Giving up an end of the line piggy? Or keep lone pig alone?

[LozzyBee]

Hi,

I feel bad even posting this, but am just being realistic.

We currently have our piggy, Barlo, who is on his third (male) partner. Current partner is a foster piggy from a rescue. The idea was that once Barlo passed on, the foster piggy would go back to the rescue as we want to stop the guinea pig cycle. However, Barlo is showing no signs of slowing down, but I have a feeling out foster piggy is approaching the end of his days (he is under vet care, he’s had various issues over the past few months. Over the last couple of days I’ve just had a feeling he’s not going to get through this. He’s 5 - 6 in June).

We love Barlo and have been through so much with him, but really I can’t see us getting another pig to keep him company. Financially, having guinea pigs has cost us soooo much more than we ever ever imagined (let this be a lesson for anyone reading who’s not yet an owner!). We honestly can’t afford to take on another piggy as you never know what surprise illnesses (and therefore vet bills!) are lurking around the corner. (Just want to add that we didn’t go into this completely blindly - admittedly they’ve cost us more than we thought, but our financial situation has changed since we initially got them 3 years back).

Barlo (who is likely to be left alone in the foreseeable future) is a special little piggy. Last year we were convinced he wouldn’t make it but our amazing vet managed to get him through. He was initially from a rescue where an owner had let their pigs breed like crazy - so he was one of 88! Because of this, we don’t know his history or how old he is. What worries me is that he goes to stay at the rescue every year when we go away, but doesn’t really come out of his shell, but at home he’s very energetic and noisy! He also doesn’t do well under op and my vet knows that and won’t touch him unless they absolutely have to. He has a lump the size of a small plum on his neck from a previous op that he didn’t respond well to, but they don’t want to touch it. I do worry that someone else would get him straight to to vets to have it removed and cause him more problems despite it not being an issue. He’s lived with this lump for around 18 months now.

Ugh...I’m sorry. I guess, to summarise this essay...I feel like we’re going to lose our foster piggy soon, our piggy will be left alone...we can’t risk taking on another piggy...do I leave ours alone, or do I give him up? And do I give him up knowing that he’s a different piggy when he’s with us compared to when he’s with someone else? I have no idea how long he has left as I don’t really know his age. If he has another 2 years I wouldn’t want him to be alone for all that time.

Would would you do/have you done?

Thank you xx

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,

I feel bad even posting this, but am just being realistic.

We currently have our piggy, Barlo, who is on his third (male) partner. Current partner is a foster piggy from a rescue. The idea was that once Barlo passed on, the foster piggy would go back to the rescue as we want to stop the guinea pig cycle. However, Barlo is showing no signs of slowing down, but I have a feeling out foster piggy is approaching the end of his days (he is under vet care, he’s had various issues over the past few months. Over the last couple of days I’ve just had a feeling he’s not going to get through this. He’s 5 - 6 in June).

We love Barlo and have been through so much with him, but really I can’t see us getting another pig to keep him company. Financially, having guinea pigs has cost us soooo much more than we ever ever imagined (let this be a lesson for anyone reading who’s not yet an owner!). We honestly can’t afford to take on another piggy as you never know what surprise illnesses (and therefore vet bills!) are lurking around the corner. (Just want to add that we didn’t go into this completely blindly - admittedly they’ve cost us more than we thought, but our financial situation has changed since we initially got them 3 years back).

Barlo (who is likely to be left alone in the foreseeable future) is a special little piggy. Last year we were convinced he wouldn’t make it but our amazing vet managed to get him through. He was initially from a rescue where an owner had let their pigs breed like crazy - so he was one of 88! Because of this, we don’t know his history or how old he is. What worries me is that he goes to stay at the rescue every year when we go away, but doesn’t really come out of his shell, but at home he’s very energetic and noisy! He also doesn’t do well under op and my vet knows that and won’t touch him unless they absolutely have to. He has a lump the size of a small plum on his neck from a previous op that he didn’t respond well to, but they don’t want to touch it. I do worry that someone else would get him straight to to vets to have it removed and cause him more problems despite it not being an issue. He’s lived with this lump for around 18 months now.

Ugh...I’m sorry. I guess, to summarise this essay...I feel like we’re going to lose our foster piggy soon, our piggy will be left alone...we can’t risk taking on another piggy...do I leave ours alone, or do I give him up? And do I give him up knowing that he’s a different piggy when he’s with us compared to when he’s with someone else? I have no idea how long he has left as I don’t really know his age. If he has another 2 years I wouldn’t want him to be alone for all that time.

Would would you do/have you done?

Thank you xx

Hi and welcome

The dreaded end of the line is always a difficult situation you find yourself in as a loving and conscientious owner. In your case, I would strongly recommend to have a open chat with the rescue your companion piggy is coming from to work out the best solution for Barlo and you. He may be happiest to become a sanctuary resident at the rescue, especially if you agree to pay towards his living cost for as long as he lives.

I know from my own experiences that giving a beloved piggy of yours away in order to make sure that their needs are taken care of before your own feelings is a very hard thing to do. You go through the grieving process twice, once you give your piggy away because it will always remain 'your' piggy - you do not stop loving it because it is no longer with you - and once it actually dies!

But I have given and am still giving a home over the years to a number of bereaved end-of-the-line piggies whose vouched for owners do not want to continue but care about the quality of life for their remaining pig; so I know how important and life prolonging companionship is for the guinea pigs - even if it is just the stimulation of next door company and interaction through the bars.
My Betsan/Boots, who arrived in January, is just such a piggy whose own no longer wanted privately rescued old age companion died unexpectedly before her, and whose caring long term owner didn't want to start the whole cycle yet again. Betsan is the last survivor of her long term group of sows which her owner has run for well over a decade.

You may find my Calli's story in Guinea Pig Magazine issue #45 interesting. She was another group survivor, who arrived aged 7 years and because of having that much needed companionship, lived to celebrate her 9th anniversary. Calli didn't pine acutely after the passing of her last group companion, but she became gradually depressed and very needy of company and regular stimulation; something that her owner, a nurse working 12 hour shifts, could not give her.
I have also dealt with the different aspects of single piggies (including bereveavement), ways to deal with them and what their behaviours mean in view of their species needs/how to meet them in an article published in the last and current magazine issue (#48 and 49).
Back Issues – Guinea Pig Mag
Guinea Pig Mag

There is is no one solution that fits all cases. You have already gone beyond what many owners would do; and you do not have to feel bad about exploring options that include a new home for Barlo. Keep an open mind; discuss your various options including your financial limits and put Barlo's needs before your own, even if that is rather painful. You are not betraying him by doing this.
Life is not about the living the ideal; life is generally finding the best compromise for all parties that can be practically achieved.

 

[LozzyBee]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. The lady who runs the rescue that our companion piggy is from knows Barlo and his history, so having a good open chat with her is definitely something I’d do.

I love that you’ve been able to give a home to so many older piggies, I can imagine it’s so rewarding. I’ve loved having Inkling as company for Barlo, he’s been so good for him, and it’s felt good being able to give an older piggy another chance at having a loving home.

put Barlo's needs before your own,

That one sentence really put things into perspective for me, thank you. This may sound like I’m going wildly off topic, but it is related I promise...I lost my dad earlier this year, and he has left my mum on her own. She doesn’t have any friends to see socially, so the only people she sees are myself and my family a couple of times a week. Because of this, I am desperate for her to consider moving back to her home country where she still has lots of family, and my brother and his family. I obviously don’t want to see her go, but I don’t want her to sit around lonely in her house day in, day out. Same applies to Barlo I guess. I don’t want him to be lonely more than I want to keep him with us. I also don’t ever ever want to be in the position where I’m having to think twice about a vets visit, and I can see it eventually going down that road if we took on another piggy.
Having said all of that, Inkling does seem a little brighter this morning bless him. Going to get him in with Simon for a second opinion...hopefully all is not lost.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. The lady who runs the rescue that our companion piggy is from knows Barlo and his history, so having a good open chat with her is definitely something I’d do.

I love that you’ve been able to give a home to so many older piggies, I can imagine it’s so rewarding. I’ve loved having Inkling as company for Barlo, he’s been so good for him, and it’s felt good being able to give an older piggy another chance at having a loving home.


That one sentence really put things into perspective for me, thank you. This may sound like I’m going wildly off topic, but it is related I promise...I lost my dad earlier this year, and he has left my mum on her own. She doesn’t have any friends to see socially, so the only people she sees are myself and my family a couple of times a week. Because of this, I am desperate for her to consider moving back to her home country where she still has lots of family, and my brother and his family. I obviously don’t want to see her go, but I don’t want her to sit around lonely in her house day in, day out. Same applies to Barlo I guess. I don’t want him to be lonely more than I want to keep him with us. I also don’t ever ever want to be in the position where I’m having to think twice about a vets visit, and I can see it eventually going down that road if we took on another piggy.
Having said all of that, Inkling does seem a little brighter this morning bless him. Going to get him in with Simon for a second opinion...hopefully all is not lost.

HUGS

I am very sorry for your loss, having lost my own dad some years ago and having to support my hub through the last years and the loss of his mother. It is not at all easy to rebuild a new life when you have lost your long time partner, especially when you feel totally lost in the first months and even years.

There are sadly situations when there is no easy solution, whether that is your pets or your nearest and dearest. Weighing up what are your priorities will also help you to gain peace of mind for yourself, which means that your own grieving process will be easier on you.
Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children

All the best for working your issues out in a way that they also give you the feeling of not having failed anybody.
It was very tough for me (and making me feel like I had failed her) giving Caron away to another good home with a comparable setup and lifestyle to mine (and one that incidentally also had a close relative of her large resue intake) after she ended up badly bullied by the large group and failed to bond with one of my other two groups; I made the step after a thorough check and talk with Kim Maddock after we could exclude any health issues.
Complex personality Caron lived another 1 1/2 happy years in a group that tolerated her and found the love of her life. Knowing that I have done absolutely the right thing for her has put my self-doubts to rest. I would do the same again if the need arose.

 

[Merab]

I can’t say anything that hasn’t been said but you are clearly a lovely piggy slave in a difficult situation.
Just want to offer support