Older girls and a possible young pig needing a home. Do I do it?

Tewdric

Tewdric

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Usual story, a relation of friend has a child who has lost interest in their lone year old guinea pig. Would I help?

Not wanting to get into the whole- not teaching your child anything about responsibility/ why did you only get one pig debate. I’m quite angry.

However it isn’t my friends fault. They know about my love of pigs, and They also know I lost one of my herd of 4 before Christmas.

My little group now consists of three sows, Wenkock who is now 5 and slowing down a bit. Agatha who is nearly 4 and who is still crazy and bouncy; and Christie who is also nearly 4 and who seems to be enjoying sleeping more with Wenlock.

Do I step in and see if the lonely young sow will fit into my mix. Or do I point the relations towards the local RSPCA branch rescue who aren’t pig savvy? I don’t think the adult of the child involved would be willing to travel the significant distance to the nearest approved rescue.

Why do people do this ?😡
 
If you have the means then I’d consider taking her in. Good luck making the decision.

PS are there no rescues near her?
 
I would be tempted to try and add her to your current herd, but also make it very clear that piggy bonding is a couple process and if she doesn't fit in you can't keep her. I think people often fail to appreciate that it isn't simply a matter of sticking a bunch of pigs in a pen and sitting back to watch them all get on perfectly.
 
I think you should give this poor lonely girl a chance with your ladies. It makes me angry too because in a way it teaches that child and parent that someone else will take over the responsibility when you get bored. As it turns out you love piggies so give her a chance and a lovely home with company of her kind ☺️
 
Thanks for all the replies.

I have room for 5 in my set up.

Really there's only room for 4 if they're not all best buddies in the winter holiday accommodation at my parent's house which is also something important to factor into the decision.

I've been very luck so far, and pigs I've added to my core pair (group when I added Ag and Chris to neutered boar and his wife pair) have settled well. I did have a few sleepless nights last time around - but it all sorted itself out and everyone seemed to chunter around contentedly.

My current trio are a funny mix of characters.

I think I will end up giving the young sow a chance and seeing what happens. I really hope it doesn't upset my gang too much.
 
Bill & Ted said:
I think you should give this poor lonely girl a chance with your ladies. It makes me angry too because in a way it teaches that child and parent that someone else will take over the responsibility when you get bored. As it turns out you love piggies so give her a chance and a lovely home with company of her kind ☺️
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Yep, this really annoys me as well. If you get any pet to 'teach your child about responsibility' you HAVE to follow it through all the way until the end (barring a few exceptional circumstances). I know as kids we pestered our parents for pets. Once we moved to a house that had room for them they did what they thought was enough research, build a huge hutch + run for some rabbits (Mum has always said she regretted every getting rabbits for children, but it was the early 80s and there wasn't so much info around then) and gave us each the RSPCA age appropriate book to read about looking after them before they even sourced any.

We were warned "if you don't look after them, we'll not be looking after you. They can't get out of their run/hutch to fetch their own breakfast..... etc. etc" About 6 months after they arrived we forgot to give them (Patch and Acorn) their tea. Mum didn't give us our tea and Dad backed her up. We never forgot any pet after that and we had quite a menagerie before we grew up and left home. One short, sharp lesson learned.

Are parents allowed to do that any more?
 
Absolutely! A great lesson learnt. My ex had a pet rabbit and got bored with it when he was a child back in the early 1960’s He gave it to a family down the road who were keen to have it. A few months later he was round their house and enquired about the rabbit and was told it “went in the pot”, he never forgot the shame and guilt he felt because he couldn’t be bothered and had lost interest. If you take on a pet then it should be for its life, we always instilled this on our son
 
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