Preloved, tugging on my heartstrings...

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teadragon

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I read that someone had recently found guinea pigs on a website called "Preloved". Out of curiosity I had a look at the web site.

As I mentioned in the Rescue forum room, I'm currently considering adding a third boy to my herd. I have the room, money, love and I just got a parcel of new toys for the boys to eat play with and have enjoyed watching them playing.

So, I went onto the web site and I typed a "test search" for rabbits since one of my girls passed on this past summer. I searched for rabbits in my area and was shocked to find so many litters being sold (I'm strongly against pet owners breeding their pets, so I'm often left with a sour taste in my mouth when I'm reminded that people are being - what I believe is - irresponsible when they should be protecting their girls and their future spawn). Out of curiosity - although I told myself I wouldn't do this... I also searched for guinea pigs.

I know, I know - I couldn't help myself. Morbid curiosity just sent my fingers into a typing frenzy and before I knew it I was staring at a picture-less descriptions of pigs. I painted each a picture and a story - if they were breeding pairs the sow was knackered and the boy delighted; if the ad sounded rushed or unthought of then the guinea pigs were in a horrible, sub-par condition that made me want to strangle the owners...

I kept thinking of the pig on here who was saved from an advertised situation on preloved and thinking "Oh, he's local...", "Oh... he's local!" and deciding to respond to each and every ad.

But, I haven't. Despite that I want to offer these little darlings the love and attention they deserve and a forever home, I don't want to become a rescue. So I decided to rant on here to stop myself, especially when I've already contacted a rescue about offering a loving home to a pig.

It sucks that you can't save them all.
 
Unfortunately that's a big problem - once I go on preloved I tend to want to save them all - but its just not practical - I just have to hope that loving homes are indeed found - and many will be I am sure.

Any really desperate causes then I do respond and will take the piggies.

H.
x
 
There's a guinea pig in Kilmarnock which has been listed twice. Apparently he's an older chap with an owner who loves yet doesn't have the time for him.

I sat there like "I have the time for him! I do! I could just have 4 boys in a super cage of DOOM!" then reason smacked me upside the head.

>.<

I remember a friend of mine who has 5 girls living in a huge C&C cage in her living room. She saw a cruelty case pig who'd recovered enough to find a new home, but no one was biting. She was seriously, seriously considering having the girl shipped to the UK to live with her and her girls. She said she felt a real, deep connection to the girl - which I understand. Sometimes you just feel like you connect to a posted ad, even though you've never met the pig before. You think you can help and suddenly it becomes so important to you for YOU to help THAT pig - that pig NEEDS you.

She ended up not going for the pig, but she was so, so close. It's a good thing, though, because much later she adopted a girl from a local rescue who wasn't accepting any cage mates the rescue tried to pair her up with due to her sight impairment. The pig is now happily one of the five and doing great.
 
I know, it's upsetting! You would like to help them all, but you just can't!

Smetimes, when you come across one that really oull your heartstrings, you get sleepless nights, and feel so guilty for not taking it on... Even though I KNOW I have as many as I can support.
 
i know what you mean,, i keep going on and looking.. dont know why cos it breaks my heart!
I want to take them all but my OH says no :( when I see the free ones, I put them on the free ads section on here in the hope someone can be matched..xx
 
hun your doing all you can do, you rescued the one that you could,as much as its notice to see the others like that there really isnt much you can do, would running the rspca help out at all ? i don't know if they investigate cruelty
 
As hard as it is unless you need a pig to pair up with one of your own I try not to be tempted. I wait for people to contact me before rescuing when I have space!

Getting a 8x6 shed during wit so will have the room for emergencies. :)
 
I know the feeling only too well, they play on your mind don't they. It's not easy to know what to do for the best - I usually check preloved and adtrader for local piggies and help if I can if they are genuinely in need of new homes (i.e not just unscrupulous breeders shifting 'excess stock' :() but generally people contact us direct if they want to rehome their pigs.

Best not to look, but easier said than done!

Sophie
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