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Cant find anywhere to get a piggy except pets at home?

Gosh - he had a great escape then by coming to you!
I don't know how schools can do that :( Poor piggy being up-rooted each week!
The kids’ school had guinea pigs that went home for the weekend with willing children/parents. But eventually no one was putting themselves forward so a teacher took them in permanently. I liked having them but reacted to their bedding. The last time I had them I put them in a cage we had spare on shavings.

I hope you find piggies soon. Fingers crossed the ones at spca are still there.
 
Hope the SSPCA boys are still there for you.
If you run out of rescue options the you could also research other pet shops - PAH are not the only ones.
When I couldn't find a rescue near me I found a store called Pets Corner about 20 miles from me who had much higher standards in care for their animals.
What will matter in the end is that any piggies you get, no matter the source, will have a fantastic home where they will receive lots of love and the best possible care.
 
I admit to getting my piggies from pets corner. They were correctly sexed and ok health wise as well. I was put off pah by the spiel one of the customer assistants gave me when I went in to look at piggies.
 
Thanks for all the advice, will visit the spca in the next few days

Can you make it a day out and take the time to drive down to Ayrshire or find somebody
Also, there is no guarantee the piggies can handle the drive lasting that long.

I got my boy Finn from Petsmart here in the US. Finn is now a year and a half years old and I love him. He is simply the perfect pet, lovable, adorable and very loyal. I was searching for a boy cage mate for Finn when my friend appointed me as Lara's pet parent. Lara was about to be homeless so I took her in. Finn and Lara live side by side in different cages. They seem to keep each other company, they can see, smell and hear each other so it has worked for us.

Unfortunately it is a myth that piggies cannot travel; in fact they travel rather well!

Piggies can travel much longer and they can also travel by train over that distance, which I regularly do to see my specialist, included coming home with freshly operated piggies that way several times over the years. They have all made a full and good recovery much smoother than the piggies operated by my local vets despite their journey.

I have also travelled with adopted piggies or helped transport piggies in need between 7 weeks to 9 years to their homes several times on train journeys lasting over three hours and with changes in between trains. Guinea pig rescues in this country regularly move freshly rescued piggies across the country if they are dealing with a large intake in bad condition that would overwhelm a single rescue.
The longest I have taken piggies of mine by car was 6 1/2 hours each way on a cottage holiday when a pet sitter dropped out last minute due to illness and the emergency cover would not medicate.
I have successfully adopted piggies from Scotland, different parts of Wales, all over England and even as far as the Channel Islands without problems. ;)

My most complicated journey ever involved a day trip to West Yorkshire via a rescue event in South Yorkshire with 8 different trains.
I have never rued bringing home my lovely Pili Pala and her cousin Papi from that far away after waiting for nearly 5 months and through two adoption cancellations until she was well enough to be adopted. Despite her bad start, she had 5 happy years with me. :)
Last year's special adoption took me to Sandwich at the tip of Kent through London with a foot walk between stations. The year before I travelled to North Wales for Beryn.


Here are our travelling tips: Travelling with guinea pigs

PS: @Cavyloverxox : if the SSCPA doesn't come off, you could consider travelling to Ayr by train. It is not that far, and there are direct trains from Glasgow. ;)
 
As my post suggests, OP confessed to not being a competent driver since just began driving, which I feel would put both the driver and the piggies in danger.
Having gone through as a beginning driver, I would also not wish to drive long distance when I don't feel secure about driving while having pets in the car.
I also wouldn't suggest that a beginning driver drive long distance with pets in the car. This is just for safety reasons.
 
As a beginning driver who is not secure about driving, there are already many distractions on the road. To have piggies in the car would add to the distraction. I simply don't feel it would be a good idea to suggest long distance driving with new piggies in the car.
 
As my post suggests, OP confessed to not being a competent driver since just began driving, which I feel would put both the driver and the piggies in danger.
Having gone through as a beginning driver, I would also not wish to drive long distance when I don't feel secure about driving while having pets in the car.
I also wouldn't suggest that a beginning driver drive long distance with pets in the car. This is just for safety reasons.

As you may have noticed, I have encouraged the thread poster to consider going by train as an alternative option if the SSCPA adoption didn't come off in my last post; it has not been a dig at you.

There is a difference between not feeling safe to drive and guinea pigs not being able to travel, and that is the distinction I wanted to make.

As a non-driver I have learned that there are ways around getting to where you need/want to go if you really have the will. With a bit of planning and organising, it is surprising how far you can actually get without a car. I also wanted to make the point that it is possible to use public transport with guinea pigs. ;)

PS: Finding a friend or family member to do the driving to Ayr or at least the transport to and fro the Glasgow main station (if you find that too daunting) or nearest local station that is on the line to Ayr if you are not confident (as long as you pay for the petrol) is another option. Ayr is not that far away from Glasgow and it has pretty decent public traffic links.
 
Ayr has a train station it's about a 5 or so minute walk from the centre (depending on how fast you walk) Lots of lovely piggies looking for homes. And we don't bite (much. 😁🤣 Lol ) some of our piggies have been re homed as far as Aberdeen and also the borders). And a couple have travelled to Teas in Northampton. So don't worry about travelling, we reccomend a car carrier newspaper hay and chopped up cucumber for the journey (water intake)
 
Just to add to the "piggies travelling well" stories, I took my last pair on a car trip from Rochdale to Hayward's Heath via Birmingham, and then on the way back it was train from Hayward's Heath back to Manchester. The boys coped with it better than I did lol, I was frazzled by the time I got home. They're much more resilient than we give them credit for sometimes.
Another thing with train journeys is to see if taxi firms between A and B will take small animals in a carrier. It can make it much easier getting to and from a train station that way.
 
Just to add to the "piggies travelling well" stories, I took my last pair on a car trip from Rochdale to Hayward's Heath via Birmingham, and then on the way back it was train from Hayward's Heath back to Manchester. The boys coped with it better than I did lol, I was frazzled by the time I got home. They're much more resilient than we give them credit for sometimes.
Another thing with train journeys is to see if taxi firms between A and B will take small animals in a carrier. It can make it much easier getting to and from a train station that way.

I've never had any issues with taking my guinea pigs in a carrier by taxi to and from a station or my vet's (local or out of town specialist) if my husband couldn't take me for whatever reason, but it is worth enquiring if you are worried.
The only place that may refuse transporting guinea pigs are long distance coaches.
 
I've never had any issues with taking my guinea pigs in a carrier by taxi to and from a station or my vet's (local or out of town specialist) if my husband couldn't take me for whatever reason, but it is worth enquiring if you are worried.
The only place that may refuse transporting guinea pigs are long distance coaches.

Aye, I've never had an issue taking them to the vets or aught as long as I've let the firm know they're in a secure carrier. I just find it's useful to double check in case allergies are an issue, or someone has a problem with pets being in their cars.
 
As my post suggests, OP confessed to not being a competent driver since just began driving, which I feel would put both the driver and the piggies in danger.
Having gone through as a beginning driver, I would also not wish to drive long distance when I don't feel secure about driving while having pets in the car.
I also wouldn't suggest that a beginning driver drive long distance with pets in the car. This is just for safety reasons.

Actually that is not what your post suggested and nor is it what the OP said. The OP is not a confident driver, however I assume they are competent given they have passed their test, there is a great old difference between confidence and competence. Your original post very much indicated that piggies do not travel well which has been clarified by a few members on this thread as this is very misleading for members of the forum or guests viewing the topic how may take this as fact and be put off adopting as a result.

I'm sure the OP is fully able to reach the right decision for them. They have asked for advice and members have contributed ideas in what they can do.
 
Actually that is not what your post suggested and nor is it what the OP said. The OP is not a confident driver, however I assume they are competent given they have passed their test, there is a great old difference between confidence and competence. Your original post very much indicated that piggies do not travel well which has been clarified by a few members on this thread as this is very misleading for members of the forum or guests viewing the topic how may take this as fact and be put off adopting as a result.

I'm sure the OP is fully able to reach the right decision for them. They have asked for advice and members have contributed ideas in what they can do.
I can understand how you can be confused just by reading my post alone, and not including the quote I have quoted of OP previously.

After quoting the OP, the very first thing I wrote was "Also" with my agreeing with OP's opinion about the uncomfortable driving situation being a new driver. Then I added that I wouldn't put piggies in a car when a new driver says they are not comfortable driving long distance.

In my head and after I quoted the OP, I was thinking it would be unsafe for a beginning driver to be driving long distance with pets in the car. I don't know if that makes sense now.
 
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We have clearly established that piggies and people can travel quite some distance to and from rescues, vets, holidays, wherever by various means of transport. I think we can call an end to that line of discussion as there is nothing further to be gained.

Good luck to @Cavyloverxox in your search for a pair of rescue piggies. Look forward to seeing whoever you bring home with you.
 
Hello i am kind of new to this website however I've had guinea pigs the past few years, I'm looking to get 2 new boys and I'm so excited however i have no guinea pig rescues near me (i live in Lanarkshire, Scotland). Ive tried my local spca shelter they have 2 boys that I'm going to go look at soon hopefully they are still there however if it i cannot find any anywhere:( really don't want to buy from pets at home as i have in the past and the guinea pigs are never as friendly:(

Could anyone give advice or has anyone had a good experience with pets at home? Thanks in advance x

Welcome to the forum :)
have you tried contacting your local vets, sometimes they have people who have lost guineas & want to break the cycle of a lone piggy, or have bought guineas & they have been mis-sexed, so ending up with offspring they didn't expect!
also the veterinary practice may have some smaller rescues on their books that they can recommend? (you could suggest taking to them for a health check/sexing at the vets to show you're committed to owning guineas too).

I got one of my previous guineas from the receptionist at my local vets, she had 3 that had gradually disappeared over rainbow bridge & the fourth was left alone as the kids were grown up &left home she wanted her to have company, she was 5yrs old when i got her but i had her for 3yrs as company for my bereaved girl.
I know you won't want only one as in my circumstances, but maybe the vets will know of some for re-homing.. even things such as allergies developing in one of the children, can be a need for re-homing, when guineas are still young.

I've only ever bought one guinea from a shop (Pets at home) in 20+yrs of owning guineas & she's only about a year old now, but she's very friendly &loves cuddles (wheeks like a diva when you pick her up mind!) i think friendliness & confidence is all down to the individual guinea, their personality generally, also the amount of handling, patience & interaction they receive from you can make a difference to their sociability levels.

good luck in your search, let us know how you get on. you'll still be welcome whether your new guineas are rescue or shop bought, etc.
As a rescue friendly forum we try & promote rescues, where you also get so much more after sales support, health advice & general guidance. But my local recommended rescue is approx an hours drive away & I'm not keen on driving around in a city i'm unfamiliar with either.

keep us updated & looking forwards to seeing pics of your new babies when you get them. xx
 
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Welcome to the forum :)
have you tried contacting your local vets, sometimes they have people who have lost guineas & want to break the cycle of a lone piggy, or have bought guineas & they have been mis-sexed, so ending up with offspring they didn't expect!
also the veterinary practice may have some smaller rescues on their books that they can recommend? (you could suggest taking to them for a health check/sexing at the vets to show you're committed to owning guineas too).

I got one of my previous guineas from the receptionist at my local vets, she had 3 that had gradually disappeared over rainbow bridge & the fourth was left alone as the kids were grown up &left home she wanted her to have company, she was 5yrs old when i got her but i had her for 3yrs as company for my bereaved girl.
I know you won't want only one as in my circumstances, but maybe the vets will know of some for re-homing.. even things such as allergies developing in one of the children, can be a need for re-homing, when guineas are still young.

I've only ever bought one guinea from a shop (Pets at home) in 20+yrs of owning guineas & she's only about a year old now, but she's very friendly &loves cuddles (wheeks like a diva when you pick her up mind!) i think friendliness & confidence is all down to the individual guinea, their personality generally, also the amount of handling, patience & interaction they receive from you can make a difference to their sociability levels.

good luck in your search, let us know how you get on. you'll still be welcome whether your new guineas are rescue or shop bought, etc.
As a rescue friendly forum we try & promote rescues, where you also get so much more after sales support, health advice & general guidance. But my local recommended rescue is approx an hours drive away & I'm not keen on driving around in a city i'm unfamiliar with either.

keep us updated & looking forwards to seeing pics of your new babies when you get them. xx

thanks so much, never thought of contacting local vets, will do that thanks! x
 
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