Is this rude or am I too sensitive?

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sue 1974

sue 1974

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I had a lady out today that was interested in 2 pairs of my piggies. She only lives in the next town so quite close. She has had many piggies in the past but cirumstances changed and she downsized. Now all is well she would like to get some more. Her hutches were a great size and she really knew what she was talking about.

Now i am not am expert on breeds, and she starts looking round the shed. She looks in a hutch and says who is in here then, I said they were 2 girls on pregnancy watch She then opens up the hutch takes one out tell me she is a texel and after having a good feel tells me she is not pregnant! She didn't even ask if it was ok to take them out.

I then put the 4 she had chosen in the boxes and she said well at least that leaves you 2 free hutches, i said not really as i have 5 coming in on Saturday, she then pipes up and says oh what sort i might like them myself. She said if i got over run she would take them from me even if they were pregnant. I had told her on the phone that i require a donation to help towards food etc.
She gave me £10. Yes £10 for 4 guinea pigs.
I feel completely dubbed. I now realise that she wants more piggies but if she goes to a pet shop she will end up paying £26 for 2
I feel really upset, i know she will look after them well and she knows all her stuff but she has made me feel inadequate and taken advantage of.

She was so full of herself and she really felt like she was doing me a hugh favour. I'm sure she will ring me again, how do i deal with her in the future?
 
I don't think your being too sensitive I would be raging! No advice on how to deal with her in future though I'm not good with that kind of stuff :(.
 
It does seem a bit unfair. I wouldn't do that to anyone, and I don't think anyone else on the forum would. It sounds like she's just that 'type' of person who always thinks a great deal of herself. Maybe if she phones again tell her you've had to start asking for a minimum donation of £whatever per pig as you've had too many people making CHEEKY donations! Hint hint! LOL
 
Aww don't feel bad, just be glad that 4 piggies now have a forever home with someone knowledgeable. I would say for future set a price for piggies. When I got my buns I was told before getting them how much the 'donation' would be. I wouldn't leave it up to people to decide for themselves as you need that money to feed, look after, house etc the other piggies. If I was allowed to choose how much I donated I'd probably end up taking 20 piggies home and leaving a tenner :)) just kidding...but I'd be tempted :)
 
Tracyxx said:
It does seem a bit unfair. I wouldn't do that to anyone, and I don't think anyone else on the forum would. It sounds like she's just that 'type' of person who always thinks a great deal of herself. Maybe if she phones again tell her you've had to start asking for a minimum donation of £whatever per pig as you've had too many people making CHEEKY donations! Hint hint! LOL
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I like that one :))! I do think a minium deposit is a good idea to prevent this kind of thing. I would be ashamed to give someone £10 for 4 pigs!
 
I think you should ask a minimum of £15 per pig and maybe more for a neutered boar. I suppose it is great they are going to a knowledgeable home but you really don't want her to get too many and then have to pass them back! I think she was very cheeky but she might think she is being "helpful" just taking them off you.....
 
I'm afraid I have a cynical mind and would be concerned she could be using your rescue as a cheap way of getting "stock" for breeding.
I take it the 2 pairs of girls are of an age where pregnancy would be possible.

I sincerely hope I have just got a dark twisted mind and she just loves piggies and didn't consider the cost to the rescue of caring for a multitude of piggies.
 
ive had this happen only the person that did it to me acted dumb about piggies, her donation ended up being 2.50 per pig, i later found out she was a breeder and sold her babies for £15 each, i stated when she took them they were not to be used for breeding or to be sold on and she agreed, she denied being a breeder when i confronted her, but she couldn't deny the advert she had on preloved, she left me feeling very betrayed and angry that she was able to pull the wool over my eyes. This woman had been reffered to me by the RSPCA :(
 
Deb H said:
I'm afraid I have a cynical mind and would be concerned she could be using your rescue as a cheap way of getting "stock" for breeding.
I take it the 2 pairs of girls are of an age where pregnancy would be possible.

I sincerely hope I have just got a dark twisted mind and she just loves piggies and didn't consider the cost to the rescue of caring for a multitude of piggies.
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My thoughts exactly ! - If she's never bred piggies, how would she be able to tell that your Texel wasn't pregnant.

I would be very dubious indeed. I'm not meaning to worry you though but it's sokmething that you should think about if she wants some more.

Try following the adoption up with a homecheck at a later date - see if she's got any babies or pregnant sows - she could always hide them I guess.

I've obviously got a devious cynical mind too rolleyes
 
Thanks for your replies. I had thought of setting a minimum donation level , but then people will only give that amount , where as some people give way over what I consider normal, and i'm not sure they would if i said at the beginning that I wanted less. I hope that makes sense. The girls she took were aged 2.5 years so not a breeding age.

I feel she thinks this is a cheap way of getting piggies, just hope she doesn't ring up for more!

Thing is if she had said at the start she didn't have much money but could give them a lovely life, would i accept £10 for all 4, then I wouldn't have minded at all, it was her attitude towards it that stunk.
 
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Nah I think that was rather cheeky of her to be honest. When I got Robin I think there was a minimum amount to pay Thistle Cavies as a donation, but given that I got Hamish for £15 in Dobbies I gave them £20 just for the one pig!
£10 for 4 pigs is just shocking...hell yeh I mean it sounds like a great price for her and all, but for you who needs money to support the other pigs it's just totally inconsiderate.

Sadly I have no advice that wouldn't involve getting into an argument with her >.<

But yeh, make yourself a minimum donation - that's the best way to avoid these things in the future.
 
I don't think she will breed from them, however I do think she will phone for more as this too her is a cheaper option than going to the petshops.



Doghouse135 said:
My thoughts exactly ! - If she's never bred piggies, how would she be able to tell that your Texel wasn't pregnant.

I would be very dubious indeed. I'm not meaning to worry you though but it's sokmething that you should think about if she wants some more.

Try following the adoption up with a homecheck at a later date - see if she's got any babies or pregnant sows - she could always hide them I guess.

I've obviously got a devious cynical mind too rolleyes
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I'm glad she wasn't just after cheap breeding stock.

If you set a minimum donation, then kind people can still pay over your requested minimum can't they ;)
 
Deb H said:
I'm afraid I have a cynical mind and would be concerned she could be using your rescue as a cheap way of getting "stock" for breeding.
I take it the 2 pairs of girls are of an age where pregnancy would be possible.

I sincerely hope I have just got a dark twisted mind and she just loves piggies and didn't consider the cost to the rescue of caring for a multitude of piggies.
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that's EXACTLY my thoughts
 
This is so difficult. On the one hand you know she has a good set up and seems knowledgeable but on the other hand I would be bloody raging at £10 for 4 guineas. I would never consider donating any less than it would cost me in a shop to buy a pair of guinea pigs. Surely if she is experienced she must appreciate what it costs to feed, house and look after guinea pigs. She obviously does think she is doing you a favour. Why does she want pregnant ones. Is it buy one get five free! It does make me feel uneasy but what can you say. Unless you put her off by saying that as you have placed 4 with her then maybe she could come back in say 6 or 12 months when they have settled and she could build up her brood slowly. I just don't know and if her circumstances change again once she has built up her brood would they then all end up back at your door. Its a difficult one but I would be raging like you.
 
or just set a mimimum for her is she contacts you again! i cannot believe how rude she was picking up the piggies on pregnancy watch and prodding them about! and as for the feeble donation thats ridiculous i paid p@h adoption £30 for my Dori.
 
If you don't want to set a minimum price for everyone then why not set one just for her if she come sback (and you're sure that she's not breeding).

Doesn't mean you have to do it for everyone.
 
I am seriously considering setting a minimum donation after your advice. I wont let her 'do me a favour' by taking any more, i just need to think how to approach it without coming out wrong.
 
I would suggest you set a minimum donation £15 per cavie most genuine people will pay this no problem.You do your work for love but its nice to meet your costs and put some money aside for more piggie rescue
All the best
Helen xx>>>
 
I'm sorry you've had this experience and it's made you feel bad. I hope that this woman turns to be a good owner who just happens to have poor people skills.
 
I know that there are arguments for and against a minimum donation, but my own view is that if you don't have one then people may assume that you don't need the money. I take the point that people may only donate the stated amount, but to be honest, I don't think that people who wanted to make a further donation would be deterred from doing so by a minimum amount.
 
I agree with what has already been said. On the one hand, it is good that the woman has a good set up and seems to know what she is talking about but she had no right to pick up and prod your pigs. The £10 donation for 4 piggies is a joke! After taking on a rescue pig myself, I appreciate how much time and money is spent on looking after these pigs and nursing them back to health if needs be by the rescues. May be you should ask for a minimum donation per pig as like has already been suggested, any kind person wouldn't mind pay a minimum donation. I would ask at least between £10 to £15 per guinea pig if I were you as this is still cheaper than most pet shop pigs but you will also be getting a fair amount to go towards your rescue. In my eyes, if you have a person who can not afford a £10 donation at least, can they really afford to look after a piggy?
Good luck x
 
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I will definitly be asking for a minimum donation now. now i need to decide whether £10 or £15 is best. Obviously for me then £15 per pig is better however they can go into pet shops and get 2 for £24!
 
Yeah I would have been peed off! I hate it when people offer to 'take them off your hands' really annoys me. Yes grateful for good homes but still running a rescue which costs money. If people can't afford the donation then I question whether they can afford to keep piggies.

I set a minimum of £15 per piggy, but many people give more, so I don't think it stops people giving more if they want to.

Plus I think it is reasonable for a higher 'price' for rescue piggy, as from rescue people can be assured their piggy is correctly sexed, not pregnant and in good health. Plus they get all the right info and after adoption support. Not something you can be reassured of from a pet shop.

So I think it is fine to ask for more , and most good homes would rather give more money to a rescue than support pet shops/breeders. I know I certainly feel this way.

I would definitely be clear if she calls again that you have had to bring in a minimum adoption fee in order to keep the rescue running.
 
I am amazed this has turned into a donation discussion. Anyone who came into my piggy shed, poked, prodded, had a bad attitude, was concerned about breeds, would never in a million years go home with one of my pigs. She could offer me as much as she liked, but I would very politely say no. In fact I would probably be happy to pay her petrol money to send her away. I would gratefully receive any donation, little or large for a loving home. x
 
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