Ethical Angst over Time between Adoptions :(

[CaqvQueenie]

Hello everyone,

I am incredibly thrilled to adopt my first guinea pigs! Although I haven't owned cavies yet, I've done quite a bit of research and feel as ready as I'll ever be.

My only question is this: I would love to rehome a lone boar from CL, neuter him, than place him with a pair of one sow or a bonded pair. I've already obtained a C & C cage rated for four pigs, so this size heard shouldn't be a problem. But I'm agonizing over when to adopt and neuter the boar. While I am completely ready (not to mention EAGER) to adopt him now, I may not be able to get a sow until mid- or late May. I know the neuter will take about a month to fully kick in, but I'd still be asking him to wait an extra 2.5 to 3 months for his companions.

Would this be unethical? Should I wait until May to give ANY cavies a home? I'd be away from home less than 5 hours most days, and I would spend every possible moment with him until he met the sows. But should I still wait until April or May to adopt any boar in order to minimize this wait time? While I realize cavies aren't alive for my emotional needs, some days I spend every free moment looking at pictures of cavies on CL or the SPCA ads, and I feel as if cavy fever has consumed my every waking thought! Could I possibly adopt the boar now, or would it be horribly unethical to space the adoptions this far apart?

Thank you so much!
Alison

 

[Swissgreys]

Welcome ot the Forum


It is always lovely to have someone onboard who is so enthusiastic, and has clearly done a lot of research.

If I understand correctly you would like to adopt a boar now, but wouldn't be able to get any additional guinea pigs to pair him with until May?
Is there a reason you couldn't get him a friend sooner?

But if that is the case, then the first thing to consider is that a boar can not go with a sow until 6 full weeks post neuter.
This means if you got him at the start of Feb and had him for a few weeks prior to his operation, then he wouldn't be ready to pair with a female until mid April anyway.
I think for me personally it would depend on his current circumstances.
If you adopt a young(ish) boar who is already on his own, with the full intention of pairing him with a friend, then a few months alone, whilst not ideal, would be worth it in the long run.
Even better would be to adopt a boar and sort out some companions for him that he could have contact through the bars with while he waits out his 6 weeks post op.
But whatever you decide it sounds like you have a lovely home to offer and we look forward to hearing all about your piggy journey.

 

[Reenie]

I agree with @Swissgreys . A great solution would be to have the boar next to a sow while he waits out his post op time, which would also help with future bonding. Warning though - extra extra care to make sure he couldn't get out and into her cage - they can be very resourceful when they want to get to a sow. Welcome to the forum x

 

[Tigermoth]

What is CL? You might find if you are getting from a rescue that they neuter lone boars anyway so you might be able to get your pair ready made.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone,

I am incredibly thrilled to adopt my first guinea pigs! Although I haven't owned cavies yet, I've done quite a bit of research and feel as ready as I'll ever be.

My only question is this: I would love to rehome a lone boar from CL, neuter him, than place him with a pair of one sow or a bonded pair. I've already obtained a C & C cage rated for four pigs, so this size heard shouldn't be a problem. But I'm agonizing over when to adopt and neuter the boar. While I am completely ready (not to mention EAGER) to adopt him now, I may not be able to get a sow until mid- or late May. I know the neuter will take about a month to fully kick in, but I'd still be asking him to wait an extra 2.5 to 3 months for his companions.

Would this be unethical? Should I wait until May to give ANY cavies a home? I'd be away from home less than 5 hours most days, and I would spend every possible moment with him until he met the sows. But should I still wait until April or May to adopt any boar in order to minimize this wait time? While I realize cavies aren't alive for my emotional needs, some days I spend every free moment looking at pictures of cavies on CL or the SPCA ads, and I feel as if cavy fever has consumed my every waking thought! Could I possibly adopt the boar now, or would it be horribly unethical to space the adoptions this far apart?

Thank you so much!
Alison

Hi and welcome!

Please wait until you have the time to give your guinea pigs your full attention. Spend the time in between to read up on information and care advice. We have got lots of information on a very wide range of topics which you can access via the guides shortcut on the top bar.

Do you have a rescue within your reach that has neutered boars or is willing to neuter a suitable boar if you pay for the operation and bond him with a pair of sows at the rescue, so they can all start as a bonded trio? I don't know what CL stands for; while we have lots of members from all over the world, the forum itself is UK based. By going via a good rescue (provided you can get to one), you can avoid all the usual pitfalls that await the unwary. Make sure that you use a rescue with mandatory quarantine/vet care, pregnancy watch that is offering rescue dating under expert supervision or willing to bond a mixed gender trio for you. Key with any successful piggy bond is character compatibility and mutual liking. If you bring home an already bonded and quarantined/healthy/guaranteed not pregnant trio, then the extra wait for total peace of mind must be surely well worth it?
By going rescue, you also ensure that not only the piggies you adopt will find a safe home, but that those who replace them will get access to vet care, good treatment and a safe future.
Good rescues cover the whole lifetime of their adoptees, so if for some reason your group gets into trouble or you can no longer keep your piggies, you will have the rescue to fall back on.
Recommended UK rescues: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
Recommended rescues in some other countries: Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations

Please be aware that our recommended post-op wait is 6 weeks; the little baby in my avatar picture is the daughter of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-op boar (not one of mine, I hasten to add), so it can and does happen as late as that. she is not the only case I have heard of. This recommendation follows best UK rescue practice. I have yet to hear of an accident despite hundreds of boars having been nuetered in UK rescues in the intervening years so we know that this recommendation is working. There is a very crucial difference between 99% and 100% safe, and as it is will all statistical events, they can happen to anybody. Just not worth risking it!
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

You may find our Wannabe and New Owners guide collections a good place to start your research. We are addressing specifically all the areas that we get the most questions and concerns from new owners about in them to help our members to as good and safe a start as possible.
Are Guinea Pigs For Me? - A Guide
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum
Great that you are doing so much research and preparation beforehand.
There will be some very lucky piggies when you adopt them

 

[Deleted member 131797]

What is CL? You might find if you are getting from a rescue that they neuter lone boars anyway so you might be able to get your pair ready made.

I think CL = Craig’s list.

I too would recommend a reputable rescue, in which case the boar may already be neutered, although I appreciate that isn’t the boar you’re having in mind!