...and they wonder why I hate people so much.

[funnehmare]

I've just taken on three guinea pigs from a client's friend who no longer wished to keep her son's guinea pigs and was looking for someone to rehome them. I was asked if I could take them off her hands. I was hesitant as I am currently in the process of moving to Manchester with my partner, so am fairly unsettled. Not a great environment to introduce new pigs too. But I said yes after much pleading (now I know why).

So I go to pick them up. I was told on arrival that they were so happy to have someone experienced take them, as they had some inquiries from people who really had no clue. So I thought "Great, someone who knows at least something". Boy was I wrong. I was told they were all girls, had a quick check over them and discovered they are all in fact male. Had a quick chat as I was transferring the pigs into my carrier, was pretty shocked some of the stuff she said. Talking quite happily about her son putting them down the slide and on the swings, as if that was totally normal for guinea pigs to do.

I managed to get out pretty quickly. Took the boys home and gave them a good looking over. They are in a real sorry state. Makes my heart sink. They are crawling with lice, the largest infestation I've seen. One had the beginnings of a URI, another had a tooth missing (checked this morning and he is now missing both upper front teeth) and the smallest boy is covered in scabs from scratching so much. Needless to say they were all whisked off to the vets pretty sharpish and are now under treatment. Had checked on the currently unnamed boy with no teeth and he is managing to eat and drink ok, will be keeping a close eye on him. My URI boy is also progressing well and is certainly looking a lot brighter.

They are incredibly sweet natured little guys, so unlike my spoilt girls who definitely have their moments. They are a week and a half into their quarantine and are coping fairly well with the move to a new home. It just annoys me so much that people adopt responsibilities they clearly have no interest or capability to cope with. Feel like punching them in the face

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Aw, well done for taking them, poor little things, they are in safe hands now. (on the swings and down the slide? - my eyes nearly popped out of my head, i had to read it again! ) xx

 

[funnehmare]

I know! I couldn't believe she said it and how blasé she was about the whole thing. I just stood there staring at her, can't imagine what my face looked like.

Yes, that's what I keep telling myself whenever their situation gets me sad. They've had such a poor start, things can only get better for them. They went berserk pop corning about all over the place when I gave them some herbage to nibble on whilst I prepared their quarantine quarters.

Will get them all settled and back to full health before I begin the search looking for a companion for the little boy.

 

[PottyForPiggies]

Oh my goodness, what poor little things! Thank you so much for getting them out of there, god knows how long they would have been left without treatment if they'd stayed there

 

[AndreaJane]

Poor boys, thank goodness they've landed on their feet with you and will get a fresh start in life, well done you for rescuing them when you've clearly already got your hands full with a house move. x

 

[piggyfan]

Oh poor little babies. They sound like they have been so neglected. How awful to have mites like that and be in pain. It is very lucky you have taken them on but I realise you have a lot to do to get them well.

 

[Dusty_bugs]

And how lucky they are to have ended up in your care!

Oddly enough I was thinking the exact same sentiment at work today, when one of the guys I work with annouced that he was worried for me, feeling that I needed to spend so much money on the two girls on vets fees these past 2 months..
"it's such a waste, they're so timid and they just die.. I hate seeing you throw your money away".. I could have burst but I explined myself fairly and he kept at it a bit longer then left. Alot of the other men at work thought he was tight fisted anyway so toldme to ignore but I really wanted to ask "why the hell allow lives under your care if it isn't worht looking after them?"

They have NO idea how to compare one life to another in similar terms. My children come first to my pets... then its my house contents come first to my pets, then its my free time comes first to my pets.

People are callous and blind. It was only 200 years ago we abused and belittled black people and women.. we're barely getting over that.. so it's no wonder people can't see the equality in the lfe of animals with bodies so different. We're idiots!

 

[Freela]

That's so sad! Why on earth would you allow your children to mistreat animals? I have three kids (age 10, 8, and almost 6) and we have had piggies the past four years, and hedgehogs for years before that. One thing that I really stress with my kids is that we respect animals, that they are living things and not toys and that we need to consider their needs and be compassionate to them. The kids are supervised with the pets, and there are rules in play to keep the pets safe- no horsing around when the guinea pigs are out, for instance. I'm always really saddened to see adult allow their children to be cruel to animals... we have a cottage on a lake, and every summer I see kids catching frogs and throwing them, buying them in the sand, shoving them into drinking bottles, etc. while the parents look on and say nothing about it. When the kids all go home, there are literally dead frogs all over the beach that the kids have killed by playing with. Who on earth allows this? My kids like to catch frogs too, but our rule is we catch them gently, we observe them, and we put them back in their home. If we don't teach compassion to our kids, where are they supposed to learn it from?

Getting off my soapbox... I'm glad these poor piggies have you now and hope they make a full recovery! I'm sure they will be relieved not to be shoved down any more slides!

 

[funnehmare]

Oh my goodness, what poor little things! Thank you so much for getting them out of there, god knows how long they would have been left without treatment if they'd stayed there

This awful thought crossed my mind too. I was worried about how they would settle in, especially with all the hustle and bustle going on with the moving preparations. But it's heaven for them compared to where they were. Left outside and ignored for the most part, so I don't think it would have been long for them to go seriously down hill, especially as the temperatures are starting to drop. But they are doing well and hoovering up everything they're given and are seeming brighter by the day

 

[funnehmare]

And how lucky they are to have ended up in your care!

Oddly enough I was thinking the exact same sentiment at work today, when one of the guys I work with annouced that he was worried for me, feeling that I needed to spend so much money on the two girls on vets fees these past 2 months..
"it's such a waste, they're so timid and they just die.. I hate seeing you throw your money away".. I could have burst but I explined myself fairly and he kept at it a bit longer then left. Alot of the other men at work thought he was tight fisted anyway so toldme to ignore but I really wanted to ask "why the hell allow lives under your care if it isn't worht looking after them?"

They have NO idea how to compare one life to another in similar terms. My children come first to my pets... then its my house contents come first to my pets, then its my free time comes first to my pets.

People are callous and blind. It was only 200 years ago we abused and belittled black people and women.. we're barely getting over that.. so it's no wonder people can't see the equality in the lfe of animals with bodies so different. We're idiots!

The way I view it is that the day I took on the pigs, is the same day I took on everything that would come with them, they will be with me until they decide it is time for them to go. Until then I will provide for them in anyway I can, no matter the cost. But there are people who don't see it the way you and I and everyone else on here sees it. I've noticed it tends to be men who say such things too. Trying to avoid sexism here but there is definitely a trend, at least in my experience. Paah men!

Oh yes, the human condition is pretty flawed. But I guess selfishness and the preservation of self is a fairly basic evolutionary survival trait, but you'd think with all the evolving we've done the end product would be something more satisfactory than it's current state!

 

[funnehmare]

Poor boys, thank goodness they've landed on their feet with you and will get a fresh start in life, well done you for rescuing them when you've clearly already got your hands full with a house move. x

Thankyou I will try and get some pictures of the little fellas and keep everyone updated on their progress

 

[Silly]

I've just taken on three guinea pigs from a client's friend who no longer wished to keep her son's guinea pigs and was looking for someone to rehome them. I was asked if I could take them off her hands. I was hesitant as I am currently in the process of moving to Manchester with my partner, so am fairly unsettled. Not a great environment to introduce new pigs too. But I said yes after much pleading (now I know why).

So I go to pick them up. I was told on arrival that they were so happy to have someone experienced take them, as they had some inquiries from people who really had no clue. So I thought "Great, someone who knows at least something". Boy was I wrong. I was told they were all girls, had a quick check over them and discovered they are all in fact male. Had a quick chat as I was transferring the pigs into my carrier, was pretty shocked some of the stuff she said. Talking quite happily about her son putting them down the slide and on the swings, as if that was totally normal for guinea pigs to do.

I managed to get out pretty quickly. Took the boys home and gave them a good looking over. They are in a real sorry state. Makes my heart sink. They are crawling with lice, the largest infestation I've seen. One had the beginnings of a URI, another had a tooth missing (checked this morning and he is now missing both upper front teeth) and the smallest boy is covered in scabs from scratching so much. Needless to say they were all whisked off to the vets pretty sharpish and are now under treatment. Had checked on the currently unnamed boy with no teeth and he is managing to eat and drink ok, will be keeping a close eye on him. My URI boy is also progressing well and is certainly looking a lot brighter.

They are incredibly sweet natured little guys, so unlike my spoilt girls who definitely have their moments. They are a week and a half into their quarantine and are coping fairly well with the move to a new home. It just annoys me so much that people adopt responsibilities they clearly have no interest or capability to cope with. Feel like punching them in the face

Hi Funnehmare,

After reading the above I am so pleased you have got them now, but sadly I think this is the case for alot of guineas, especially childrens as they get bored of them. Lice are really easy to treat as well. Can't understand any parent allowing a child to do that, I know my daughter would never have done that at any age.

People don't understand why we love guineas so much. My Brother-in-law came to visit a few years ago and asked 'what are they for exactly' I was gobsmacked, just looked at him and explained why I love them he still didn't understand.

Silly

 

[first_time_piggie_mum]

Thank god you have them now!

He probably lost his teeth from the stupid activities on the slide etc

 

[MargaretB]

I'm glad to hear that they are now in safe hands. Poor things.

It makes me shudder to think how many pets there must be out there, suffering at the hands of ignorant owners.

 

[Yvette74]

I've just taken on three guinea pigs from a client's friend who no longer wished to keep her son's guinea pigs and was looking for someone to rehome them. I was asked if I could take them off her hands. I was hesitant as I am currently in the process of moving to Manchester with my partner, so am fairly unsettled. Not a great environment to introduce new pigs too. But I said yes after much pleading (now I know why).

So I go to pick them up. I was told on arrival that they were so happy to have someone experienced take them, as they had some inquiries from people who really had no clue. So I thought "Great, someone who knows at least something". Boy was I wrong. I was told they were all girls, had a quick check over them and discovered they are all in fact male. Had a quick chat as I was transferring the pigs into my carrier, was pretty shocked some of the stuff she said. Talking quite happily about her son putting them down the slide and on the swings, as if that was totally normal for guinea pigs to do.

I managed to get out pretty quickly. Took the boys home and gave them a good looking over. They are in a real sorry state. Makes my heart sink. They are crawling with lice, the largest infestation I've seen. One had the beginnings of a URI, another had a tooth missing (checked this morning and he is now missing both upper front teeth) and the smallest boy is covered in scabs from scratching so much. Needless to say they were all whisked off to the vets pretty sharpish and are now under treatment. Had checked on the currently unnamed boy with no teeth and he is managing to eat and drink ok, will be keeping a close eye on him. My URI boy is also progressing well and is certainly looking a lot brighter.

They are incredibly sweet natured little guys, so unlike my spoilt girls who definitely have their moments. They are a week and a half into their quarantine and are coping fairly well with the move to a new home. It just annoys me so much that people adopt responsibilities they clearly have no interest or capability to cope with. Feel like punching them in the face

You truly are amazing for rescuing these little angels from a life of hell x>> I understand how you feel about people like that though cos I just want to punch people that hurt animals. As for the lad putting them on a slide and swings, he'd be swinging... from the light fittings! >>>
I wish you all the best with the piggies and I hope they're fighting fit very soon.

 

[VeggieChompers]

Very sad and hateful! Good thing you got to them! Keep up the good work, I'm sorry about they're bad start in life, but am glad they now have you to live with!

 

[funnehmare]

Just thought I would give a quick update. The boys are doing well, I am pleased with their progress. Although Winston (the piggie with no upper incisors) hasn't gained any weight unlike they other two boys he hasn't lost anything either, he appears to be coping quite well and the little stumps of tooth seem to have grown some! They are all due another bath tomorrow, I wouldn't normally bath them so soon but I have spotted a few lice still crawling about. Churchill (URI boy) has been looking better and brighter by the day, although his nose is still a little dribbly but his breathing is now longer laboured and raspy. Even caught him asleep in the hay box, with his large bottom hanging out. Wish I had managed to catch him on camera! Lastly little boy Fudge, his coat is starting to looking glossy and shiny, he is less scabby and a little more podgy. I will try and get some pictures of them after their bath tomorrow!

 

[Angelah]

Glad the Guineas have found a good home now, it makes me soo upset hearing people mistreat animals, who gives them the right to do it and/or right to let there children mis handle animals

 

[funnehmare]

The Boys!

Little man Fudge

Winston, please excuse his awful hair cut. It was to ease shampooing and lice removal!

and lastly lazy boy Churchill

 

[Ant and Dec]

Awww they are adorable.

Well done for rescuing them.

If my son dared to treat any of our pets like that, there would be hell to pay! He knows he has to be kind and treat them with respect or he will feel my wrath! Don't understand why people let their kids treat animals badly

I comfort myself with the thought that people like that will get their come uppance - it is their kids who will need to look after them when they get too old to look after themselves - if they can't teach their kids respect and good values, then they won't be getting looked after very well when they are old

 

[first_time_piggie_mum]

awww bless them, they do look a little forlorn dont they

I'm sure after a few weeks of proper care and cuddles they will be popcorning all over the place

 

[funnehmare]

I hope so too. They are looking a million times better than they did when they first arrived, but still a little ramshackle with patchy coats. Keeping my fingers crossed as I haven't seen any lice after a good thorough check this morning! So hoping their itching and scratching ordeal is over. Just got to bring them on now, they are eating well and Winston's teeth are growing back through which is great!