Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I’ve learnt so much through your replies! Wiebke - such a beautiful story and photo
I’ll start looking at rescue centres and see if there are any local that would allow us to take our piggie along to ‘choose’ her next friend!
Here is our list of carefully vetted good welfare standard rescues that we can recommend. If you let us know your county, we may be able to point you to the best place for dating or to your closest reputable rescue.
Not all RSPCA branches do offer dating (and by not all run guinea pigs) and no Blue Cross ones but their piggies are fully quarantined, vet cared and healthy when put up for adoption.
Unfortunately, anybody can call themselves a rescue or a breeder without licensing or regular supervision; and the result can unfortunately be accordingly. Hence why we felt the need to run a list of the places we can guarantee that members wanting to go rescue are in safe hands. The vast majority of rescues offer dating in some form (the particulars of various dating forms are explained in the thread about navigating the minefield that is where to get your piggies from).
Rescue Locator
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs
This was Gethin with his new little rescue-born baby wife and second big love Carys, who I adopted when Tesni's sister Ffwlbri ('Moonlight') turned 7 1/2 and started to get on a bit; Ffwlbri actually lived on for another year - not least because of the renewed zest of life that Carys engendered.
Little Carys with Gethin and old lady Ffwlbri
(I needed a baby in that particular case that would physically not be able to challenge my old lady; Ffwlbri actually did some arthritic popcorns with Carys, which was so lovely to see! Gethin was nearly 3 years old at that time. )
Carys 'Love' (who is now 3 years old) now lives with her best girlfriend Tegeirian ('Orchid', 2 years) and new 4 years old widowed 'husboar' Cai (formerly Kylo; the brown short-hair). They are getting on well and like to sleep all together in the hay tray. They are adoptees from three different rescues.
One of the great advantages about rescue dating is that you can really look for that all-important personal vibe.
I often let the rescue people choose who they think is most suited because in a good rescue they know their piggies' personalities and character compatilibity comes well before looks - allthough their also plenty of lookers fetching up there and quite a wide diversity of ages and backgrounds.
Her ‘sister’ is clearly very quiet and subdued still. How soon before we should introduce a new piggie and has anyone had any experience of younger vs older piggie new cage friend?
