Guilt at thought of new piggy

AbiS

AbiS

Adult Guinea Pig
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My beautiful barney went over the bridge on Wednesday and left his brother Toby behind. I have already been in touch with @Stewybus at TVGPR about finding him a new friend. I plan on this being a long term foster piggy as I feel I need a break from piggies once Toby goes over the bridge (he is 5.5). I just feel so utterly guilty at getting a new piggy as it feels like I am replacing Barney. I had a really special bond with Barney. If it weren’t for Toby I wouldn’t even be thinking about another until I had been able to grieve for Barney but poor Toby is so subdued at the moment that I need to do it for him.
Sorry for the pity post, I thought you guys would understand.
 
and we do understand. It's never easy but you have to do what's best for Toby. At the end of the day you aren't replacing Barney though and no pig will ever replace him, you are simply opening your heart to love another too
 
There is guilt felt every time a guinea passes over and we think about getting another. We are not 'replacing' them, we are celebrating them for giving us the realisation that there are unwanted guineas out there that need someone like us to give them love and a safe home. We will grieve for them in our own way and we may grieve for each one in a different way. When a partner is left alone to grieve, it needs more cuddles and attention than before, this will help both our emotional needs. It is also important to find another partner for that guinea to ensure it's continued happy life.
Toby needs your love more than ever at this time and a new partner soon will help him. Fostering a guinea from a rescue is a good idea, in the sense that we don't feel like we've replaced a loved guinea. But beware :), I myself am a several times failed fosterer. So, I wish you a happy future with guineas in your life.
 
Dindypig said:
There is guilt felt every time a guinea passes over and we think about getting another. We are not 'replacing' them, we are celebrating them for giving us the realisation that there are unwanted guineas out there that need someone like us to give them love and a safe home. We will grieve for them in our own way and we may grieve for each one in a different way. When a partner is left alone to grieve, it needs more cuddles and attention than before, this will help both our emotional needs. It is also important to find another partner for that guinea to ensure it's continued happy life.
Toby needs your love more than ever at this time and a new partner soon will help him. Fostering a guinea from a rescue is a good idea, in the sense that we don't feel like we've replaced a loved guinea. But beware :), I myself am a several times failed fosterer. So, I wish you a happy future with guineas in your life.
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That’s exactly it about the fostering, psychologically it does feel a lot less like replacing him. Toby has been getting lots of extra cuddles (whether he likes it or not). I suspect that finding him a friend will make me feel a bit better as well as one of the other things I feel guilty about is that Toby is on his own.
 
Don’t feel bad, you are not replacing Barney, he would not want his little companion Toby left on his own and sad. I think you are doing a great thing for Toby by finding him a friend and Barney would approve Your little foster piggie will have a lovely home and a companion too x
 
I agree, please don't feel bad. My piggy Angel lost his friend and was so depressed and lonely. Thought hard about what was best for him and got him a new friend. It made such a difference to him and gave him a new lease of life.
Barney would want his friend to be happy.
Sending hugs.xx
 
I agree. Every pig is unique and all we doing is passing on the love by embracing another successor to our lost piggy.
The pigs need companionship before we are ready which is why it’s so hard
 
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