how long to wait before getting maisie a new friend

Status
Not open for further replies.
We sadly were in the same position as you last year when we lost our Gromit. Wallace became very withdrawn and quiet and obviously missed his brother. We pondered over how to help him but without feeling as if we were replacing Gromit with another piggy. It is now easy for us to say that there is no harm in starting to look for a forever friend for Maisie be it either a neutered boar or another sow. We started to put feelers out with a rescue but were lucky enough to come across a member on this forum who had rescued 2 pregnant sows. We still think of our Gromit every day and we dont think that'll ever change but the thing that drove us forward in getting Wallace a new friend was his wellbeing and happiness. Tim has rejuvenated Wallace and they have a wonderful relationship - a bit like older and younger brothers. We would recommend that you contact a rescue as we're sure there will be piggies looking for forever homes and a good rescue will carry out either boar or sow dating to make sure Maisie can pick her new friend.

Lisa & Ali xx
 
just to add - maisie is coming upto 5 years old approx. is that an age that would be better suited to her? we will be getting a neutered boar as she has been tried with sows in the past and didn't get on with any of them. with ches though, it was a perfect match. he got bullied by other boars and maisie didn't like sows and they just matched so perfectly. they spent alot of time chatting and sleeping next to each other, and maisie always licked his face and ears.

i know she needs a friend, i hope ches would understand. she is usually chatty but hasn't 'spoke' since we lost ches. she is coping but does have a sad look. she also wants more strokes than we have ever known.

i just don't know how long to wait. i read that a week or two is better if they seem sad, but i know some people have probably waited weeks so i don't want to rush things, but also don't want to wait too long. it's difficult.

do you think i would be better taking maisie to a rescue to choose a friend? whoever she chooses will be fine with us. i don't understand one thing about it, which is why would they put her with a boar when he hasn't been quarantined? because if you collect and bring them home, quarantine is advised? or is it because the rescue quarantine them when they arrive and so it is safe? also, how will they know if she likes one?
 
biscandmatt said:
i just don't know how long to wait. i read that a week or two is better if they seem sad, but i know some people have probably waited weeks so i don't want to rush things, but also don't want to wait too long. it's difficult.

do you think i would be better taking maisie to a rescue to choose a friend? whoever she chooses will be fine with us. i don't understand one thing about it, which is why would they put her with a boar when he hasn't been quarantined? because if you collect and bring them home, quarantine is advised? or is it because the rescue quarantine them when they arrive and so it is safe? also, how will they know if she likes one?
Click to expand...

Have a look at the piggy bank recommended rescues which have very high standards. They would never put a boar up for adoption without having already been quarantined and fully health checked. You will be able to see if Maisie and her new friend are getting on before you leave the rescue and they wouldnt allow any piggie to leave the rescue before they were completely satisfied on their compatibility. We have nothing but total admiration for piggy bank rescues and after all the welfare and care of all piggies is foremost in the criteria for rehoming piggies. We are sure that someone on the forum will post you the link for the piggy bank rescues.

Lisa & Ali xx
 
thanks.

we are going to have a think about it. just not yet. i'm really struggling with the guilt of it, and it's too soon. maisie is a bit brighter today. i think we both need a bit more time.

but we will start looking into it in a couple of weeks maybe.

she will be having a new friend, because she's so quiet now when she used to talk all the time, and her and ches were so silly together bless them. it's so strange when there isn't that play and interaction between two pigs. but she is doing well.

x
 
Try not to feel guilty, I lost a boar last year leaving his twin brother behind. I didn't particularly want any more as I'd had such a traumatic few weeks with him being ill, but I did it for little Rodney & I'm pretty sure it saved his life. I waited only a few weeks, and he is happy as larry.

You're not doing it for yourself, you're doing it for Maisey x
 
When Boxy died, Big Dave was booked in for dating pretty much the next day. You have to put your feelings aside, and do what's right for the remaining pig, and they're likely to want a new friend!

I would 100% recommend dating at a PB approved rescue. Start making enquiries now - they may well have a waiting list, and it also takes a while to get these things organised (discussing your needs, for example, I didn't want a young pig, and I can't have teddies/rexes, you will have to arrange a mutually convenient time, there may be a neutered male on recovery from neutering that can only be reserved until safe to go with a female, you'll have to arrange getting home checked etc.) so even if you start looking now, it could be several weeks before you're actually bringing a new pig home, and these will be extra weeks that she's without company.
 
sorry, my post came across badly. i am of course going to get maisie a friend, i was thinking of waiting just a couple of weeks. i didn't mean it to sound as though i am thinking of myself before her. i would always put her needs first.

i have contacted the nearest rescue to us, which is tameside rabbit and guinea pig rescue.

we wanted to take maisie somewhere to choose herself, but she can be nervous at times and we think after travelling, she would be really scared meeting some other piggies. we will probably be bringing a piggy home and after he has settled, do the bonding ourselves again. unless there is somewhere not too far where maisie might be ok travelling to.

we also don't drive so getting somewhere not local will be difficult aswell.

i will also post in the wanted section, just incase someone can help with a piggy train.

thanks x
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top