spoke to about getting a boar friend for Timmy refused to let me try and bond two boars, they are not all like this though. Horses for courses I suppose ;D
daftscotslass
Senior Guinea Pig
lavenderjade said:
I say this to a lot of people - take a handful of shavings and rub them into your hands for a full five minutes. The end result is not nice, it feels awful (tried it myself to prove a point to someone, seemed like a good idea at the time :o. Now imagine you're a piggy whose bare feet are on that and nose only a couple of cm above it for most of the day. Not a nice thought.
All private rescues are different but I agree there should be some sort of standard when it comes to RSPCA homechecks.
summerleaze
Adult Guinea Pig
There is of course no standardisation for home visits because even within rescues the standard of care varies considerably. I can't speak for any other rescues but making a home visit is only one part of the whole rehoming process.
I'm not judging people, their homes, their financial situation, their lifestyle - I am purely there on behalf of the guinea pigs and their future welfare. I don't decide that I like you or dislike you although I have made some really fantastic friends through visiting them at home to talk about adopting an animal. I don't have a check list, I'm not rude nor do I turn people down flat. The only thing that matters to me after I've rescued a piggie or two, nursed them through ill health, watched them blossom under my care, groomed them, bathed them, fed them and cleaned them out, I have one final thing to do for them and that is to get them the right home - that's all I'm thinking about.
My initial contact would be by phone anyway and a lengthy conversation would enable me to decide whether to take the adoption process any further. Sadly, in the case of people keeping piggies on shavings when so much evidence exists that they are detrimental to the piggies wellbeing I'm afraid I would not take any further steps. I perhaps would have reservations about the fact that they are simply bought because they are cheap and available rather than what is best for the piggies. However, education is a key part of rescue work and I have had many piggies adopted from me where people have understood the welfare message and changed their bedding arrangements accordingly. The bedding issue though is just one small part of the information gathered in order to make a good decision.
If the next step was to undertake a home visit then I would have told you already what was involved, we would have already built up enough of a relationship to put you at ease and see it as a good opportunity for both parties to informally chat and learn about each other's expectations. There is no pass or fail, there is no judging. If I felt that a home was after all unsuitable I would be tactful, honest and explain how things could be made better.
For example someone may have told me their hutch is 4' but when I arrive it's only 3' - it happens . I'm not prepared to rehome to that size hutch but with a little imagination and some DIY skills people have added extensions onto their hutch making them well over 5' and quite palacial and subsequently adopted piggies from me. With some explanation people realise that what they intially thought was ok is inadeqate, again it's all down to education really. Having an open mind and a willingness to be guided and make small changes.
For me the home visit is essential - I try to tailor each visit to the needs of the individual and I would say I've never made anyone uncomfortable, after all I am an invited guest in someone's home.
I like to think as someone who may possibly share my passion for piggies the friendly approach is easy anyway. Quite often I visit homes where people are already piggie owners and they are delighted to show me around and introduce me to their existing piggies - show off their homemade hutches, they like to chat about their piggies, how they got them, piggies they have had in the past, show me photos, they are just glad to be able to talk piggie sometimes without boring anyone to death ! - so it's not all one way, we all get something out of a home visit.
Perhaps your question about home visits should be turned on it's head - Would you want to adopt a piggie from a rescue that DIDN'T undertake home visits? Is that rescue really taking the right sort of care to ensure the piggies safe and happy future? That is perhaps open to debate?
So please don't worry about "home visits", in my experience (with dog/cat/piggie rescue I've probably done around 250 visits too) they are a huge benefit to the rescue, the adopters and of course to the animals. Think of it more as an acquaintance popping in for a cuppa to talk about your animal experiences and it's a brilliant chance for you to ask questions too.
Hopefully other people here on the forum show that their experience was a positive one O0
It really is a matter of people working through the process - together.
I'm not judging people, their homes, their financial situation, their lifestyle - I am purely there on behalf of the guinea pigs and their future welfare. I don't decide that I like you or dislike you although I have made some really fantastic friends through visiting them at home to talk about adopting an animal. I don't have a check list, I'm not rude nor do I turn people down flat. The only thing that matters to me after I've rescued a piggie or two, nursed them through ill health, watched them blossom under my care, groomed them, bathed them, fed them and cleaned them out, I have one final thing to do for them and that is to get them the right home - that's all I'm thinking about.
My initial contact would be by phone anyway and a lengthy conversation would enable me to decide whether to take the adoption process any further. Sadly, in the case of people keeping piggies on shavings when so much evidence exists that they are detrimental to the piggies wellbeing I'm afraid I would not take any further steps. I perhaps would have reservations about the fact that they are simply bought because they are cheap and available rather than what is best for the piggies. However, education is a key part of rescue work and I have had many piggies adopted from me where people have understood the welfare message and changed their bedding arrangements accordingly. The bedding issue though is just one small part of the information gathered in order to make a good decision.
If the next step was to undertake a home visit then I would have told you already what was involved, we would have already built up enough of a relationship to put you at ease and see it as a good opportunity for both parties to informally chat and learn about each other's expectations. There is no pass or fail, there is no judging. If I felt that a home was after all unsuitable I would be tactful, honest and explain how things could be made better.
For example someone may have told me their hutch is 4' but when I arrive it's only 3' - it happens . I'm not prepared to rehome to that size hutch but with a little imagination and some DIY skills people have added extensions onto their hutch making them well over 5' and quite palacial and subsequently adopted piggies from me. With some explanation people realise that what they intially thought was ok is inadeqate, again it's all down to education really. Having an open mind and a willingness to be guided and make small changes.
For me the home visit is essential - I try to tailor each visit to the needs of the individual and I would say I've never made anyone uncomfortable, after all I am an invited guest in someone's home.
I like to think as someone who may possibly share my passion for piggies the friendly approach is easy anyway. Quite often I visit homes where people are already piggie owners and they are delighted to show me around and introduce me to their existing piggies - show off their homemade hutches, they like to chat about their piggies, how they got them, piggies they have had in the past, show me photos, they are just glad to be able to talk piggie sometimes without boring anyone to death ! - so it's not all one way, we all get something out of a home visit.
Perhaps your question about home visits should be turned on it's head - Would you want to adopt a piggie from a rescue that DIDN'T undertake home visits? Is that rescue really taking the right sort of care to ensure the piggies safe and happy future? That is perhaps open to debate?
So please don't worry about "home visits", in my experience (with dog/cat/piggie rescue I've probably done around 250 visits too) they are a huge benefit to the rescue, the adopters and of course to the animals. Think of it more as an acquaintance popping in for a cuppa to talk about your animal experiences and it's a brilliant chance for you to ask questions too.
Hopefully other people here on the forum show that their experience was a positive one O0
It really is a matter of people working through the process - together.
summerleaze
Adult Guinea Pig
Blimey - sorry for the really really long post yawn yawn yawn ;D
boureki
Senior Guinea Pig
Great post Louise, I think what puts some people off rescue is a homecheck. Hopefully those who waver can read that and understand a bit more about why it is necessary. O0
Personally, I could bang on about piggies for hours : we love discussing homechecks with potential homecheckers! (they probably can't wait to get us off the phone)
Personally, I could bang on about piggies for hours :
we love discussing homechecks with potential homecheckers! (they probably can't wait to get us off the phone)
C
cuddles
yay for adopting! all rescue piggies deserve someone to love them.What a great idea to take one or two in from a rescue
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