Dilemma - Your thoughts please.

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Vicky(Smudger)

I have a dilemma. I am seriously trying to concentrate more on the rescues that I have at the moment and of course any future rescues but my time is very limited. Alot of my time is taken up by all of our own piggies of which there is 44.

Although it pains me to say so I think that I am going to have to rehome some of the ones that we own. This was really brought about today because not only did I have to keep two rescues back from being rehome because one has developed a bald patch :'( and one of my own piggies had an eye injury :'( (he has nowbeen seen by a vet and has got treatment) I feel so guilty as not seeing this before :'( :'(

Am I doing the right thing? I want to do what is best for all the piggies.

If I go ahead with this I will have a selection of boars and sows that will be looking for new homes.
 
I dont really think its right to rehome your pets...

I would just take in less rescues rather than making your other piggies loose their homes...

I think its great to haev a set number, and stick to that...Karen gave that advice once, and ive always stuck by that!

Your guineas and rescue guineas should be treated as totally different things..

If you need to rehome them because you cant cope with the amount, thats one thing...but dont rehome your loved pets, and replace them with more, rescues or otherwise, or its pointless...your pet piggies need you just as much as rescues do! :)

Maybe you could cut your rescues altogether until you have got your piggies back on track? Your piggies have to come first! Hope everything works out okay! :)
 
I dont take in a huge number of rescues as it is Jane. Its just when I get days like today when things go wrong and I dont find them straight away it makes me think that maybe we have too many.

I dont really want to do it. I did take some rescues from someone I know a little while ago, I am thinking that maybe I should let them go to new homes. I dont want to upset anyone though. I did rehome them to here in good faith that they would stay, but I am not really bonding with them. Does that sound bad?
 
Theres not much point running a rescue really if you wanna rehome your pet piggies :-\ i dont get that really ?

Surely you can just keep your piggies and not run a rescue - i really dunno what to say :-X
 
Don't be too hard on yourself, rescue work can be quite overwhelming sometimes and I susect you're just having an off time at the moment. You can't blame yourself for every single thing that happens to every animal in your care. Sometimes though, sadly, our best just isn't good enough. It happens.

I think the bottom line is that you just have too many guinea pigs to care for and you perhaps feel bogged down. Try to look at what your priorities are and work out ways you can enlist some practical help in the short term.

Longer term, I would think seriuosly about which piggies are going to benefit from staying with you and which ones will benefit from going to a new home where perhaps they will get lots of one to one, perhaps the shy ones that need that bit extra. It's not going to be easy but if you don't make a start you'll need rescuing yourself soon.

Above all else DO NOT take in any more rescues at this moment in time. By your phone put a list of numbers of other places that can help people out and when you had said firmly NO and that your rescue is full just be helpful and pass those numbers on. Do not listen to the story.............. you know it makes sense :)

You have my support, you are obviously going through a difficult time and have got a bit muddled. We can't save them all we just have to decide how many we can help and do our very best for that number. Hope you're feeling a bit more posiitive very soon x
 
iloveanimals said:
Theres not much point running a rescue really if you wanna rehome your pet piggies :-\ i dont get that really ?

Surely you can just keep your piggies and not run a rescue - i really dunno what to say :-X
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Thats just it I dont want to rehome my piggies, I want to keep them.

summerleaze said:
Don't be too hard on yourself, rescue work can be quite overwhelming sometimes and I susect you're just having an off time at the moment. You can't blame yourself for every single thing that happens to every animal in your care. Sometimes though, sadly, our best just isn't good enough. It happens.

I think the bottom line is that you just have too many guinea pigs to care for and you perhaps feel bogged down. Try to look at what your priorities are and work out ways you can enlist some practical help in the short term.

Longer term, I would think seriuosly about which piggies are going to benefit from staying with you and which ones will benefit from going to a new home where perhaps they will get lots of one to one, perhaps the shy ones that need that bit extra. It's not going to be easy but if you don't make a start you'll need rescuing yourself soon.

Above all else DO NOT take in any more rescues at this moment in time. By your phone put a list of numbers of other places that can help people out and when you had said firmly NO and that your rescue is full just be helpful and pass those numbers on. Do not listen to the story.............. you know it makes sense :)

You have my support, you are obviously going through a difficult time and have got a bit muddled. We can't save them all we just have to decide how many we can help and do our very best for that number. Hope you're feeling a bit more posiitive very soon x
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Thank you Summerleaze. I think what you have said makes sense. I rehomed 4 rescues today which is great but I have committed myself to taking two more tomorrow, these were agreed before things happened today.

I think after these two I will be saying no more until after christmas, this will give me time to sort out what we want to do. it may mean me closing the rescue for which I would be very sad as I have had it going for along time, but I must consider my own animals. We have got some older ones which are going to require more care and love over the next year or two.

I dont know what the two piggies are that are supposed to be coming to me tomorrow, all i know is that they are two boys and are aged 2-3 years. If anyone has got room for two, please let me know. I will of course post them on here in the rescue section once they have arrived.

If there is anyone close to me in Sittingbourne, Kent who thinks they may be able to help with any rescue enquiries in the future please let me have your details so that I can pass them on.
 
Perhaps you could try and devote your time over the next week or two to getting some rehomed, try a small advert in the local paper (it only costs a tenner), put a couple of notices up at the vets, call your local radio station, find some noticeboards, advertise anywhere you can. If you have some good enquiries it will help you to feel a bit better about things.

Don't worry about things though, the piggies will be alright. You are just in the eye of the storm at the moment - things will get better.

Thinking of you - and sending you a big "rescue hug" ! ;) ((((( :) ))))))


PS Repeat after me ........ "I'm sorry but I'm not able to take any guinea pigs in, I'm full and the waiting list too is now closed " Say it enough and it gets easier ;D ;D ;D ;D
 
Awww bless id hate to be in your situation (HUGS) from everyone including all my piggies ;)
 
summerleaze said:
Perhaps you could try and devote your time over the next week or two to getting some rehomed, try a small advert in the local paper (it only costs a tenner), put a couple of notices up at the vets, call your local radio station, find some noticeboards, advertise anywhere you can. If you have some good enquiries it will help you to feel a bit better about things.

Don't worry about things though, the piggies will be alright. You are just in the eye of the storm at the moment - things will get better.

Thinking of you - and sending you a big "rescue hug" ! ;) ((((( :) ))))))


PS Repeat after me ........ "I'm sorry but I'm not able to take any guinea pigs in, I'm full and the waiting list too is now closed " Say it enough and it gets easier ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Yep been chatting to hubby and he is in agreement, No more piggies in the rescue until we are a bit more sorted. Fingers crossed we will be able to take rescues again in the new year. Will see how it goes.

Will get busy on the computer today doing some more notices so that I can hopefully get the current rescues rehomed.

Thanks for all your kind words. I really felt terrible yesterday but am feeling a bit brighter today.

iloveanimals said:
Awww bless id hate to be in your situation (HUGS) from everyone including all my piggies ;)
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Yeah its hard because I love helping the rescues, but I have to do what is right.

Thank you both for all your kind words.
 
Good luck with everything, it sounds like good advice from summerleaze to me :)

I can well imagine how much time over 40 guineas takes as well as the rescue side of things and you were having a bad day. I only have 7 guineas and that is my absolute limit and at times that is hard going with working, the kids and if they or I get ill etc.....so yes a number you can definately cope with and stick to it :)
 
We all get to the point of dispair at times with the number of people contacting us wanting us to take rescues in.
I now have a waiting list and in theory they come in in order of urgency but there is always the odd one that manages to get to me and comes straight in ::)

if you are struggling with the numbers you have I would really consider stopping the rescue for the time being untill you get the ones you have in rehomed then re look at the situation and decide if you can cope with your own 44 plus rescues.
Myself i would be saying No i personaly couldnt cope with that many and if i did have 44 of my own I wouldnt be doing rescue and i would never rehome my own to take more rescues in ,but thats just me.
 
It may well be that we dont reopen the rescue after christmas and new year. We will see how it goes.

It will be a shame if we dont reopen but that how its goes. I'm not going to let ours suffer, I felt terrible yesterday when I found one of ours with the eye injury.

Will let you know what we decide.
 
If I was you Vicky, I'd stop taking in rescues for a few months, rehome the ones you've rescued, then spend some time with your own pet pigs for a while before reopening the rescue.

I get bogged down with finding enough time for my pigs, and I only have 7, so I can't imagine how much hard work it takes to look after 44 plus rescues. My mum is always telling me that I cant save the world, no matter how much I want to. By taking in rescue pigs and taking good care of them, you have contributed an awful lot to guinea pigs in need, and now I think its time to step back a little, and enjoy your own pet piggys for a while.

I think all of the people on here who rescue and foster are absolute angels 0:) , but everybody needs a rest now and then.
 
Damonshumanslave said:
If I was you Vicky, I'd stop taking in rescues for a few months, rehome the ones you've rescued, then spend some time with your own pet pigs for a while before reopening the rescue.

I get bogged down with finding enough time for my pigs, and I only have 7, so I can't imagine how much hard work it takes to look after 44 plus rescues. My mum is always telling me that I cant save the world, no matter how much I want to. By taking in rescue pigs and taking good care of them, you have contributed an awful lot to guinea pigs in need, and now I think its time to step back a little, and enjoy your own pet piggys for a while.

I think all of the people on here who rescue and foster are absolute angels 0:) , but everybody needs a rest now and then.
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Sound advice from DHS, I think you have summed things up very well. I think we are all guilty (in the nicest possible way) of wanting to help all the waifs and strays out there, that's why we love our little furries so much, but sometimes you have got to take a step back and think about your own animals and family.

Sounds like you are feeling a bit more positive today Vicky, sending hugs, enjoy your piggies and take stock a few months down the line.
 
Well I have had a good day so far. Everyone has been cleaned out as normal and I have spent the whole day pampering my piggies and the few rescues of course.

They are all looking spick and span, just a few more to do, now that I have unloaded the camera with pics I can carry on. :smitten:

Oh and the two rescues I committed myself too have arrived. Cute little boys will take pics later. :)
 
I'm glad you are feeling a bit more positive, i have only just seen this but i too have large numbers of animals, and it is typical everything will either be fine, or everything will go wrong at once, and who knows, the eye injury could have happened just 5 mins before you saw it? Stopping the rescues for the time being will just give you the space to spend quality time with your own, to give them thorough health checks, and so make you see what a great piggy mum you really are! Then when you are feeling better and less stressed you can do a proper calm evaluation of how many you can care for, but please don't get rid of any of yours, when you are calmer you will realise you don't need to. Good luck!
 
You poor thing....I would definately have a blitz on rehoming as many rescues as you can..there are some lovely people out there who will take on rescue pigs willingly. Don't take in anymore and try and get your numbers down so you can then concerntrate on your own pigs. Once it's know you don't do rescues anymore things should get easier for you but it will take time. ;)

Good luck and I hope it all goes well for you O0
 
I am sure it is hard for you to turn away any pig in need but you have to think of yourself. You are no good to your current pigs or future pigs if you work yourself into the ground. So take a well earned breather. Wishing you well x
 
Awwwww! Bless you for looking after all those piggies 0:) I used to have 70+ so I now how hard it can be at times, especially if you've had a couple of poorly ones. Personally I believe you've made the right choice. I think you deserve a bit of a rest and enjoy your own piggies then decide if you wish to do rescue work again. Good luck O0
 
theres nothing wrong with taking a rest when you need to Vicky, you and others who do rescues do an amazing job and you all would have changed the lives of so many piggies. :)
 
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