I Surrendered My Guinea Pig And I'm Heartbroken

[Alana Murray]

I had Cinnamon for about 7 months. She was a beautiful, cinnamon coloured, rex piggy. I got her when she was a little baby and she would live in my room where I would constantly have her sitting with me. I eventually got this awesome pen outside so she moved out there. She loved it. Even though she was outside, I still spent a lot of time with her and she was super friendly. A couple of months ago, I decided to get another guinea pig which was a male. She fell pregnant almost instantly. Unfortunately, he knocked her up and then escaped haha.
Anyway, I watched her grow the babies. She was going to be an amazing mum. I felt the babies kicking and I think there was about 3-4 in there. I was there with her through the whole process. She would sit on my lap everyday and eat vegetables, even though she was getting so fat she could barely climb up onto me.
I thought the babies had to be due any second but a week passed and still nothing. I wondered if something was wrong but she seemed fine and happy as she was still eating, drinking and walking around. On Sunday afternoon, my dad texted me and said he thinks she's going to have her babies because there's blood. I rushed home and sat there watching her for hours. I could see her pushing but nothing was happening. By Monday morning, she still hadn't had them so I took her to the vet. As soon as the vet felt the babies, she knew Cinnamon had to have an emergency cesarean to get them out because she was having a lot of difficulty. The vet took her out the back and I had no idea that would be the last time I'd ever see her again. The vet wrote me up a quote and it came to $1500. I didn't know what to do because that was money I just didn't have. In that moment, I made the most heart breaking decision ever - to surrender her. I just couldn't afford the operation but I didn't want her to die.
I had to sign forms that basically state that I no longer have any legal rights to her as an owner. The vet told me that I couldn't call and ask how the surgery went or anything to do with her. I cried for hours and I'm still so heartbroken. I don't know if she even survived. I never get to know how many babies she had.
I feel so guilty that I've abandoned her like this and I feel guilty that I did this to her. Why did I choose to breed her? I feel like the most horrible person but nobody understands why I'm so upset so I have to pretend that I'm fine but when I get home from work, I just sit in my room and cry. I loved her. I miss her so much. I'll never know what happened to her
I asked about the re homing process but they couldn't tell me anything I'll never get to see my baby again.
Has anybody else had a similar experience? Does the guilt and hurt from it ever go away?

 

[David Piggie Lover]

This is possibly the worst case of abuse of power ive read.. You went for help and received this. I would strongly ask them for information about the Piggies and express you signed when under pressure and are personally heart broken.
Pls be firm and i hope your piggie is ok. Keep Strong. x

 

[Wiebke]

BIG HUGS!

Please do not feel guilty for doing the best for Cinnamon and for giving her a chance to live when the other option would have been to put her straight to sleep. Your heart is very much in the right place, and you have proven that you truly love her - before your own desires!

It is totally heart-breaking and very cruel for you that you are not allowed to hear the result after your surrender. It is meant as a protection for the animals and any future owner especially when the surrender is forced or controversial; it has been introduced in its strictness because tragedies have happened, but it is hitting owners extremely hard who surrender because they want to their best for a beloved pet.

Sadly it looks like the first of the babies has got stuck; but I am praying with you that Cinnamon is going to survive. Thankfully medical science has made great advances in small animal ops; only five years early, Cinnamon wouldn't have had much change of surviving a caesarian while these days the odds are actually pretty good these days! Far more sows survive than not.

Unfortunately upfront operation cost in countries like the US, Canada or Australia are sky-high, something which many owners are not aware of until they end up with an emergency operation.
Every fifth birth goes wrong on average even with the best of care; more in bad conditions. This is one of the main reasons why we are a strictly non-breeding forum. The price in guinea pig lives is simply too high, as is the human heart-break it causes. When you go on a breeder forum, you fill it littered with deaths.

Please concentrate on looking after your boy well and finding him a same sex boarfriend for long term company; do your best to him happy! If you can get to one of the recommended rescues you can let him choose who he wants to live with and come home only with a properly sexed and healthy companion that has been accepted.
I would also recommend that you set aside some money each week for a vet fund so you can afford to have any preventable and curable illnesses treated at any time.
Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Perhaps you want to write up all your memories of Cinnamon so she is not completely lost to her. Try to remember the happy times as much as you can; they cannot be taken from you! You will have to go through a full grieving process unfortunately; this may help you.
Try to google for free pet bereavement phone lines in your state/province; it will help you massively if you have got somebody to talk to who is bound by confidentiality and trained to listen. Your situation is much harder because you have had to give her up under such extreme conditions without ever being able to get full closure.

 

[piggieminder]

Sending you massive hugs. You were in a very difficult position, you had to make a decision on the spot, your girl needed help and you didn't have the money to pay for it. By signing her over Cinamon got the help she needed, in your shoes I would have done the same.
You are grieving right now and it is very hard but yes it will get easier but does take time.
I think you need to talk things over with someone, maybe an understanding close friend or maybe your Dad.
Be kind to yourself, you are not a horrid person, everyone makes mistakes, the most important thing is to learn from them.

 

[David Piggie Lover]

BIG HUGS!

Please do not feel guilty for doing the best for Cinnamon and for giving her a chance to live when the other option would have been to put her straight to sleep.
It is heart-breaking and very cruel for you that you are not allowed to hear the result after your surrender. It is meant as protection when the surrender is forced or controversial, but it is hitting loving owners very hard.

Sadly it looks like the first of the babies has got stuck and they will be long dead by now; but I am praying with you that Cinnamon is going to survive. Thankfully medical science has made great advances in small animal ops; only five years early, Cinnamon wouldn't have had much change of surviving a caesarian while these days the odds are actually pretty good these days! Far more sows survive than not.

Unfortunately, upfront operation cost in countries like the US, Canada or Australia are sky-high, something which many owners are not aware of until they end up with an emergency operation.
Every fifth birth goes wrong on average even with the best of care; more in bad conditions. This is one of the main reasons why we are a strictly non-breeding forum. The price in guinea pig lives is simply too high, as is the human heart-break it causes. When you go on a breeder forum, you fill it littered with deaths.

Please concentrate on looking after your boy well and finding him a same sex boarfriend for long term company; do your best to him happy! If you can get to one of the recommended rescues you can let him choose who he wants to live with and come home only with a properly sexed and healthy companion that has been accepted.
I would also recommend that you set aside some money each week for a vet fund so you can afford to have any preventable and curable illnesses treated at any time.
Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Perhaps you want to write up all your memories of Cinnamon so she is not completely lost to her. Try to remember the happy times as much as you can; they cannot be taken from you! You will have to go through a full grieving process unfortunately; this may help you.

Sending you massive hugs. You were in a very difficult position, you had to make a decision on the spot, your girl needed help and you didn't have the money to pay for it. By signing her over Cinamon got the help she needed, in your shoes I would have done the same.
You are grieving right now and it is very hard but yes it will get easier but does take time.
I think you need to talk things over with someone, maybe an understanding close friend or maybe your Dad.
Be kind to yourself, you are not a horrid person, everyone makes mistakes, the most important thing is to learn from them.

Sorry guys my reply was emotional not factual or practical as it should be as yours are. @Alana Murray you were in a no win situtation try to learn as We all have to in situtations. . Bless. xx

 

[Alana Murray]

Sending you massive hugs. You were in a very difficult position, you had to make a decision on the spot, your girl needed help and you didn't have the money to pay for it. By signing her over Cinamon got the help she needed, in your shoes I would have done the same.
You are grieving right now and it is very hard but yes it will get easier but does take time.
I think you need to talk things over with someone, maybe an understanding close friend or maybe your Dad.
Be kind to yourself, you are not a horrid person, everyone makes mistakes, the most important thing is to learn from them.

Thank you so much xx

 

[Alana Murray]

This is possibly the worst case of abuse of power ive read.. You went for help and received this. I would strongly ask them for information about the Piggies and express you signed when under pressure and are personally heart broken.
Pls be firm and i hope your piggie is ok. Keep Strong. x

You're right. I will call them in my lunch break and be firm about it. I just want to know if she's okay - I'm sure they can tell me that much.

 

[David Piggie Lover]

You're right. I will call them in my lunch break and be firm about it. I just want to know if she's okay - I'm sure they can tell me that much.

Yes they should. Be nice to know. x

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Oh this is so sad. I hope she's okay. She looked huge bless her. It would be wise not to try and breed animals in the future, especially with piggies as so many end up dying

I can't believe they won't at least tell you anything, I hope you manage to find out if she's okay!

Did you lose the boy as well? Hope you find him.

 

[Flutterby]

Sending you huge hugs

 

[Merab]

So sorry you found yourself in such an awful situation.
You are naturally grieving for Cinnamon. Even although she hasn't died it feels like it to you.
You made the best decision for her that you could in an impossible situation.
Be kind and gentle to yourself and allow yourself time to grieve.

 

[sport_billy]

Huge hugs to you

 

[Wheekallweek]

I hope she’s ok! Good luck x