I Need Some Advice :(

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Lorcan

Lorcan

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Okay so, I don't want to go into too much detail here and I hope you guys understand. I live in a building with other people who have mental health issues, and one of my neighbours has been really unwell recently. Unfortunately, where my flat is, it's right in the firing line for tantrums, screams, yelling...you get the idea.

I'm being moved to respite again for the foreseeable future, mostly so that my neighbour and I can't cause each other more problems. But it's Comet and Blitzen I'm worried about. I can get back daily to feed and water them and say hello, etc. Being here during the day is not the issue (the respite bed is mostly for night time so I can get some sleep :/ ) buuut the neighbour in question has been known, when she gets really unwell, to throw things at her floor. These things sound like cannonballs bouncing off my ceiling. Obviously they're not cannonballs and I don't know what they actually are but I'm worried about leaving the boys here overnight when that's a very real threat to them. And I'm stuck because I don't know what to do.

Giving them away is not an option, it's not the living situation that's the problem. It's just the neighbour. But I can't stay here overnight while she's like this...I had to sleep in my living room last night to get any semblence of rest. I want to make sure the boys are safe for the time I'm away as well but I have no idea how best to keep them out of harms way.

Sorry, I know that was a long rant. I just need options and I don't know any.
 
Is there nobody that could "foster" them until the issues are resolved.
 
My problem is that I'm giving such short notice, AND that I don't drive, which limits my options as well. :/
 
i don't know what to suggest. Maybe if they have to stay you could offer them extra hiding places so they can hide if the noise bothers them. They should get used to it if it happens sometimes.
 
It's not about hiding. They can do that anyway. I don't know how to explain how bad this noise is, but she has wooden floors. Imagine cannon balls being thrown at a wooden floor.

I keep getting told to worry about me and not them but I can't help it. This situation is ridiculous :/
 
Are there any rescues that can foster them for you? Any pet boarding companies? Any family members who can help? If I lived nearer I would offer to pick them up and foster. But I'm really really far away. :td:
 
The closest rescue I know of I can't remember the name of off the top of my head, but I know their Facebook page recently said they were closed for a while, which is fair enough. Like I said I don't drive, most rescues are out of my reach for that reason. And I'm in the wrong country for family help lol.

I'm gonna have to suck this up and hope the neighbour doesn't terrify them to death in their sleep. I can do this. Deep breaths, or something.

Neighbours are terrible. Just sayin'.
 
Sending good vibes that they will be fine. Hope all goes well and you get back home again soon. (((Hugs)))
 
You said you had to go into the living room to get some semblance of sleep...presumably because the noise levels are less bad there? If that's the case and failing all else, could you move them into your living room for awhile?
 
Baxter said:
You said you had to go into the living room to get some semblance of sleep...presumably because the noise levels are less bad there? If that's the case and failing all else, could you move them into your living room for awhile?
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They're in the living room anyway. Which should tell you a lot, it was quieter in the room that they live in. lol when you can get better sleep in the same room as a guinea pig you've got a problem there.

Assuming their flat is laid out like mine the majority of the noise is in the kitchen and the bedroom. I'm just going to have to hope it stays like that. It was really bad a year and a bit ago, and that was when the cannonball noise was a thing - and unfortunately, that was on my living room ceiling. It's not that bad yet, I'm likely just being paranoid. But I don't like the fact this is being allowed to happen again, we were told it would never be allowed to get to this point again. It's the only reason I agreed to staying put back then. As soon as the powers that be are back (Easter holidays, sigh) I'm asking for a move to a different flat in the building. It's smaller, but it won't be in the direct line of fire. That's just fine by me.
 
How do they react to the noise?
 
They don't like the noise as it is - which is basically a lot of banging, foot stomping, and screaming/yelling. I know they're pretty okay with firework noise, but the cannonball thing hasn't happened since they've been here. That's what I'm worried about.
 
I'm so sorry you (and the piggies) are having to go through this.
 
Could you cover their cage with a blanket at night? may lessen some of the noise.
 
helen105281 said:
Could you cover their cage with a blanket at night? may lessen some of the noise.
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There's a thought. I don't have a blanket big enough, but I do have my duvet, and I'm not going to be using it if I'm sleeping elsewhere. Would you have any ideas for pinning it in place? Normally I'd use pegs but...first floor flat. No use for pegs normally.
 
None of those either I don't think. I have books...I could shift the cage over right next to the sofa and pin it there on one side that way, and weigh it down on the other side? Means only one of the Midwest would be covered though, couldn't cover both of them that way, but it's better than nothing. Thank you, I think my brain's gone into panic overdrive. Sensible thoughts are not my current strong point >.>
 
That would work, at least it would give them a more sheltered space. I have lots of bulldog clips as one of my pigs goes under the fleece as soon as she spies a gap.
 
At this point I'm thinking of getting pegs or something in the future anyway. If I get a ground floor flat I can hang my washing out! And nobody wants the ground floor flat I'm thinking of anyway, it's had 3 tenants in the two years I've been here.

I can't believe this is happening. Again.
 
At the risk of sounding insensitive, it would seem to me that you could possibly argue the case for your neighbour to be moved into the ground floor flat (as there would be nobody underneath for her to disturb). Obviously I don't know all of the factors at play but it may be a valid argument when the powers that be return? It seems a bit unfair that you are the one who has to move and any future tenants in your flat would surely suffer as you have.
 
Baxter said:
At the risk of sounding insensitive, it would seem to me that you could possibly argue the case for your neighbour to be moved into the ground floor flat (as there would be nobody underneath for her to disturb). Obviously I don't know all of the factors at play but it may be a valid argument when the powers that be return? It seems a bit unfair that you are the one who has to move and any future tenants in your flat would surely suffer as you have.
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Yep, but....it's an antisocial behaviour problem. And that is notoriously difficult to get solved. Not just for me, but for anyone. Heck the police were involved last time and at one point a certain officer told me *I* needed to leave her alone and move out if I couldn't deal with her being unwell. I got the last laugh, wish I'd been a fly on the wall when his inspector got ahold of him. But that's how bad it's gotten before, and we were told after last time that it wouldn't ever be allowed to get to that point again.

Now it is. I mean I don't know details, I don't want to know her business. But damn she's told me more (by basically screaming it through my ceiling) in the past week than anyone else would ever have told me. I just worry about the pigs. This is not the sort of enviroment they should have to live in...and yet when she's not like this, it's the complete opposite. There's zero problem other than this.

She's really not well, don't get me wrong, this is in no way a malicious thing she's doing. But what can I do? It's not just me I'd have to worry about.
 
I don't know what to suggest but in reading the initial post I have to wonder why SHE is not the one being sent away for a little bit to help her situation and help her feel better?

She is obviously struggling and NEEDS the healthcare system to help her get back to a more stable coping level. For them to just leave her to get into this state is so negligent.
 
Baxter said:
At the risk of sounding insensitive, it would seem to me that you could possibly argue the case for your neighbour to be moved into the ground floor flat (as there would be nobody underneath for her to disturb). Obviously I don't know all of the factors at play but it may be a valid argument when the powers that be return? It seems a bit unfair that you are the one who has to move and any future tenants in your flat would surely suffer as you have.
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I don't think that sounds insensitive at all, it may actually help stop her getting so wound up as well as remove the distress of people living below her.
 
Lorcan said:
Okay so, I don't want to go into too much detail here and I hope you guys understand. I live in a building with other people who have mental health issues, and one of my neighbours has been really unwell recently. Unfortunately, where my flat is, it's right in the firing line for tantrums, screams, yelling...you get the idea.

I'm being moved to respite again for the foreseeable future, mostly so that my neighbour and I can't cause each other more problems. But it's Comet and Blitzen I'm worried about. I can get back daily to feed and water them and say hello, etc. Being here during the day is not the issue (the respite bed is mostly for night time so I can get some sleep :/ ) buuut the neighbour in question has been known, when she gets really unwell, to throw things at her floor. These things sound like cannonballs bouncing off my ceiling. Obviously they're not cannonballs and I don't know what they actually are but I'm worried about leaving the boys here overnight when that's a very real threat to them. And I'm stuck because I don't know what to do.

Giving them away is not an option, it's not the living situation that's the problem. It's just the neighbour. But I can't stay here overnight while she's like this...I had to sleep in my living room last night to get any semblence of rest. I want to make sure the boys are safe for the time I'm away as well but I have no idea how best to keep them out of harms way.

Sorry, I know that was a long rant. I just need options and I don't know any.
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Neighbours... What can I say, we can't choose them. Wish I was closer, I would try and help you.
 
Skittypigs said:
Neighbours... What can I say, we can't choose them. Wish I was closer, I would try and help you.
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Sorry hadn't finished reply and sent it! You don't need to go into details, mental health is crap and many of us have been there, are still battling it and probably will on and off for life. Keep strong. If getting sleep will help to cope with the situation then it's what you have to do. Good luck. Let us know how things go. X
 
Lorcan said:
Okay so, I don't want to go into too much detail here and I hope you guys understand. I live in a building with other people who have mental health issues, and one of my neighbours has been really unwell recently. Unfortunately, where my flat is, it's right in the firing line for tantrums, screams, yelling...you get the idea.

I'm being moved to respite again for the foreseeable future, mostly so that my neighbour and I can't cause each other more problems. But it's Comet and Blitzen I'm worried about. I can get back daily to feed and water them and say hello, etc. Being here during the day is not the issue (the respite bed is mostly for night time so I can get some sleep :/ ) buuut the neighbour in question has been known, when she gets really unwell, to throw things at her floor. These things sound like cannonballs bouncing off my ceiling. Obviously they're not cannonballs and I don't know what they actually are but I'm worried about leaving the boys here overnight when that's a very real threat to them. And I'm stuck because I don't know what to do.

Giving them away is not an option, it's not the living situation that's the problem. It's just the neighbour. But I can't stay here overnight while she's like this...I had to sleep in my living room last night to get any semblence of rest. I want to make sure the boys are safe for the time I'm away as well but I have no idea how best to keep them out of harms way.

Sorry, I know that was a long rant. I just need options and I don't know any.
Click to expand...
Neighbours... What can I say, we can't choose them. Wish I was closer, I would try and help you.
 
Ditto. I wish I lived closer too.

I know what you mean about neighbours! We think our neighbour has mental health issues too, but I have anxiety issues so would never be able to approach her about it.

She really should be a singer in a heavy metal band!

I worry about the pigs too. I have since moving here as the street is generally a lot louder than my previous one.

I've found the boys to be quite resilient. And when I hear her screaming I dash up to see them and they're just getting on with eating or sleeping of whatever. So I think in time your boys will get used to it.

Covering them is always good. Also, give them a big stack of hay. Then they have somewhere to hide if they feel they need too.

Also, do you think it would be okay to leave a radio playing all of the time? It doesn't have to be mega loud, just enough to be heard. I found that it sometimes lessens the severity if there isn't silence in the room.

I really wish that there was something easy that could be done for people. They need help but it never seems to be easily available.
 
I accidentally emptied half a bag of hay in there before I left. It'll teach me to turn the bag upside down! But for tonight they have plenty of hay, the flat is warm, they're fed...and I can do no more. I think they've realised something isn't quite right though, they were snuggled up next to each other eating their dinner...and they very rarely do that.

I can only hope things are still okay when I go back tomorrow. That's my real worry, that something will happen to scare them while I'm not there. They've been great for my own personal mental health, I'm terrified of losing them to something like this. Illness and old age is one thing, but this is something else entirely :no:

As for getting people the help they need, services in general can not only be really slow to respond, but also really slow to admit they need to respond, and I'll bet it's the latter that's going on here. It was the last time it got this bad. They take five minutes with someone and because there's no issue in that five minutes, they seem to decide there's no issue there at all. But the neighbour in question won't move unless she's forced and it wouldn't be the first time she's decided we just want her out. I don't have the energy to devote to that again, so if I can move, I will. This whole situation is a mess.
 
I can't really add anything to what the others have said to help the piggies feel more comfortable you've had some good suggestions.
What a horrible situation for you. I do sympathise I had a neighbour who threatened me and the elderly lady on the other side of him with violence, when the police became involved he got tons of help from social services etc because he was 'vulnerable'. Nothing was done to help us - we both felt we had to move.:hug:
 
I always feel on edge when I'm away from the pigs for the weekend visiting family. I almost felt like I was going to pass out from worrying when I first had my current two and their bond wasn't great. What if they were fighting whilst i was at work?!

I bought myself a monitor camera thingy which has helped a lot. I can have a quick look when I'm having a bit of a stress.

Mine wasn't cheap unfortunately but I just stuck it on my credit card. It might be an idea to have a look on eBay or see what is in offer on Amazon. I know there are cheaper ones but I was in a tizz and wanted something with good reviews and not have to research much.

I find it handy when they're ill too. I can get myself into a right mess thinking 'what if' and it gradually escalates. But a quick check on PigCam sorts me out.

I completely understand your thoughts on you moving. Although it is nice to help others its not always possible and we need to think of ourselves. You need to be in a place that makes you happy.
 
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