Getting Another Pig?

WhinnyPig

WhinnyPig

Junior Guinea Pig
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as some of you know I just lost my sweet little Wiley pig to severe illness just six short months after losing Whinny pig :( I am so beyond heartbroken that they are gone. Wiley's loss is still so fresh as she was put to sleep yesterday. My fiancé and I are trying to figure out our next move for our remaining piggy Winona that we got over the summer to be Wiley's next sister. Winona did well by herself the couple days that Wiley was hospitalized. She seems to be doing well now as well. We care deeply about her well being but also have reservations about another piggy. We have just gone through two terrible losses and are overwhelmed with the grief and guilt from having to euthanize one of our babies. Do we see how she does by herself for now? Should we get another piggy sooner rather than later? Any insight is helpful.
 
WhinnyPig said:
as some of you know I just lost my sweet little Wiley pig to severe illness just six short months after losing Whinny pig :( I am so beyond heartbroken that they are gone. Wiley's loss is still so fresh as she was put to sleep yesterday. My fiancé and I are trying to figure out our next move for our remaining piggy Winona that we got over the summer to be Wiley's next sister. Winona did well by herself the couple days that Wiley was hospitalized. She seems to be doing well now as well. We care deeply about her well being but also have reservations about another piggy. We have just gone through two terrible losses and are overwhelmed with the grief and guilt from having to euthanize one of our babies. Do we see how she does by herself for now? Should we get another piggy sooner rather than later? Any insight is helpful.
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I'm very sorry for your losses. Xx

It's always going to be difficult after loosing your furbabies to then go and get another one. Obviously we all immediately know that eventually this new member of the family is also going to pass at some stage and you have to be ok with that. It's also the fact that when Winoa sadly passes in the future will you then continue the cycle again and get another pig for the new arrival?

Obviously the first answer for your question is yes a new companion for your lone girl would probably be the best option. However, are you prepared for more heartbreak in the future? (That's the only problem with pet's isn't it? They go too fast)

You may choose to keep her alone -is she an older pig? Some do ok on their own but it's never the advisable option as guinea pigs are first and foremost social animals who in the wild would be living in larger herds with multiple members.

The other option is to (if the piggy cycle isnt for you) perhaps foster a piggy instead? You could foster a lone female until your little girl passes.
 
Thanks for your kind words. I just have so much guilt and agony and self doubt over the decision I made it's hard to think of bringing another animal into my house.
 
WhinnyPig said:
as some of you know I just lost my sweet little Wiley pig to severe illness just six short months after losing Whinny pig :( I am so beyond heartbroken that they are gone. Wiley's loss is still so fresh as she was put to sleep yesterday. My fiancé and I are trying to figure out our next move for our remaining piggy Winona that we got over the summer to be Wiley's next sister. Winona did well by herself the couple days that Wiley was hospitalized. She seems to be doing well now as well. We care deeply about her well being but also have reservations about another piggy. We have just gone through two terrible losses and are overwhelmed with the grief and guilt from having to euthanize one of our babies. Do we see how she does by herself for now? Should we get another piggy sooner rather than later? Any insight is helpful.
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I am very sorry for your losses. It is always difficult to find the balance between your own and your remaining guinea pig's need. Guinea pigs are social animals; even when they are not acutely pining, they still miss the interaction and stimulation from others of their kind. Guinea pigs don't grieve any less, but they are wired to get on with life more quickly than us humans.

It is always more difficult when you lose beloved pets in short succession. Try to imagine Whinny and Wiley reunited healthy and happily at the Rainbow Bridge. Winona however is alone down here. Any new piggy is strictly for her; you do not have the obligation to bond with it straight away. That will come on its own once you are ready. You will find that it is going to be a very different, but no less valid bond than you have previously enjoyed. I have always found that having the surviving piggy taken care of has helped me with my own grieving process as I could do that free of feelings of guilt in my own human time - even if it has taken me several weeks in some cases until I could feel anything for the new arrival. In time I have come to love for their own personalities and as much as my other piggies.
You always grieve as much as you love; they are two sides of the same coin. The grieving process is not lost time; it gives you a deeper emotional understanding. Like shade makes light shine brighter, loss makes love more precious.

If you can adopt a neutered boar or a sow from a rescue (especially if Winona can choose herself), then you have the back-up of that rescue if at some point you decide to not continue or if the new bond doesn't work out. It is an extra layer of safety for you.
The best place in your state (and in fact in surrounding states) is this one here: MSPCA at Nevins Farm - MSPCA-Angell
 
Can't really add more than @Wiebke poignant words to you except we do all understand how you feel having gone through the grieving process ourselves so often over the years that we have kept these endearing little friends.
I heartily agree though that your remaining little piggy does need a companion and that rescue centres will help you and the piggy find a suitable friend for her.
Let us all know how you get on.
Janice
 
Unfortunately they only have a bonded pair at this time, so not a great fit for Winona. I will check petfinder as well, I think it will be easiest to bond her with a baby but I want to avoid the pet stores if at all possible!
 
Will do! I really hope she finds a sister to love, I just got Winona over the summer after Whinny died, she had lost her buddy too and now she has lost Wiley.
 
Really sorry to read about your loss. You are doing the right thing though I know first hand how hard it is. I lost 3 of mine within a few months (2 to old age and 1 very ill) this happened December, January and April leaving daisy on her own. She was fine on her own but did become a lot more chatty and eager to see us so I could tell she needed a friend. Whilst it's lovely having so much attention from her it was also heartbreaking when the highlight of her day was us getting home from work. I hope it all goes well at the rescue
 
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
Having been in a similar situation to yours in October I send you my sympathy it is so hard. Havng spent 2 weeks looking for a lone boar to be paired with my bereaved one from rescues in an 85 mile radius of us and having no luck I ended up going the shop route. I have struggled to come to terms with this and with "replacing" Willow. A month on from Rusty moving in I can say it's getting easier and I now feel some affection for him. I hope all goes well for you, time really does help to heal.
 
It is very hard, I'm sorry for your loss. I keep reminding myself that no piggy can replace the past pigs but that Winona needs a sister to feel happy. My fiancé particularly struggles with binding to a new pet and still does not have the love for Winona that he has had for Whinny and Wiley so hopefully a new pig will bring him some happiness and he can bond with them both.
 
Wonderful! And how exciting to be getting another lovely pig. Hope Winona finds a great new pal.
 
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