Barriers to rescuing a piggy

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we have said the same things often, rehoming should take alot of things into consideration, as like has already been said, it doesnt put a family off the pet.. just the rescue..

I was talking to someone who works in pets at home, who said she lives in a 2 bed house which backs onto herrington park (a massive park and dog walking area), she has no kids and between her and her partner there is always someone at home, but she was unable to adopt a dog because her garden was only 8ft.. yet i know someone who adopted a dog and works 45 hours a week.. and lives alone.. we were told we could not adopt a dog or cat as my daughter is 8 (almost 9)

Hopefully the fact that someone has looked at a rescue means they havent taken a decision lightly, after all, if * go to the freeads or petshop, you do not need a home visit, you do not have to prove your home/cage/hutches meet requirements, and quite often rescues cost more (which i never mind paying, as it is a good cause but would put someone off if they were not serious?) x
 
mstori said:
we have said the same things often, rehoming should take alot of things into consideration, as like has already been said, it doesnt put a family off the pet.. just the rescue..

I was talking to someone who works in pets at home, who said she lives in a 2 bed house which backs onto herrington park (a massive park and dog walking area), she has no kids and between her and her partner there is always someone at home, but she was unable to adopt a dog because her garden was only 8ft.. yet i know someone who adopted a dog and works 45 hours a week.. and lives alone.. we were told we could not adopt a dog or cat as my daughter is 8 (almost 9)

Hopefully the fact that someone has looked at a rescue means they havent taken a decision lightly, after all, if * go to the freeads or petshop, you do not need a home visit, you do not have to prove your home/cage/hutches meet requirements, and quite often rescues cost more (which i never mind paying, as it is a good cause but would put someone off if they were not serious?) x
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Exactly, it would be a good indicator if someone turns up to a rescue and finds that they have to pay and is put off, that they haven't done their homework and it's just one of them oh I want a guinea pig moments.
In my naivety before I came here I presumed that rescue animals were free mallethead , but if I had gone to a rescue and they explained it all to me it wouldn't have changed my decision!
It's just one of them things really, rescues take the actions they think are required in the best interests of the animals they re-home, but inevitably end up isolating a large proportion of the population. It's sad really as there are so many loving homes where there are children in which rescue animals would be made to feel part of the family, and it would probably greatly enrich the animals life as well as the family's.
 
Is it just children that put rescues off re-homing piggies? Or is there other factors that stop them? I didn't realise that rescues were as selective. Slightly worried now as I'm really wanting to rehome a couple (when B&Q finally get those C+C grids in - nearly 3 weeks!) of piggies in the next couple of weeks. Would hate to discover that I'm unsuitable for some reason...
 
Shelley said:
Is it just children that put rescues off re-homing piggies? Or is there other factors that stop them? I didn't realise that rescues were as selective. Slightly worried now as I'm really wanting to rehome a couple (when B&Q finally get those C+C grids in - nearly 3 weeks!) of piggies in the next couple of weeks. Would hate to discover that I'm unsuitable for some reason...
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Shelley, each rescue will have their own criteria on rehoming - if you phone or email and ask then you will know whether they will home to you - if not try another rescue as they may well be different.

See my post #4 of this thread.

Suzy
 
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Could I add my own experiences of rescues.

My girls came from Rugby Guinea Pig and Rabbit Welfare, Tracy was lovely at the time I lived in Belfast. I was homechecked by a girl from the Rabbits forum who I became good friends with. We sat and discussed piggies, and she got to hold my Fred. Tracy then allowed my girls to be piggy trained to Glasgow for me to collect as she knew and I hope she was confident the Girls were getting a fabulous home (I like to think there home is fabulous, I certainly adore them).

I did also get 3 pigs off Becklen, and Charlotte one of there fosterers even did some piggy dating for me in her Kitchen.

My last pig came from Suzygpr who not only put me up but she also put my pig up to. She bonded Milo for me showed me how she runs the rescue and we did what everybody loves doing discussing piggies. Me and Suzy are now good friends, she takes everyone on face value and as she has already said she has no issue homing to people with Children.

I saw someone posting on another thread about rescues not rehoming to families with young children, I said don't be put off if they say they will not rehome to a house with Children as this is a sweeping statement. Most rescues will look at the individuals and the home they can offer.

Helen did you contact Crawley or any of the other rescues to explain your situation? That the Guinea Pigs are your pets etc..?

I have adopted 6 pigs, and never had any problems with any rescues granted I don't have children but I thought it was about time someone shared there positive experiences. Adopting isn't really that daunting and I always feel priviledged that someone would let me have a pig. Which is why I provide the best home I can.

If your responsible, committed, have the right housing, know what is required I see no reason why anyone would be refused please don't think rescue is to much hassle, if anything why not think these people generally care about this animal, I would much rather fund them, them the rodent mills!
 
CrawleyGuineaPigRescue said:
Thank you for this quote which is from my website, its a shame you didn't put the next paragraph.
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apologies if you took offence to that, if you look at the context in which I used this it was when we were discussing potential reasons for not rehoming to children and I was replying to the post questioning whether of not it was to do with lifespan and I highlighted the part about guinea pigs being toys etc in order to explain the point I was making in that the reasoning behind it appears to be the safety of the piggies around children, I didn't mention the rescues in question as that wasn't relevant to the point I was making, it was the reasons why that were being discussed.
 
Shelley said:
Is it just children that put rescues off re-homing piggies? Or is there other factors that stop them? I didn't realise that rescues were as selective. Slightly worried now as I'm really wanting to rehome a couple (when B&Q finally get those C+C grids in - nearly 3 weeks!) of piggies in the next couple of weeks. Would hate to discover that I'm unsuitable for some reason...
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oh god no, and I wouldn't want to put anyone off a rescue, one of the main problems I've had this time round is because I was looking for a single boar to go with my boy, and that seems much more difficult as some rescues won't allow this, but when I did find one locally with lots of boys that would rehome them singly, and had baby boys alone- they wouldn't consider us because of the kids.
 
flintstones said:
My girls came from Rugby Guinea Pig and Rabbit Welfare, Tracy was lovely at the time I lived in Belfast. I was homechecked by a girl from the Rabbits forum who I became good friends with. We sat and discussed piggies, and she got to hold my Fred. Tracy then allowed my girls to be piggy trained to Glasgow for me to collect as she knew and I hope she was confident the Girls were getting a fabulous home (I like to think there home is fabulous, I certainly adore them).
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I have to say Tracey was very helpful to me also, however she was unable to help as had no single boars at all.

I understand you've had great experiences with rescues and many people do, adopting Fitz and Roy was very easy as I explained in an earlier post, but you've got your piggies with lots of help from people online etc and being able to travel, which is great, but the point I was making is that a lot of people wouldn't consider this as an option, and actually if someone contacts a local rescue or two and is told these policies then they're much more likely to buy a piggie than travel extensively etc, which is what my original point was- I'm not saying it's impossible to adopt a piggie, but I don't think that many people would find it possible to do things like go and stay with SuzyGPR to bond a piggy, it's certainly not something I'd be able to do easily as I'd need to take my kids and piggy with me on public transport. Most people aren't on these forums etc and wouldn't even consider contacting rescues far afield, they'd pull out the yellow pages or google rescues in their postcode area and if they then find a barrier they're more likely to go to PAH etc. I think if there is ever a way to reduce the number of piggies bred then rescues need to appear to be a more approachable and easier option, at least they might be able to talk an unsuitable family out of getting a piggy, whereas a breeder/pet shop won't even ask any questions.

I was actually at a first birthday party the other day and two of the ladies there with kids had piggies previously (the conversation came about because one had bought a piggy birthday card for the little boy) and we were chatting piggies and they were asking me about where mine were from etc and as neither drive and both have babies under one I was suggesting Rugby and RAGS as localish to get to, but I can't see that if they were not allowed to adopt from either of those that they would travel much further.

As regards calling the rescues who say no kids on websites, in all honesty I don't believe many people would, as a parent when you see certain comments I think it immediately puts you off as it's clear the rescue believe that most children can't be trusted around animals, I do understand that they may have had bad experiences, but I must know at least 40 families with young children through groups etc I'm involved with, many of whom have pets ranging from chickens, to dogs, to reptiles, and small furries and I can hand on heart say that I don't know anyone that I'd be concerned for the welfare of an animal with, so I think that families where an animal would be a risk should be the exception rather than the other way round, if the rules aren't set in stone then I don't believe they should be stated on the website, I think it would make much more sense to assess each family individually and refuse them based on assessment, rather than put people off from a first glance at a website/phonecall.

This thread is not meant to put people off rescuing in anyway, what I was trying to highlight is the reasons that people may be more tempted by free-ad piggies or pet shops if they approach rescues and are put off by these potential barriers.
 
hellsbells82 said:
I have to say Tracey was very helpful to me also, however she was unable to help as had no single boars at all.

I understand you've had great experiences with rescues and many people do, adopting Fitz and Roy was very easy as I explained in an earlier post, but you've got your piggies with lots of help from people online etc and being able to travel, which is great, but the point I was making is that a lot of people wouldn't consider this as an option, and actually if someone contacts a local rescue or two and is told these policies then they're much more likely to buy a piggie than travel extensively etc, which is what my original point was- I'm not saying it's impossible to adopt a piggie, but I don't think that many people would find it possible to do things like go and stay with SuzyGPR to bond a piggy, it's certainly not something I'd be able to do easily as I'd need to take my kids and piggy with me on public transport. Most people aren't on these forums etc and wouldn't even consider contacting rescues far afield, they'd pull out the yellow pages or google rescues in their postcode area and if they then find a barrier they're more likely to go to PAH etc. I think if there is ever a way to reduce the number of piggies bred then rescues need to appear to be a more approachable and easier option, at least they might be able to talk an unsuitable family out of getting a piggy, whereas a breeder/pet shop won't even ask any questions.

I was actually at a first birthday party the other day and two of the ladies there with kids had piggies previously (the conversation came about because one had bought a piggy birthday card for the little boy) and we were chatting piggies and they were asking me about where mine were from etc and as neither drive and both have babies under one I was suggesting Rugby and RAGS as localish to get to, but I can't see that if they were not allowed to adopt from either of those that they would travel much further.

As regards calling the rescues who say no kids on websites, in all honesty I don't believe many people would, as a parent when you see certain comments I think it immediately puts you off as it's clear the rescue believe that most children can't be trusted around animals, I do understand that they may have had bad experiences, but I must know at least 40 families with young children through groups etc I'm involved with, many of whom have pets ranging from chickens, to dogs, to reptiles, and small furries and I can hand on heart say that I don't know anyone that I'd be concerned for the welfare of an animal with, so I think that families where an animal would be a risk should be the exception rather than the other way round, if the rules aren't set in stone then I don't believe they should be stated on the website, I think it would make much more sense to assess each family individually and refuse them based on assessment, rather than put people off from a first glance at a website/phonecall.

This thread is not meant to put people off rescuing in anyway, what I was trying to highlight is the reasons that people may be more tempted by free-ad piggies or pet shops if they approach rescues and are put off by these potential barriers.
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You seem to be taring every rescue with the same brush, from what I gather the main problem is that some rescues don't rehome to homes with small children.

As we all know Rescues do not breed to demand as you've stated Tracy didn't have pigs but if she did have she was happy to home to you, My friend recently got a pig from Tracy without using the forum and Tracy helped with the piggy train. If a rescue don't have pigs they can't rehome them. What you have to do is be patience, and wait or find another rescue. Tracy's waiting list for girls has been at times 6 months - a year. As they are few and far between in her rescue.

Can you see any reason why these two woman wouldn't be able to adopt from Rugby or RAGS providing they have the pigs?

Perhaps you could make them aware that despite some Websites saying they will not adopt to some families with children they may well do should they be able to provide the right home.

As Crawley has pointed out it does say on her Website that if they are supervised she would consider rehoming.
 
hellsbells82 said:
I have to say Tracey was very helpful to me also, however she was unable to help as had no single boars at all.

I understand you've had great experiences with rescues and many people do, adopting Fitz and Roy was very easy as I explained in an earlier post, but you've got your piggies with lots of help from people online etc and being able to travel, which is great, but the point I was making is that a lot of people wouldn't consider this as an option, and actually if someone contacts a local rescue or two and is told these policies then they're much more likely to buy a piggie than travel extensively etc, which is what my original point was- I'm not saying it's impossible to adopt a piggie, but I don't think that many people would find it possible to do things like go and stay with SuzyGPR to bond a piggy, it's certainly not something I'd be able to do easily as I'd need to take my kids and piggy with me on public transport. Most people aren't on these forums etc and wouldn't even consider contacting rescues far afield, they'd pull out the yellow pages or google rescues in their postcode area and if they then find a barrier they're more likely to go to PAH etc. I think if there is ever a way to reduce the number of piggies bred then rescues need to appear to be a more approachable and easier option, at least they might be able to talk an unsuitable family out of getting a piggy, whereas a breeder/pet shop won't even ask any questions.

I was actually at a first birthday party the other day and two of the ladies there with kids had piggies previously (the conversation came about because one had bought a piggy birthday card for the little boy) and we were chatting piggies and they were asking me about where mine were from etc and as neither drive and both have babies under one I was suggesting Rugby and RAGS as localish to get to, but I can't see that if they were not allowed to adopt from either of those that they would travel much further.

As regards calling the rescues who say no kids on websites, in all honesty I don't believe many people would, as a parent when you see certain comments I think it immediately puts you off as it's clear the rescue believe that most children can't be trusted around animals, I do understand that they may have had bad experiences, but I must know at least 40 families with young children through groups etc I'm involved with, many of whom have pets ranging from chickens, to dogs, to reptiles, and small furries and I can hand on heart say that I don't know anyone that I'd be concerned for the welfare of an animal with, so I think that families where an animal would be a risk should be the exception rather than the other way round, if the rules aren't set in stone then I don't believe they should be stated on the website, I think it would make much more sense to assess each family individually and refuse them based on assessment, rather than put people off from a first glance at a website/phonecall.

This thread is not meant to put people off rescuing in anyway, what I was trying to highlight is the reasons that people may be more tempted by free-ad piggies or pet shops if they approach rescues and are put off by these potential barriers.
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You seem to be taring every rescue with the same brush, from what I gather the main problem is that some rescues don't rehome to homes with small children.

As we all know Rescues do not breed to demand as you've stated Tracy didn't have pigs but if she did have she was happy to home to you, My friend recently got a pig from Tracy without using the forum and Tracy helped with the piggy train. If a rescue don't have pigs they can't rehome them. What you have to do is be patience, and wait or find another rescue. Tracy's waiting list for girls has been at times 6 months - a year. As they are few and far between in her rescue.

Can you see any reason why these two woman wouldn't be able to adopt from Rugby or RAGS providing they have the pigs?

Perhaps you could make them aware that despite some Websites saying they will not adopt to some families with children they may well do should they be able to provide the right home.

As Crawley has pointed out it does say on her Website that if they are supervised she would consider rehoming.
 
Doeylicious said:
Highly agree with this. My guinea-holic friend and I were chatting at the yard tonight, someone she knows has just lost a female pig and left one on her own. She wanted to get her a friend but the rescues she tried near here said no as she has young kids. My friend suggested the rescue we both go to but it was too far for this lady to travel, so she went to pets at home and got a girl piggy, no travelling, no questions asked, one piggy no waiting!

I personally have found the lack of contact from a couple of rescues very frustrating. I know you need to look after the pigs and this takes time, but responding to an email takes all of five minutes. One rescue I was in contact with turned their phones off at 5pm - er I work until 5pm, as do many people, so this made things pretty much impossible! I consider a rescue a bit like a business in that you need to make a good initial impression and get back to your 'clients' (for want of a better word) ASAP, as when you consider you can just go and buy a guinea pig from shops open til 8pm whenever you want, no response to an email for over a week will put busy people, who in this modern world consider an email unanswered for more than ten minutes too long what with iphones and such, right off.

This is the PA side of me coming out I am afraid :red
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I think the problem is though until you've seen the emails rescues are faced with then you have NO idea how hard it is for rescues. I remember sitting in Wendi's (Thistle Cavies) living room after a day helping out there and she was showing me some of the emails she gets. She opened her computer 3 times a day to 30 odd emails - not junk mail, just emails. Some of them quite complicated, pertaining to health issues as well as rehoming. Do the maths there - 50-100 emails a day multiplied by 5 minutes - you get the picture?

I have no problem with rescues putting that they won't rehome to families with children but I can see how it would be off-putting for some. However it's the people who would persist and email a rescue to see if their policy is rigid that most rescues would be happy to home to, people that are serious about rescuing an animal. If someone looks at a site, sees that the rescue are careful about rehoming pigs to homes with small children and immediately decide to go off and buy one from a shop instead - were they really bothered about rescuing in the first place?

There's an assumption here that getting an animal should be easy. Why should it? If it was more challenging to get a pet in the first place then perhaps the people who are mostly likely to give them up when their kids get bored would think twice in the first place.
 
Guinea pigs were my first pet when I was a child, my parents taught me to respect and look after them, I am 51 now and have cared and enjoyed the company for all sorts of animals, many leaving me a long time ago and still remembered and missed. I have my parents, Twinkle, Sandy, Dusty and Pinky to thank for this and I am so pleased I was introduced to these wonderful animals at a young age, it was the foundation of a life long love and respect for animals.

I totally understand and support the Rescues' dedication to finding good homes for Piggies, and certainly some piggies have been through such an awful time that a home with young children may not be suitable. But how many young children are being denied the wonderful experience of learning how to respect and care for a pet and how many piggies are being denied good homes.

I suppose what it boils down to is that generalisations about families with children shouldn't be made, all families are different and should be treated as such. Equally all rescues are not the same and their policies will have been built on vast experience and the desire to help these little creatures, both sides of the equations have a complex set of values, benefits, and pitfalls to struggle with.

Maybe prevention is an issue to consider here: two scenarios:

If families get their piggies from a rescue they will have be vetted and given loads of information and support from the rescue prior to getting their pigs, a life time of support when they have them, and, if circumstances change, a safe place to return their pets. The Pigs will gain a good home.

If someone is turned down by a rescue purely on the basis of having children without any consideration to the individual families circumstances, it will put them off of contacting any other rescue and send them directly to no questions asked, no advice offered Pets at Home. Because of the lack of support and advice these pigs may well end up in rescue.

If I had children I would have wanted them to have this experience, to grow up respecting animals, this sort education is going to create the good piggy homes of the future for rescues, but in the future because they in turn have children, they too maybe denied the experience, doesn't this have the potential to perpetuate the problem?

Take care everyone

Andree, Wingus & Stewie x
 
hellsbells82 said:
I'm not saying it's impossible to adopt a piggie, but I don't think that many people would find it possible to do things like go and stay with SuzyGPR to bond a piggy, it's certainly not something I'd be able to do easily as I'd need to take my kids and piggy with me on public transport.

...

This thread is not meant to put people off rescuing in anyway, what I was trying to highlight is the reasons that people may be more tempted by free-ad piggies or pet shops if they approach rescues and are put off by these potential barriers.
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Joanne travelled down to stay with Milo by public transport, but then she is an intrepid, experienced traveller - and she was invited. I do not provide a B&B service to bond pigs so please don't phone and expect to come and stay.

...

Helen, your posts through this thread have come across as negative towards rescues in general, whether that was your intention or not. It does seem to me that you had a very particular requirement - certain age, sex, asap and as the rescues closer to you were not in a posiiton to fulfill this requirement and you were not prepared to wait, then you made a great effort to home via a rescue. Well done to you as many would not put that amount of effort in.

However, by repeatedly saying how difficult rescues make it to adopt you are putting other members off rescues and they will look elsewhere because of it. The fact that you were not prepared to wait is what really made it difficult.

Suzy x
 
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well I think that even if resuces say that it's not set in stone it pretty much is. I e mailed a rescue cos i had falllen in love with two of their piggies they said that the not rehoming to people with childern under 9 was not set in stone. I told this lady about my set up and sh e said that she was able to bring the piggies to me. Only then did I check the web site to see that they would not rehome to anybody with a child under 9 but that it was not set in stone so I e mailed back to say about my 2 children tom is almost 3 and heather is 9 months I keep my piggies away from the children tom only ever goes anywhere near my piggies when i am about they are MY pets I look after them. But I just got told a flat out no because I have children :( ifPopcorn paradise has come to my house she has seen my set up and I would like to think she liked it she left me 6 of her baby piggies and said she would let me foster for her. And I would like to think my set up was good I have deffo made sure tom cant get to my piggies without me being there they are behind a stairgate in their own room.

So I can see what Helen is saying I dont think it's fair we are not allowed to help a rescue piggie cos we have kids I know that I am way more settled now then I was in my early 20's I am at home a lot with my piggies and I know they get well looked after. Having rules like that in place stop the piggies being rescued by good familys that would offer them a good forever home and surly that is the point of the rescues in the first place?
 
Perhaps everyone needs to take a step back here and take a deep breath. People seem to be taking things a bit too personally.

Rescues don't just make up rules randomly. They are based on experiences (bad and good). Please remember that forum members are usually people that have put a lot of time and effort into researching and looking after their animals... that's why you've ended up here. This does not reflect all of the queries that come through rescues. There are many home offers that do not end up in rehoming pigs. Often interest fizzles out quickly when people find they cannot just turn up and pick out some guinea pigs. Or they are not prepared to provide the right accomodation. There are many reasons.

I don't want to comment much about whether rescues allow families with young children to adopt piggies. I think it's been done to death on this thread. Whether I agree with a rescue's policies or not doesn't really matter.... but I do respect them. Rescuing is physically and emotionally exhausting. The workload is unrelenting. If you do that work, I think you have the right to set your own rehoming policies. Many of the rescues on this forum rehome to families, so the few that don't must have good reasons of their own. If it makes rehoming more difficult for them, that is their issue to deal with.

So, if you can offer a fabulous home to some rescue piggies please keep trying. Look at your local rescues first. Although it is possible to rehome further afield, remember that petrol adds to the rescues costs. Rehoming even an hour away now pretty much wipes out the minimum donation most rescues suggest.

:)
 
I agree 110?% that rescues sholud be able to make up their minds who they rehome to and take my hat off to them for all the love and support they give the piggies. It's their choice if they want to rehome to people with young children and if they dont thats their right. I just dont understand the point in rescues saying its not set in stone when it pretty much is i think it would be a good idea to say a deffo no or yes that way people with kids wont bother e mailing a busy rescue. Could there be a thread started where we put people who do and who dont rehome to people with kids might safe time for the people who want to rehome and the rescues.
 
It's really not as simple as 'do or don't choose to rehome to families with children.

You have no idea how many enquiries start with 'i am looking for some guinea pigs for my 3 year old's birthday tomorrow' or similar!

Other enquiries are much more thought out such as they tell you there are children but they have been researching guinea pigs and waited for the right time, etc.

Running a rescue is hard enough; dealing with enquiries is a job in itself. Many, myself included, would rather know the piggies are safe and well at the rescue than rehome to anywhere that might prove unsuitable.

You also have to remember that one of the main reason for people giving up piggies is because the children got bored! We will always ensure that the adults intend to be the main carers, and always invite the whole family to come and meet the piggies at the rescue first.

I have rehomed to families with very young children, I have also refused to home to families with older children if I wasn't happy with their motives. It is my rescue, and it's my choice and duty to the pigs to do what I feel is right for them

Sophie
 
I can see how it would be awfull to get e mails saying i want a piggie for my 3 year old stupid people i would get quite mad with that 2 tell you the truth and giving the piggies back because there kids are bored some people make me so mad. Its a shame fools like that make it harder for the people who have kids but want to give forever loving homes to piggies. But i can understand why after having piggies given in because the kids got bored le dont want to rehome to people with kids. I respect rescues have the right to pick a good home but also know how heart braking it is to really fall in love with piggies from a rescue and get told you cant have them because you have kids although i think the blame for rescues being worried about kids falls at the fools doors who decide to get pets for their young children.
 
I refuse to rehome piggies to anyone I dont think is completely suitable - whether they have children or not is immaterial in my book................

Often it's not the age of the children that's the problem...............it's the way they are brought up :x
I strongly object to children of any age who run about in my garden, screaming, shouting, opening cages of animals without asking and making a general nuisance of themselves while Mum and Dad stand there saying 'dont do that darling'..........urghhhhhhhgrrrr Also have major problems with children who throw themselves down on the floor in my shed if they cant have the pig they want. I think this is the type of behaviour that puts rescues off rehoming to families with children................

I'm not 'anti child' - I have 2 daughters myself who have been taught good behaviour and good manners and if everyone's children were taught the same life would be alot easier...........................for all concerned rolleyes

Teresa xx
 
Teresa J said:
I refuse to rehome piggies to anyone I dont think is completely suitable - whether they have children or not is immaterial in my book................

Often it's not the age of the children that's the problem...............it's the way they are brought up :x
I strongly object to children of any age who run about in my garden, screaming, shouting, opening cages of animals without asking and making a general nuisance of themselves while Mum and Dad stand there saying 'dont do that darling'..........urghhhhhhhgrrrr Also have major problems with children who throw themselves down on the floor in my shed if they cant have the pig they want. I think this is the type of behaviour that puts rescues off rehoming to families with children................

I'm not 'anti child' - I have 2 daughters myself who have been taught good behaviour and good manners and if everyone's children were taught the same life would be alot easier...........................for all concerned rolleyes

Teresa xx
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i could not agree more i think i wold die on the spot if my children ever behaved like that.
 
Another important issue to remeber that has not yet been mentioned is that pets can be extremely therapeutic to children. My daughter has epilepsy and stress can often trigger a seizure. Having a house full of dogs and guinea pigs means that my daughter, who is now 14 can have a cuddle with a cute furry to help calm her down.

Also along the line of therapeutic animals, i work as a staff nurse on a children's ward and am currently looking into getting my giant chocolate lab Monty assessed as a PAT (pets as therapy) dog so that i can take him onto the ward to meet the children.

So rescues please remember that animals can be very very benefiicial to children x


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I've adopted from the RSPCA, who ask about children who live at the house and also children who visit regularly. We don't have any children living with us, but my niece and nephew are VERY regular visitors. They are 5 and 2.

In fact, Rose and Sweet William were adopted to be Isobel's guinea pigs. It's my name on the adoption form, they live with me, and I am the one who provides all of their care needs. But it's great for her to call them 'hers' because it gives her a sense of responsibility - she helps with the feeding/cleaning/cuddling etc and has found this very beneficial.

Also, I'd just like to put in my tuppence worth for Crawley Guinea Pig Rescue - I am currently in touch with Jenny, and I explained my little visitors to her. She was very supportive, and I'm currently waiting to find a suitable boar for Rosie.

It's true that not rehoming to families with children can be off-putting, but it's not just rescues that have rules like this - we wanted to Puppy Walk for Guide Dogs for the Blind, but were turned down because we look after my 2 year old nephew for 2 days a week. They advised that either there would need to be two adults (one for him, one for the dog) or alternative childcare arrangements would need to be made.

Ultimately, I think everyone here wants piggies to go to a safe home. If that means making sweeping statements against families with children, that's what it means. It's easier to make exceptions and allow people guinea pigs than it is to rehome to anyone and tell someone that they're not suitable because their children are too boisterous etc.

The rescues work really hard, often at great personal cost. At the end of the day, who they rehome to is there perogative.
 
Off the topic of guinea pigs but we wants to rescue a labrador but some places won't let you have a dog if you're out the house for longer than 4 hours!

Surely a dog would rather be left on its own for a bit in a nice warm cosy house than in a kennel block with dozens of dogs barking 9id know what i'd rather)

In the end we got a pedigree labrador and now because we have the equine shop she goes to work with my mum everyday so she isn't actually on her own at all but nevertheless I think were dogs would get rehomed if this policy went!
 
Suzygpr said:
Each rescue has their own policy on rehoming - mine are rather simple in comparison it seems.

A big enough cage - 4ftx2ft min for a pair.

Housed indoors throughout the entire winter - min of heated, insulated shed if in the house is not poss. This is the biggest barrier for me as many people still assume they can live outside all year. mallethead

Not to be bred from, not to be housed with rabbits and to be returned to the rescue if the owners find themselves unable to care for them in the future.


I have no age limit - upper or lower - as long as there is commitment from the whole family there is no reason to exclude anyone. As I talk (the hind leg off a donkey) I weed out the impulsive, under researched propsective owners, if they come back and have done their homework I am delighted!

I grew up with a huge number and variety of pets - it's normal! So to exclude families because they have young children is defeating the object of creating animal loving adults. Talking to people about how to handle and care for their pets when you understand the needs of the family, and the pet, can create the most loving environment of all.


My mini-rant for the day over - thank you :))

Suzy x
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Well said Suzy :(|) :(|),my approach is the same as yours and up to yet all my piggies have gone to the right home.A lady called me yesterday after a pair of piggies suitable for young children i turned it and said i will see what piggies i have who will be happy with young children :)p
A rescue has to treat each family and circumstances as an individual because the overall aim has to be a FOREVER HOME.
My process is our re-homing policy being posted or emailed following the initial phone call,followed by a visit to my house to discuus what piggies we have available and who would suit the family best.
I dont agree with people i dont know just turning up and going away with guinea pigs without the process being followed,unlike another so called rescue i know of.
Helen :(|)
 
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