Breaking The Cycle

[PopcornPigs]

Hello everyone,
It's been a very long time since I posted here. Sadly, I'm here following the loss of my most cherished fur baby, Frazzle. I will post in rainbow bridge but not yet, as it's still quite a sore thought.

I have come here for some advice though.

Before Frazzle passed away we had six guinea pigs in three pairs as follows:

Male + Male (George & Sam)
Neutered male & Female (Willy & Tilly)
Neutered male & Female (Frazzle & Annie).

Now Annie is on her own, however prior to this happening my partner and I had agreed that we would prefer to eventually have just one pair of pigs. I'd just like to point out that we love all of guinea pigs very much and we took them all on full well knowing how long we'd be caring for them, and we still plan to - we'd just like to eventually have less for personal reasons.

Sorry I'm rambling a bit but the point is, I want Annie to be happy. You would think the obvious answer would be to bond Annie with Willy & Tilly however I tried this previously ( a long time ago) and Tilly was very aggressive towards Annie. Willy & Tilly are very closely bonded and I feel that three of them would definitely be a crowd.

I'm just at a loss as to what to do because Annie's welfare is at the forefront of my mind but then how are we supposed to 'break the cycle'? Annie is a very timid guinea pig and Frazzle bought out the best in her. They've lived together for five years and she's definitely done very well in his company.

I guess I'm just curious if there are any other options or suggestions.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Malice]

I am so sorry for your loss. It's always heartbreaking to lose a tiny, furry friend. I hope that you, and your other piggies, are coping well.

Do you still have George and Sam? Would it be possible to have them neutered and put Annie in with them? Or is that not an option? I understand how difficult breaking the cycle can be, but some times it is an unfortunate necessity. If you cannot place her with any of the other four, would it be possible to place Annie in a cage next to them, so she can still hear and see other piggies? And allow her full social contact during run time, but closeness during cage time? (With lots of human love as well, I'm sure!)

EDIT;; Sorry, I've just realised how silly my suggestion of moving in a sow with two boars is! Ignore that; I just wasn't thinking, I do apologise.

 

[lauraboara]

Hi. I don't think there is an easy answer. Annie is plus 5yrs? i don't know if feasible but could you foster a gentle sow or neutered boar to live with Annie? With the understanding that the foster piggie wouldn't stay after Annie had passed. But obviously it would still involve a difficult parting but mentally might be easier if planned from the start? I am sure i have heard of rescues who have helped people in a similar stage and loaned a 'companion pig' for that kind of situation. x

 

[rosie and bramble]

Yes, @lauraboara is right. Some rescues are offering a foster scheme for those who are wanting to break the cycle of keeping piggies. So fostering a companion until your piggy is no longer here and then the companion goes back to rescue to find another companion x

 

[Freela]

I'm really sorry for your loss. It is hard when these things happen. I've got two pigs with a significant age gap (Sundae is 5.5 years, Hadley just turned 1) and I imagine if the time comes when we don't want to continue as piggie owners, it will be difficult due to the age gap and not wanting to leave a pig without a companion but also not wanting to start all over again. The only two things I can think of are to adopt another similar-aged or elderly pig as a companion with the hope that their lifespans will be similar, or to take on a 'companion pig' to be returned to a rescue after your own pig lives out her natural life (I hear that this option is available in some places- it isn't in Canada where I am, but if it's available near you, it might be a good solution for both you and Annie.)