General Rescuing Question...

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TheAurora

TheAurora

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Just in case I do decide to rescue some more piggies and give them a forever home, I just have a general question (there might be a better place for this if administrators want to move this thread).

There are no rescue centres in the county where I live.

I'd be willing to travel all over the country to visit any centre and allow a potential new pair of piggies to see if they like me.

But most rescue centres want to do home checks.

Does this mean I really couldn't expect a rescue centre to consider me?

I should also say I'd be willing to pick a rescue centre employee up from anywhere in the country and take them to my home to check things out and return them again if it meant giving the new piggies a home if they wanted to be with me.

Like I said, I don't know what to do right now. Just want to know if rescuing is not an option for me.
 
A lot of rescues have someone in different areas that can do home checks. For example I adopted Sophie from Rugby but I am in Herts and the lady who home checked lived in the next town. Turned out we had met before too as she volunteered at Wood Green where I adopted 2 hamsters from. Small world.

It really does depend on the individual rescue though.
 
Yes, I have whippets as well as guinea pigs, we get loads of requests via twitter, for rescue centres locally to carry out home checks for other rescues, it is a network. Unfortunately I adopted a piggy from a bad 'rescue', so it works both ways!
 
I adopted from Bobtails rescue which is over two hours away so they agreed to let me send pictures of my set up and talk about how I do things. Maybe a rescue will let you send pictures of your set up too.
 
We had a similar situation to @piggyfan, The rescue we adopted from was over 1 1/2 hours from us, firstly we called them, had a talk over the phone, visited the rescue with photo's of our set-up and a letter from our vets, the rest is history as we adopted Ouzo, Morgan, Tia from them as well as fostering 8 piggies during Christmas & New Year last year.


Lisa & Ali...
 
Ah interesting replies from everyone.

So perhaps it's not a completely hopeless cause.

If I make a decision to adopt I'll clearly need to get on the phone and chat with places.

Thanks everyone x
 
NEGPR, will rehome Guinea Pigs as far as Glasgow & Edinburgh from Tee-side..
 
I think it would be a very good idea to start making enquiries at rescue centres @BeautifulBoyz . Of course, you want to feel ready to start keeping guinea pigs again but, if you start preparing, at least you won't end up impulse buying in a pet shop.
I , like some of the above posts, had to travel a distance when I was looking for a companion for Max. The Rescue I went to was excellent and we did all the preparation in advance by conversations and me providing pictures .
 
lisaali said:
NEGPR, will rehome Guinea Pigs as far as Glasgow & Edinburgh from Tee-side..
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Oooh thanks for the advice. Do they have a website do you know?

I have to say there is one rescue place - Hazelcroft - where I have fallen in love with EVERY SINGLE guinea pig on their site!
 
So... this week I contacted a few rescue centres. Prob too soon really but I've been really honest about situ.

I've had a very mixed experience... some have been so lovely and helpful. Others a little less so - which I've been surprised by but perhaps they think I'm time wasting or not a suitable owner and I guess they just want what's best for their piggies.

I'll keep you posted x
 
I had similar and surprising mixed responses trying to find a new friend for Tango after we lost Cash at the start of the year - I know exactly what you mean! It was quite the shock for me but in retrospect I think my grief at the time had made me a lot more sensitive - I imagine you're probably still feeling the same too after what you've been through.

It helped me to keep in mind that they are very busy places just trying their best for the piggies in their care. Just focus on the positive responses you've had!
 
I am sorry some rescues have not been very supportive. That must have been upsetting for you.
 
I agree with Tbag. I felt the same when I was looking for a companion for my neutered boar, Max. I was looking for one or 2 sows . I contacted a few rescues (by email) - 2 never got back to me at all, one got back explaining that they had no sows available . It felt like an age before I got a date to take Max dating. I felt quite disheartened at the time which is a big shame as it would have been only too easy to pop down to a pet shop and buy a guinea pig. I am so glad I didn't. I stuck to my principles ( I feel very strongly about rescuing). and I am so glad I did. Max has 2 lovely wifepigs now ( Bess and Sparkle).

I know in hindsight that one rescue I contacted was having problems with their email system and another just isn't that good with emails and would have helped me if I'd telephoned.

Whichever way you look at it , rescues are charities - stretched to the limit and I am sure they are putting the welfare of their animals 1st.

So, don't give up @BeautifulBoyz and try not to get disheartened.
 
Insightful and supportive responses from everyone here, as ever - thank you.

@Tbag - You are right, I am very sensitive at the moment. But it never occurred to me to acknowledge that with regards to this situ. Thank you!

@piggyfan It is a bit but maybe things will work out a particular way with a particular rescue for a reason. Maybe fate knows there is a pair of piggies out there in a particular place who are going to need me!

@PiggieOwner Great story! Thanks for sharing your experiences, very helpful.
 
Hi. Do you have a p@h near? They have adoption centres. I adopted a piggy 2 years ago from them she was 3 months and is a beautiful white long hair with blue eyes.Went in today and they had a pair of gorgeous piggys. Dont know the sex but one cream and white crested and other tri long hair. If I hadnt just taken one in from a work mate, they would have been coming home with me! X
 
linda.b said:
Hi. Do you have a p@h near? They have adoption centres. I adopted a piggy 2 years ago from them she was 3 months and is a beautiful white long hair with blue eyes.Went in today and they had a pair of gorgeous piggys. Dont know the sex but one cream and white crested and other tri long hair. If I hadnt just taken one in from a work mate, they would have been coming home with me! X
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Which rescue is that? Thanx
 
Hi. It's pets at home the pet store. Most of them have a rescue section. The one near me rehomes some of their own pets that have been in ages and also for brysons, a local rescue. X
 
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