I might be adopting this little piggy :)

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CiaraPatricia

CiaraPatricia

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I think he is a peruvian but not sure. He's had a bit of a haircut, because he was matted. There aren't many guinea pig rescues around here in Ireland (or ones that will even take smallies) but a woman who is a friend of my friend is the Cork ISPCA inspector and she has this guy.

So I facebook messaged her (that's where I saw the pic) and she said she would have no problem rehoming him to me, but has to do a home check. I explained that I have my pigs outdoors but said that in the winter they'll have hutch covers and heat pads or be in the shed, and I explained the sizes of my hutches and runs and the new runs I'm getting, and she said that was all fine. Then I had to search through my facebook to make sure I had nothing that made me sound like a bad guinea pig mommy!

I know some people keep trios of boys so I could keep him with the boys or get him neutered and keep him with the girls. I might try the boys first. If they fight then I have a spare little house and run that would do him for a few weeks. She never mentioned anything about neutering so I don't think he will be neutered when I get him. I know a vet that does it though so it'd be no problem.

I hope I get him.

(One of my baby bunnies just died this morning :( so at least this might make me a little happier.)
 
Thanks :) I think it should be ok, because I told her the sizes of my hutches and runs and what other pets I have and everything, and she said it sounded good. I just gave the hutches a really thorough clean and will clean them again wednesday morning before the homecheck. I'm so excited about it.
 
Thanks :) And I know he is so cute! Apparently he was badly neglected, and need a lot of work/cuddles. I'll have to ask what his story was.
 
Wow those are some awesome sideburns :D what a gorgeous pig!
 
In case I forget good luck for tomorrows home check although I doubt you need luck as you sound so well prepared! How soon after the home check can you bring him home?
 
I'm not sure but I think straight away. She didn't say he needed any vet treatment and he's not being neutered or anything I think.. Maybe she'll bring him with her, because she said everything should be fine, she just has to check the home just in case. And she lives quite near me anyway, which is handy :)

There's no adoption fee but I'll donate something, just have to figure out how much is appropriate for a guinea pig :)
 
[/QUOTE]There's no adoption fee but I'll donate something, just have to figure out how much is appropriate for a guinea pig :)[/QUOTE]

A lot of rescues ask for a min of £10 so around that or over would be fine
 
Oh good. I was thinking I'd give €20 since a guinea pig here would cost about 20-30 euro in a pet shop, 10-20 from a breeder. And I'm sure he probably has seen a vet but hasn't been vaccinated or neutered or anything so the costs wouldn't have been too high for him.

I'm really looking forward to it, I've got everything ready for his arrival. I'm wondering if I should quarantine him though, since I'm sure he's been vet checked and the rescue have probably had him a while to make sure he's healthy. I guess I should let him get used to my pigs through wire first anyway.

It's my first rescue pet ever (not counting taking in abandoned or feral kittens) so I'm glad I can give him a good life after being neglected. :)
 
Aw best of luck, hope it goes well for you!
I've never considered adopting from the Waterford SPCA?
I don't even know if we have an adoption center for guinea pigs, just dogs and cats?
 
Thanks guys, I got him! The inspector came over (and she had him in the van) and she said everything was fine. She saw my other pigs and where they live and played with the dogs and cats. She said she didn't really know much about guinea pigs but knew the basics (she was a vet nurse and actually had guinea pigs years ago) but she said I probably knew more than her about them from having them for 7 years so she thought he'd be fine. :)

He is so lovely! I thought he'd be nervous but he's really laid back and friendly and squeaky. :) I'm so happy I got him.

Also I think he's a Silkie maybe, not a Peruvian. I'll most more pictures in the breed section when I upload them. In the pic he looked like a Peruvian to me, but his hair goes back from his head, not forward, and there is no parting. Either way, he's gorgeous! x) And he doesn't just have sideburns, his hair is long all over! (except where they cut out the matts and the bald patches from mange that's cleared up now)

She said that someone told them he was a stray, but she doesn't really know his background. He also has an ulcer on his ear, was badly matted and had sarcoptic mange. :( Poor guy. And yet he's really friendly. One of his ears looks like he might have gotten in a fight once too.

I'm so happy to have him.

I have the space for him, but now the question is, do I try to get him to be friends with my 2 baby boy pigs (I know it's possible to have a trio, but is it likely?) or do I get him a new friend, or do I get him neutered and move him in with the girls?
 
keli said:
Aw best of luck, hope it goes well for you!
I've never considered adopting from the Waterford SPCA?
I don't even know if we have an adoption center for guinea pigs, just dogs and cats?
Click to expand...

I kinda doubt they'd have a lot of guinea pigs, but they might every now and again. Maybe you could ring them and ask them to let you know if they get any in :)

I got him from the ISPCA inspector for Cork, and she just had him at her house. A girl I'm in college with used to work for the ISPCA, so she let me know about him. :) There aren't really any guinea pig or small animal rescues around :(
 
Oh also, I made a very foolish move and tried to introduce him to the boys on neutral territory, after seeing how placid he was. I was keeping a close eye, and they were talking to each other friendly, but then Cenci made a sudden lunge at Marco. I put my hand on and Cenci latched onto my finger. I automatically pulled my hand away and sent poor Cenci flying about two foot. Then I picked Marco up and stood up and Cenci bit my foot! Both bites are bleeding and all. :( Luckily my tetanus shots are up to date!

So now I have them where they can see each other but not be in contact.

Does it sound likely at all that they could be friends one day? They were being friendly but then Cenci got scared (keep in mind that Cenci and Moxie are about 1/3 of Marco's size or less.)
 
I am so pleased that you got him :) I am not good with boar behaviour but I know that it takes a lot of hard work to have a trio of boars and by introducing a third, you run the risk of the 2 boys you already have falling out so there is a chance you could end up with 3 single boars.
 
Aw, I really don't want the other two to fall out.

Maybe I will think of the other options. Neutering would probably be the smartest option but I'm kinda thinking I'd like to get another boy (I'm getting more hutches and runs and stuff, so why not . . . :) I just want to get an aby!

Can two pairs of boars live next door to each other, does anyone know? Or might that make the friends fall out with each other?
 
Hi

Your new boy is absolutely gorgeous!

I have a neutered boar living with a big group of girls and find that dynamic works extremely well. I've also had pairs and trios of boys and just recently have managed to bond 2 quads of in tact boys. The boys do all live outside and have big chicken coop style hutches so I think that has been the key with them. I also took a lot of time before trying the groups of 4 to decide which personalities suited best and who was most likely to bond with who. I will say it's not been an experience for the light hearted and takes much longer than a group of girls takes to bond. I introduced a young boy who is just a few months old to a trio of boys ranging from approx 1 year old to 3 years old. To form the other quad I introduced a pair of young boys to a pair of older boys who are nearly 4 years old. It's done my oldest boys the world of good, they are much more active now than have been for a while and even found them popcorning last week.
 
Thanks for all the info :)

I'd most like to get all the boys to bond, but if that doesn't work then maybe I can try to adopt another boy. The ISPCA inspector has my number anyway if she gets any more! See the boys and girls both have the same amount of space, so I'd like to have three boys together and three girls maybe. I wish I could get a huge run for them! But my garden is too small really. But will have 3.5' X 1.75' hutches, with pens underneath, and a 4' X 3.5' run attached. I hope that's big enough. I know bigger is better though, especially with boars.
 
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