Best/Worst times to adopt a piggie?

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Hey, Logi here. I was wondering if you guys - since so many of you have rescues/have experience with rescues - could maybe tell me the peak times of the year where there are most likely to be lots of cavies wanting homes? Even here in bradford, for that matter.

I was originally thinking of maybe adopting from next year's christmas dump, since there was going to be an overseas holiday planned in the summer and I didn't want to get new pets then leave them alone without me, y'know? But those plans unfortunately, fell through - the friend I was to be staying with is moving to a smaller house due to finacial issues, and we both agree that it's best to leave it another year before having 'foreigners' (lol) around, to give the new house time to settle in with it's people.

So now I'm wondering about easter, if guinea pigs suffer as much at spring festival from being bought as cute babies, then being dumped when they grow into big demanding adults - like many rabbits, and even some chickens and ducks do. My birthday's april 23rd, so when I was little I used to get a lot of my pet bunnies from shelters around that time.

(Even then, I wasn't quite as stupid as to consider pets a toy and something without feelings to torture - I have a distinct memory of, at about six or seven, smashing a wooden truck at a boy my own age's head, because he was boasting about buying a baby rabbit from the pet store and getting his dog to chase it down in the garden and kill it. I really, really, really hope he learnt his lesson there - or at least got a nice concussion for his crimes.)

Also, tragedy has struck in that my hamster, Kioku, had to be put to sleep on wednesday due to kidney failure. I'm still kind of severely in mourning, and my parents won't let me start buying C & C cage supplies yet, on the grounds that I'm not dealing and need time to do so.

Anyway, I think I wandered off topic there at some point. Anyone?
 
Most rescues are full to bursting right now! With more piggies coming in all the time!
 
There are loads of peak times thoughout the year, sometimes they all blend together.

January there's the unwanted christmas presents, then there the unwanted easter presents, the ones people want to get rid of before there summer holidays, then the ones that the kid don't have time for now they are back at school, then lastly because it's too cold to go out and feed them. It then starts all over again.

There are also big rescues that take place through out the year, most rescues are always full and with waiting lists.
 
There are always piggies that are in bad situations that need good caring homes. I understand what you are saying, that there are times when you can bet on a lot of piggies being displaced, but really you can always find a pig in need and that pig will be grateful and happy you chose it.

The rescues may overflow at times, but any time you have room in your heart for one more, you can consult a rescue; if they do not have the type or gender you are seeking they can still advise you and they often know exactly where you can go to find what you want.
 
I would not worry about timing your getting of a piggies with a big demand in space, it might me actually more beneficial if the piggies that had been in rescue long term found new homes before the big displacements due to the above excuses....thus reducing the waiting lists at peak times... just a thought
 
I see where you are coming from: you want to help out the most and time your adoption to benefit the rescue. However, any time is a good time as far as most rescues are concerned, but many are really stretched right now because sensible people are deciding not to take on pets due the the financial downturn and some unlucky people are having to rehome theirs because of their personal and financial circumstances. Also the movie G-Force encouraged many people to take on piggies that they weren't prepared to look after in the long term and these piggies are now being surrendered to rescues.
 
*nodnod* So even if there doesn't seem to be any waiting pigs on a rescue's website, is it worth calling them to check?

I've got my heart set on a pied dutch-maked boar at the local RSPCA, but I'm not going to try and reserve him until I've got everything set up, on the offchance that someone else can give him a forever home in the meantime. But apart from him, there doesn't seem to be many at the moment - camp nibble's website is totally devoid of guinea pigs, and I can't find any other places close enough right now.

How long after easter is a good idea to wait? A week? A fornight? A month?
 
I would definately phone and ask, it is really difficult to keep websites up to date. We usually update our website once a month and some animals don't even make it on there before they are adopted.
 
anytime is the best time to adopt from a rescue - please bear in mind that when adopting from a rescue you are helping double the animals you adopt...i.e. the animal you adopt will be getting a good home and the animal coming into rescue will also be helped as it will be put up for rehoming sooner! (if you understand my thinking!)

It is best to ring up your local rescue and see what piggies have come in - it is diffuclt to update websites constantly.
Good luck in your search
xx
 
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