Lulu - a roan and cautionary tale..

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Katie Krafter

Katie Krafter

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So, there I was, in P@H buying new excel block things, and hay when son no2 wanted a look at the baby piggies (of course). There was a guy having a look at the girls, and was saying to his son that they would come back tomorrow and buy the brownie one as she would produce pretty babies. So off he goes. I have a look - there is only one "brownie" one in the pen - nice lot of very healthy piggies, all having good time, popcorning around (this P@H is a good one, and they are well looked after - yes for a pet shop). And, lo and behold - the little thing looks like a roan. So I call one of the assistants over and ask for a closer look and she's not just a patch of roan either, she is a true genuine strawberry roan (for horse lovers) all over, apart from a small golden brown patch on her quarters.

Son no2 and I go for quick coffee next door, while I have a think, and eventually go back and buy her. She's only six wheeks old, and has a beautiful nature, loves being picked up, stroked, carried etc etc, and is feisty enough to get on well with my little herd of ladies. She has fitted in really well, and will never ever be bred. I am planning to enlarge my C&C cage anyway, so there will be more space them all, but meanwhile, she is fine, and also enjoyed some time outside on the grass today. (Love the look on their faces when they first see grass btw)

So - did I do wrong? It's the first pet shop purchase I have made apart from buying companion piggies to bereaved boars, and it was pure indulgence dressed up as being a do-gooder on my part. Should I have left her there for someone else to buy and possibly breed from, if not the guy who was interested?

Feeling guilty now - but she is lovely..
 
At the end of the day, if she has everything she needs with you and is happy, that's all that matters, you did what you thought was right, anyone might have bred from her which is just wrong no matter what in my books but now she is in stable home where she wont be made to have babies and that's all good.

It shouldn't matter where they come from, as long as they're healthy and happy and loved :)
I would say write a letter as it would at least be best for them not to go back to their 'supplier' and avoid this potential situation in the future but unfortunately I doubt this would be given much notice, nor would they understand roan. rolleyes

Don't forget to post pics! :))
 
Aw, what a lovely story. Agree with gogoguineas, where they come from isn't the issue really, it's the care you provide.
A member on here saw lethals in a pet shop and took them home :))
I'd probably do the same so avoid pet shops like the plague :x
 
It is certainly better not to let that man run smack back into a potential lethal situation.

I agree with gogoguineas that you may like to write a letter to the shop alerting them to the fact that they are selling piggies that can have lethal babies and that they need to sort that out with their suppliers.
 
Does she have a name yet? Look forward to photo's. Good idea on the letter to P@H.
She needed a home where she wouldn't be bred from and with you she has found a lovely safe home where she'll get lots of love...
 
Oh you have done a wonderful thing by taking her home. How awful to think she would have been bred. Please do not feel guilty for giving this little one a loving home. It is such a relief she did not end up with that man.
 
From what a past employee has stated P@H will not sell a pig to be bred from, so if the man actually told the staff that he was going to use her for breeding and they were willing to sell her to him then this is a breach of their own policy.
 
Avril said:
A strawberry roan drool id love to see pics
Click to expand...

Finally managed to do it! Here she is:-

IMG_5999.jpg
 
The piggy looks more like a grizzled chocolate than a roan. I've seen it a few times in chocs, from light (just a few) to heavy enough to look like roaning.

HTH

Suzy x
 
hi you'll have to excuse my lack of knowledge i've still got my L badges on :red

Whats a roan? :x


and she looks adorable!
 
Is the position she is in just an odd angle in the pic or is she a bit of a wonky pig?

Suzy x
 
Awww bless, so unusual and she looks a little like a hamster with ears that high up he he. What a little cutie pie
 
You did the right thing, I wouldn't want to imagine what condition she would be in with the other man. She looks a little sweetheartx)
 
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