Guinea Pigs And University

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Phoebe-PP

Phoebe-PP

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hello everyone, apologies for my absence! I've been very busy with A-levels etc and have sent my university applications off in October to apply for Vet Med (and I got offered a place for Animal Science!) so it's looking likely that if I get the grades come August, I'll be off to uni. And here comes my problem!

I have two piglets who, despite being nearly six are in very good health buuut it's got me thinking. We all know our pigs aren't going to be around forever, but it's likely the girls will still be with us when I (hopefully) go to uni. My major problem is what I'm going to do with them, just to say, rehoming them definitely is out of the question! It also wouldn't be feasible to leave them at home; as much as my mum loves them, she doesn't have the time or knowledge (sorry mum!) to look after two oldies. In an ideal world I would have them fostered out to someone knowledgeable during term time for the first year of uni. After that I will move out into rented accommodation so I would have them with me. To get to the crux of the matter: does anyone have experience of a similar situation and have any alternatives I haven't thought of, or possibly even know someone who would have the space/time/willingness to foster my girls?

Thank you for reading this! Phoebe x
 
I left my girls at home when I went to uni, and my parents looked after them. In my 5 years at uni I have never found a house that allows pets although I have never really asked the landlords, but hopefully you will find somewhere that will let you keep your girls with you.

Phoebe, where about are you based/ where's uni likely to be? It might help get people interested in fostering if they know where about you're located/ whether it is feasible.

x
 
@klee

Eeek, not promising about the landlords not letting pets :( I live in Reading at the moment, but have applied to Nottingham, Bristol and Edinburgh so all over the country really! To be honest (unless of course it's hours and hours away) it'll be feasible to take the girls most places if someone was willing to take them. I know it's a long shot finding someone to foster, but I really can't think of any other options!
 
@Phoebe-PP I do know people who have had pets in rented houses though. Whether or not this was allowed by the landlord is another matter. One of them had piggies, and I think she moved the pigs in and asked later- not the way to do it but I think the landlord was okay about it, not everyone will be so lenient though.
 
I got a hamster in my second year of uni when we were in a rented flat. I did ask my landlord first, he didn't speak a huge amount of English so trying to describe to him, over the phone, what a hamster was quite tricky! lol

I think you might find landlords are OK with animals that live in cages, they usually put a 'no pet' clause in for cats and dogs as they don't want the furniture to be scratched or carpets made dirty from animals walking on them etc. You just completely deny that the piggies ever have any floor time. ;)
 
@klee @AbiS That's good to hear from both of you, we'll see what happens after the first year, that's a while yet! But it's good to hear that some landlords will be tolerant, to be honest I assumed that it wouldn't be so much of a problem as a lot of people assume that guinea pigs live in small cages, with no floor time etc.
 
where are you going to uni about, if its in scotland I could help, my boarding service is in the middle between edinburgh and glasgow, and I could board them for as little as £5 a week as a helping hand, this offer extends out to all uni goers in scotland, good luck with your studies, call me on 07528002422 if i can help anyone.
 
Our contract didn't state whether we could have pets or not it just stated that we would need the landlords permission should we want to have one. When asked our landlord didn't allow pets but that only extended to dogs and cats. We were allowed small animals if they were caged, any damage to the furnishings and we would forfeit our deposit. In my experience, most landlords/estate agents are open to discussion, if you don't ask you don't get!
 
Have you got indoor or outdoor pigs?

I kept pets in both Halls of Residence and shared student housing but I was not allowed to officially and looking back I could have been in a lot of trouble, but you dont think about these things when you are young!

I used to hide in my room in the shared house with the dog when the landlord came around! And in my hall of residence flat one of the other girls had rats. I made sure we kept the flat really clean though so the cleaners never complained.... its risky though and I would not recommend it!
 
@boardingservice if i do get a place at Edinburgh that would absolutely ideal! Is that cost inclusive of food etc?
@gothmummy one of my friends at uni in halls at the minute has her pigs free ranging in her en suite! Apparently noones noticed yet, but i think I'm too much of a chicken to risk getting caught! My girls are indoor :)
 
If you go to Nottingham you can ask me, at the moment I could not accomodate two extra indoor female pigs but circumstances can change, you are welcome to PM me nearer the time. Our house extention might actually have been built by then, you never know ;) I am adopting two girls later on this month (their new cage arrived today) and I have three boars so I am currently at capacity but you are talking about needing a foster in almost a years time, so yes, feel free to contact me if you like.
 
Thanks ever so much for the offer Goth Mummy, that's so kind of you! Realistically, I will know what's happening in August so it really is a while away but I like to be organised :)) It's put my mind at ease that I know people would be willing to take them, I honestly thought it would be impossible to find any options :)
 
I'm also in Nottingham, and whilst I might not be able to take them myself (depends on how hard I can convince I my parents) I don't mind giving you a helping hand to find somewhere.
 
Pets are generally not allowed in halls of residence and I wouldn't recommend 'sneaking' them in as in my first year, we had a hamster and someone from the flat next door told on us and we had to re home the hamster. Thankfully my sister in law had her.

In my 3rd year, there were 3 of us in a student house. Me, my now hubby and our friend. The landlord barely ever came round but he was fine with me having a gerbil. In my 4th year, I lived in another student house but one of the guys living there was the son of the landlords. I asked before I moved in if I could have my gerbil with me, I was allowed so long as I kept him in my room.

All landlords are different and I guess it depends on if you rent a student house or a private let. Just ask in advance and you may be allowed.

Good luck with everything
 
hi pheobe-pp yes that cost is for all the care your pet needs I would need a note of feeding times, what food, and veg they eat, I would not mind at all, I am here to help. pets get the run of the house, not all together, and are groomed, nail trimmed, and cuddled daily, extra vitamin c would be given, if needed, just know everyone is here to help
 
I'm not a very good influence when it comes animals at college...I definitely hid all 3 of my boys from my landlord and managed to get away with it! :shh: There was a scary situation involving me thinking that the landlord was stopping by so I frantically disassembled their cage and hid 3 confused pigs in the bathroom while I stared out the peephole until he left my hallway. Needless to say, it was a stressful living situation that I wouldnt recommended, and was relieved when my lease was over and I could live at home with them without fear of eviction!
 
@boardingservice very reasonable, thats how much i spend normally anyway!

Thanks everyone for the advice and everything, uni isn't exactly the biggest concern when you're 11 getting pigs but its good to know i have plenty of options come the summer :)
 
Some student living (especially those housing vet or animal study students) will let some pets in, usually the private landlords. Don't worry too much until you know for sure. But its great that your thinking ahead too. : )

x
 
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