My Niece Wants Piggies

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Lady Kelly

Lady Kelly

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So my niece is currently 7 and will be 8 in April. She has now told her parents that she wants guinea pigs. So far my brother has staved her off by saying "you don't want to copy Kelly though do you?". It has got me thinking though, they have an elderly, poorly and mostly obnoxious cat but she would really like a pet. I went through a list with my brother about other animals being nocturnal or too fast/small for her to be confident in handling.

Now I appreciate how a pet can help develop other skills in children and seeing as I was planning on getting a neutered male in the spring to join my girls I was going to suggest (if the parents agree) that the pig would be "hers". She could help me find one in a rescue, go and collect and help with the bonding. She could even rename him if she chose. I would pay the adoption fee, any vets bills and all the food etc just as I would normally (seeing as I was planning on adopting anyway). However I would need to get her to agree to regular help. They live a 10-15 min drive away so thinking maybe it needs to be at least once every 2 weeks that she visits to handle the pig, help with weighing (keeping her own log of the weight), help with cleaning the hutch and feeding them. Is there anything else I should think about getting her to agree to in order for her to learn responsibility?
 
I think this is a great idea. It could be her 'practice piggie'

Even if she said she wants one herself at home, you and her parents could say that she needs to show that she can care for one properly first.
Then in a year or two she might either decide she's ready for her own piggies or that it's too much work for someone as young as her.
 
I don't think she would want her own after a while of having one at mine. I think she will lose interest as she gets in to everything for a short time. That wouldn't bother me so much though as I'd still love and care for the piggy.

@Tiamolly123 yes I fully agree. Although she's 8 soon she wouldn't be picking one up on her own. To be honest I don't think she'd be confident enough to even try
 
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