Rescues and Hutches

piggl

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Hi, I know there are a few rescue owner/workers and I was wondering if you could let me know a bit more why most rescues dont rehome to hutches.

I would love to rehome a pig that needed a home but I wouldn’t be able to, one reason because the closest rescue is over an 1:30 away and two because I keep my guinea pigs in a hutch.
Now I am aware that my hutches are the minimum, and my “anger”/disappointment isn’t aimed at the rescues, I just want to help and feel silly not being able to. I don’t want to support pets at home any longer but unfortunately I have to as thats my only option.

My boys live in a bluebell hutch which is W152 x D61cm, which is believe is the minimum. The new hutch i’m getting is W162 x D71.5cm, but the rescue wouldn’t allow me to adopt from them unless the hutch was 6ft by 2ft, and not from pets at home (which both of mine are, although they are not in the elements).

I understand the minimum isn’t the best but I would like to believe I give my boys a good life, arguable better than some people who have a c&c (not c&c owners in general, I mean there’s probably people who own a c&c but perhaps don’t put a lot of effort into enriching their animals lives).
My boys get a run attached to the front of their cage everyday, which I understand doesn’t count towards the total area but being able to run around their hutch and a 5x2 run for 12 hours a day isn’t bad. They get an array of vegetables, good quality pellets and loads of attention/cuddles/treats. We learn tricks, and I put food just out of their reach for daily mental stimulation. My boys are my whole world and I would do anything to be able to rescue a guinea pig instead of going through pets at home but i’m just not allowed.

Again this isn’t aimed at any rescue at all, I’m just frustrated I can’t help and i’m instead putting money towards mistreatment of animals. It’s more of a rant really, as i’ve been rejected by the two rescues nearest me (both hours away) and now when it comes Saturday I will be heading to pets at home and picking up a baby to accompany my 5 month old.
 
I've been allowed by 2 Rescues to have piggies in my hutch but then my hutch is 6ft x 2ft. Atm, Misty and Bramble live in a Ferplast 120 and the Rescue was quite happy with that. They will have an upgrade to the Penthouse Suite of the hutch when Thea decides its time to toddle off and join Lexi and the Rainbow Bridge.

I can't understand it myself especially when Rescues are bursting with piggies looking for a forever home. Maybe someone could shed some light on this.
 
I do think it’s about time some rescues were more open minded about outdoor living. Not everyone has the opportunity to house piggies inside. Piggies in general appear to be hardier and healthier living outside to me. I have done both over the years and there is nothing wrong with outdoor living as long as they don’t end up at the bottom of the garden piggies forgotten and neglected. I do think some rescues may think this is more likely to happen in some circumstances, particularly were pets are adopted for children, but many people keep animals outside or in sheds and they have a wonderful life with excellent care
Each adoption should be gauged on merit, it’s not always about “the biggest” cage that matters. people and piggies are all individuals after all
 
I’m so sorry that you’ve been turned down 😞 I’m not a rescue but I feel your pain. I’ve made the decision that my current 3 piggies will be my last but I face a similar problem should I want to rescue anymore in the future. My girls are currently housed in a 160 cage which is the bare minimum for 3 or even just below but if I want my piggies to live inside, it’s the only cage I can fit in to the space I have available. A rescue local to me will only rehome to 6ft C&C cages which I sadly don’t and can’t have as like I say, I only have one space they can go in and a 6ft C&C won’t fit plus I have cats.

I’m afraid I have no idea why the rescues you have reached out too won’t rehome to homes that use hutches unless they think you’re going to house them outdoors as some rescues now will only rehome to indoor homes.

I understand that they only want the best for their piggies but it is annoying when we’re constantly told to rescue yet some rescues and I admit it’s only some do make it difficult.

There’s nothing wrong with buying a guinea pig from pets at home by the way. Sometimes we have to do what we have to do and we have no other option
 
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It sounds to be a size issue, not that it’s because it’s a hutch per se. Perhaps pets at home hutches aren’t made of thick enough wood for them, can be draughty maybe but being in your garage surely goes some way if not all the way to negating that? It’s a shame and it’s frustrating. Flexibility and assessing the situation on a case by case basis could mean more piggies are rehomed - outdoor/shed/garage etc isn’t bad if done properly.

I know the rescue near me are happy to rehome to indoor or outdoor and provide information on making outdoor homes suitable. They also say 5 foot is fine but 6 foot is better particularly for boars. It doesn’t sound to me that a 5 foot would be outright rejected though. Also that a 5ft hutch with a run permanently attached but kept in a garage or shed or a hutch in a shed with the hutch door left open and providing free roam to the shed would both be approved.

Don’t feel bad about going to a pet shop, its still a piggy who needs a home.
 
Thank you all for your replies.

I do generally understand their concerns, but I wish there was some sort of scale from big indoor c&c cage to ‘neglect’, because it just isn’t the case.

I would have my boys in a massive C&C cage if I could, but my mum has allergies so I would never be allowed them inside while living in her home. Actually even then I quite enjoy having my boys outside, if I could I would get bigger hutches and their own shed, but what they have isn’t to be scoffed at. I still hope to believe that my boys live a good life, if not a great one.
The reason why the run isn’t permanently attached is for their safety, as I wouldn’t feel/be able to keep them safe from the weather, especially in winter.

I understand pet shop piggies need homes, and i’m sure they’ll be happy to get a break from being stared at all day and not being cared for properly, but I wish I could adopt and perhaps show a piggie who hasn’t had the best start to life a safe and fun place to live.
 
Thank you all for your replies.

I do generally understand their concerns, but I wish there was some sort of scale from big indoor c&c cage to ‘neglect’, because it just isn’t the case.

I would have my boys in a massive C&C cage if I could, but my mum has allergies so I would never be allowed them inside while living in her home. Actually even then I quite enjoy having my boys outside, if I could I would get bigger hutches and their own shed, but what they have isn’t to be scoffed at. I still hope to believe that my boys live a good life, if not a great one.
The reason why the run isn’t permanently attached is for their safety, as I wouldn’t feel/be able to keep them safe from the weather, especially in winter.

I understand pet shop piggies need homes, and i’m sure they’ll be happy to get a break from being stared at all day and not being cared for properly, but I wish I could adopt and perhaps show a piggie who hasn’t had the best start to life a safe and fun place to live.

The life you provide for your piggies is a good one. I’ve seen pictures of your set up and know how much you care. They’ve seen 5 foot and not looked further which is a shame.
I know the temperature in your garage could be an issue and I agree, it wouldnt be a good idea for your situation for them to have constant access to the run.
 
I was surprised to find that my local rescue has minimum requirements of a 4x4 C&C for 2 piggies. I for one just don't have the space for a cage this size. I know they only want the best for the piggies but not many people will have this sort of space available.
 
Being too rigid on cages etc doesn't make sense if they want to rehome piggies. I know they want the best for their animals and rightly so but some flexibility would help. I'm so lucky the rescue who are trying to find a friend for Bertie are flexible and prepared to exchange ideas and options.
 
Hi, I know there are a few rescue owner/workers and I was wondering if you could let me know a bit more why most rescues dont rehome to hutches.

I would love to rehome a pig that needed a home but I wouldn’t be able to, one reason because the closest rescue is over an 1:30 away and two because I keep my guinea pigs in a hutch.
Now I am aware that my hutches are the minimum, and my “anger”/disappointment isn’t aimed at the rescues, I just want to help and feel silly not being able to. I don’t want to support pets at home any longer but unfortunately I have to as thats my only option.

My boys live in a bluebell hutch which is W152 x D61cm, which is believe is the minimum. The new hutch i’m getting is W162 x D71.5cm, but the rescue wouldn’t allow me to adopt from them unless the hutch was 6ft by 2ft, and not from pets at home (which both of mine are, although they are not in the elements).

I understand the minimum isn’t the best but I would like to believe I give my boys a good life, arguable better than some people who have a c&c (not c&c owners in general, I mean there’s probably people who own a c&c but perhaps don’t put a lot of effort into enriching their animals lives).
My boys get a run attached to the front of their cage everyday, which I understand doesn’t count towards the total area but being able to run around their hutch and a 5x2 run for 12 hours a day isn’t bad. They get an array of vegetables, good quality pellets and loads of attention/cuddles/treats. We learn tricks, and I put food just out of their reach for daily mental stimulation. My boys are my whole world and I would do anything to be able to rescue a guinea pig instead of going through pets at home but i’m just not allowed.

Again this isn’t aimed at any rescue at all, I’m just frustrated I can’t help and i’m instead putting money towards mistreatment of animals. It’s more of a rant really, as i’ve been rejected by the two rescues nearest me (both hours away) and now when it comes Saturday I will be heading to pets at home and picking up a baby to accompany my 5 month old.
Thats such a shame. The dimensions of the new hutch you are getting actually provide a larger floor area than a 6' by 2'. Personally I think providing increased width over length is often better, especially for boars as it gives a wider space to get passed one an other, especially when they are feeling a bit tetchy.
 
Thats such a shame. The dimensions of the new hutch you are getting actually provide a larger floor area than a 6' by 2'. Personally I think providing increased width over length is often better, especially for boars as it gives a wider space to get passed one an other, especially when they are feeling a bit tetchy.
I’m glad to hear that, as it’s my spriteful 5 month old and his new friend who will be moving, so hopefully he will enjoy the extra space.
 
I'm lucky in being able to give the goblins the cage size I have, because it's only me that lives here otherwise and they squabble that often, more room is better. But I'm the exception on that and not the rule, and some of the cage size restrictions...even Comet and Blitzen wouldn't have been kept in a suitable sized cage from what you're saying @YvonneBlue because even though it was technically 4x4 it was a pair of Midwests together, so it was more of a 2x(2x4).

Good luck with finding him a wee friend @piggl
 
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