May Have To Rehome Piggies?!

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TheCavySlave

TheCavySlave

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Mum says she's having trouble looking after them, they increase the Ocado and she has to wash the fleece and she wants us to rehome them. Help, I can't lose them, it'd be heartbreaking.
 
It might help if we knew a little more about the situation.
Then I am sure people would have lots of good suggestions so you can come up wit a plan to keep your guinea pigs?
How old are you, and how long have you had the piggies?
Are they indoor or outdoor pigs?
Why does your Mum want to rehome them - financial or time constraints or space issues, or something else?
Is there some way you could help out more with the pigs to make it less work for her?
 
I'm under sixteen, we've had them since the beginning of August. They're indoors, and my sister and I feed them, bathe them, sweep the cage, and mum washes the fleece. She handwashes though, since she doesn't want the dirty fleece in the washing machine. I think she wants to rehome them because they've sort of taken over the small room they're in, and although my father pays for them mainly, she doesn't want to annoy him by spending too much, it's not that he doesn't have the money. I can't think of anything I could do except keep the room clean, which I am, and wash the fleece, but she doesn't want me too. Hay and poop getting anywhere outside their room really bothers her, so I could hoover. She's sort of give me an ultimatum- her or the pigs. I don't know what she wants me to do, I don't want her to be upset but I don't want to lose the pigs.
 
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Oh no. I hope you can keep your guineas. Maybe suggest a horse bag (large wash bag) to put the fleece in and then wash in the washing machine, it's helped me so much.
 
That is a nasty situation you have been placed in, especially as you are a responsible and caring pet owner and are not failing on that score, as so many do. Getting a pet is a lifelong commitment to an animal, and you are understanding that. It sounds like your mum is stressed out about something - but it is likely not the guinea pigs; those are just the tipping point.

Could you call a family conference with everybody, so each of you can talk about their point of view, what it means to them and try and work out a constructive solution, especially the washing? Perhaps using a washing bag to wash the fleece in after shaking it out, so it can be machine washed may be a solution, as it means that you can do the washing, but without messing up the machine?
 
TheCavySlave said:
I'm under sixteen, we've had them since the beginning of August. They're indoors, and my sister and I feed them, bathe them, sweep the cage, and mum washes the fleece. She handwashes though, since she doesn't want the dirty fleece in the washing machine. I think she wants to rehome them because they've sort of taken over the small room they're in, and although my father pays for them mainly, she doesn't want to annoy him by spending too much, it's not that he doesn't have the money. I can't think of anything I could do except keep the room clean, which I am, and wash the fleece, but she doesn't want me too. Hay and poop getting anywhere outside their room really bothers her, so I could hoover. She's sort of give me an ultimatum- her or the pigs. I don't know what she wants me to do, I don't want her to be upset but I don't want to lose the pigs.
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What a difficult situation for you to be in, but it sounds like you are really committed to keeping them, so good on you for not giving up.

I agree with @MrsMoo - if the liners can go in the machine in a horse wash bag (I got mine from Ebay) and no hair or hay will end up in the machine.
There is a video of someone using one somewhere - I will try to find it so maybe you can show your Mum, but they really are excellent.
Washing machines in Switzerland are super expensive (mine cost over 2000 Swiss Francs and it isn't even top of the line!), so trust me when I say there is no way I want to chance messing it up with hay.

Or another possibility would be to offer to take the fleece and wash it at a launderette - not sure if that could be an option for you.

It really does sound like you are doing everything possible for your guinea pigs.
Have you tried sitting down with your Mum and talking to her calmly about it?
Ask her what bothers her the most, and then say you want to be given the opportunity to fix it so you can keep your pets.
Make a list of the reasons she thinks they should go and then try and come up with a solution for each issue.
If it is the cost of the food, then could you offer to do some chores in exchange?

I do sympathise, and really hope you can work something out.
 
I was about to suggest a horse wash bag too. You just put everything in the bag then put it in the washing machine, the fleeces get clean and the mess stays in the bag.
 
A horse wash bag sounds amazing! If she agrees to at least try it, washing will become much easier. It's really touching the way everyone offers advice and support here.
At the moment, I think she's unwell (she's actually in bed right now, dizzy and weak and stuff, it sounds nasty) and I think she does secretly love the pigs, especially Duncan as he's quite sweet and calm.
I think, if we make keep on top of hay, making sure it doesn't creep to the rest of the house, and we try a horse wash bag, things will be easier for her.
 
Yes that's it, I can get one large fleece in it plus a couple of beds. Don't put more than one fleece in cos I like them to move around plus my fleeces are huge.
 
I meant to add I put a washing powder capsule/tablet inside the bag with the fleece. Not loose in the drum. Yes it keeps everything secure inside :)
 
TheCavySlave said:
A horse wash bag sounds amazing! If she agrees to at least try it, washing will become much easier. It's really touching the way everyone offers advice and support here.
At the moment, I think she's unwell (she's actually in bed right now, dizzy and weak and stuff, it sounds nasty) and I think she does secretly love the pigs, especially Duncan as he's quite sweet and calm.
I think, if we make keep on top of hay, making sure it doesn't creep to the rest of the house, and we try a horse wash bag, things will be easier for her.
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I hope that you can work it out, especially if you make a point of listening to her concerns and of caring for her when she is not well. ;)
Could you offer to make dinner for the family tonight, for instance?
 
If the main problem is with the fleece, could you consider changing to a different type of bedding that does not need washing? You could also try growing some of your own veg for them especially in the summer this would reduce the food bill. don't forget as well that the pigs can eat the veg peelings from your own veg including carrot peelings cauliflower leaves and broccoli stalks as just a few examples.
 
Hank288 said:
If the main problem is with the fleece, could you consider changing to a different type of bedding that does not need washing? You could also try growing some of your own veg for them especially in the summer this would reduce the food bill. don't forget as well that the pigs can eat the veg peelings from your own veg including carrot peelings cauliflower leaves and broccoli stalks as just a few examples.
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Growing veggies is a great idea and also you can use all the guinea poo as a fertilizer.
 
Our guinea pigs are my daughters (as far as she knows! Lol!) but she has to do jobs around the house to earn the piggies money for fruit/veg/hay etc. We have just bought a horse bag too as I replaced my washing machine last weekend and didn't want hay/hair wrecking my new machine! We also have 2 dogs so will use the bag for their washing too! :D

Maybe offer to go some more jobs around the house! Good luck!
 
Depending on your age you might also be able to looK into a paper round or something to help pay for their upkeep. Or don't buy from ocado! Depends where a local market or supermarket is but you might be able to get a routine of popping and buying veg off the reduced shelf in the nearest shop. I got my pigs a basil plant for 8p the other day but it was lucky timing!

The horse bags are great. I'm pretty relaxed about my machine, I washed nappies in it for long enough but the hair was a problem before I got the bag. They are still hairy after a wash but smell clean so I don't worry too much.
 
She seems to be going through a tough time, we'll pull through.
Actually, er, she went to the garden centre we got the boys from and wandered through the pet shop (huge, huge mistake) and fell in love with a grey piggy. I wasn't there. But anyway she wants to buy him/her, I insisted she buy the friend as well.
The boys can keep their current extension and they can have the 2x4 cage with loft. I don't know, they've probably been sold and I know shelters are better, but I don't think there's a shelter near to us. I don't blame her, and I know we are most likely capable of caring for two more piggies, but I do know it's lethal to go into pet stores. Sigh. She's been upset about it ever since she saw it.
 
Oh, and thank you for the advice everyone! I do know that the hay escapes onto the landing, so hoovering that could be my job. Anyone else find poo escapes? And hay? It gets in the most mysterious places...
 
Shops can be lethal! The rule is: if you can walk away, then do, if you can't then by all means get the piggy, but don't get it to live alone... You are right on that.

PS: Always double check the gender upon arrival.
 
TheCavySlave said:
Oh, and thank you for the advice everyone! I do know that the hay escapes onto the landing, so hoovering that could be my job. Anyone else find poo escapes? And hay? It gets in the most mysterious places...
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We have had couple of threads about the weirdest places you can find piggy poos... From underwear to coffee cups! :yikes:

But if you hoovered and offered to help launder and clean with the help of a washing bag, your mum will hopefully be happy. I hope that she is going to feel better soon!
 
Wiebke said:
Shops can be lethal! The rule is: if you can walk away, then do, if you can't then by all means get the piggy, but don't get it to live alone... You are right on that.

PS: Always double check the gender upon arrival.
Click to expand...
Well, we have an update, she doesn't think rehoming them would be a good idea at all, it would be terrible for my brother, my sister and I. But I think she does need help with chores, and I'll see if she'll try the wash bag. Well, as for the piggies... If we get them, we'll look after them as best as we can. I've insisted I am not coming to the shop again, it'd be heartbreaking.
 
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