Sad News

Stayc1989

Stayc1989

Teenage Guinea Pig
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Messages
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Location
Derbyshire UK
just heard that @DorasWonderland guinea pig rescue will be closing down at the end of January 2018. Very sad news, such a shame. Is there anything we can do to help in any way?
 
So sorry to hear :soz:
It’s a Rescue I’ve not heard of, where are they based? x
 
Sadly a number of rescues are struggling physically and financially to cope. The strains are huge upon the people running rescues to keep infinitesimal space for people wishing to give up piggies for a variety of reasons, and to fundraise for the inevitable vets bills. Plus the time commitment to caring for sick and traumatised piggies and finding new homes for those who are re-homable. Plus making plans (in terms of space and cost) of keeping those who simply cannot be re-homed. It all takes its toll.
 
How do rescues get on the recommended rescue locator? Is it just through word of mouth or does somebody from the forum check the rescue out first to make sure they are an ideal place? There are a few I’ve seen that are not on the locator. And I’m not even sure if @Notts Nibblers is still open, they’ve not been on in ages either :(
 
Stayc1989 said:
How do rescues get on the recommended rescue locator? Is it just through word of mouth or does somebody from the forum check the rescue out first to make sure they are an ideal place? There are a few I’ve seen that are not on the locator. And I’m not even sure if @Notts Nibblers is still open, they’ve not been on in ages either :(
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@sport_billy is the best person to answer this question ...
 
At the risk of sounding as if I’m talking out the back of my head, is there any way we can help support fellow piggy lovers.
I’ve been concerned to read about some who cannot afford / struggle to afford vet bills and now much needed rescues seem to be struggling too.
I was just wondering if there’s any way we can set up a support fund to help. Shoot me down if this is totally impractical.
 
Merab's Slave said:
At the risk of sounding as if I’m talking out the back of my head, is there any way we can help support fellow piggy lovers.
I’ve been concerned to read about some who cannot afford / struggle to afford vet bills and now much needed rescues seem to be struggling too.
I was just wondering if there’s any way we can set up a support fund to help. Shoot me down if this is totally impractical.
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I like that idea, I would love to help out rescues however I can and it’s very worrying that there seems to be a few closing down. I was thinking if we could get more added to the rescue locator as it’s going to be quite difficult to direct people to rescues if they are closing down and the nearest might be too far for some people to travel. Depending on how we do things I would be willing to contact rescues and ask their policies on adoption/neutering things like that to help but I’m not sure if we actually need someone to go and actually check them out to see if they are suitable.
 
Maybe we could add the rescue and vets that rome_italy uses. I know she speaks very highly of both, and would be nice to have more rescues and from across the world to help other members.
 
The piggy bank network is the only group of rescues that have been thoroughly checked and meet minimum standards of care. In order to join piggy bank, rescues have to apply and complete a comprehensive assessment that is approved by piggy bank members.
Sadly although funding is a major issue for rescues many other factors come into play. From my personal perspective it is the encroachment of rescue work into my life that is difficult, basically it takes over your life unless you set clear boundaries.
Many rescues close because of personal issues, ill health and family problems for instance.
The support of reliable volunteers and foster carers is invaluable especially in times of crisis.
So the best way to support rescues is by volunteering and being a reliable and consistent volunteer. It's no good turning up when you feel like it, a regular weekly slot to help with cleaning, transporting animals to the vets, doing tip runs and stepping up when the main rescue personnel (usually volunteers themselves)are unwell or need a break. This is what makes the difference for rescues and enables them to continue.
The forum is a great support to rescues. Thank you
 
Stayc1989 said:
Maybe we could add the rescue and vets that rome_italy uses. I know she speaks very highly of both, and would be nice to have more rescues and from across the world to help other members.
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The locators only work in UK i m afraid, but may look at an international google map at somepoint when time allows :) So a good idea - thanks
 
Stayc1989 said:
How do rescues get on the recommended rescue locator? Is it just through word of mouth or does somebody from the forum check the rescue out first to make sure they are an ideal place? There are a few I’ve seen that are not on the locator. And I’m not even sure if @Notts Nibblers is still open, they’ve not been on in ages either :(
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It is a mixture of ways really. Piggy Bank rescues are on here automatically then we find others along the way.... we send out questionnaires and sometimes if possible visit them.
 
Stayc1989 said:
I like that idea, I would love to help out rescues however I can and it’s very worrying that there seems to be a few closing down. I was thinking if we could get more added to the rescue locator as it’s going to be quite difficult to direct people to rescues if they are closing down and the nearest might be too far for some people to travel. Depending on how we do things I would be willing to contact rescues and ask their policies on adoption/neutering things like that to help but I’m not sure if we actually need someone to go and actually check them out to see if they are suitable.
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We are always seeking out new reputable rescues. We have to be very careful before adding to the locator, at times things may not always be as they seem. But if you do think of any rescues you think are worthy of inclusion please just drop us a pm
 
Sadly there is no official regulation or monitoring of rescues. Any person can set themselves up & call them self “a rescue”. As we have witnessed in the not so distant past welfare standards vary tremendously between “rescues” and as a forum we have a responsibility to promote only those reputable rescues with satisfactory welfare standards, showing and rehoming policies and an absolute bar on breeding. Piggy Bank do an amazing job vetting rescues and their approved rescues are all on our rescue locator. Plus there is our own vetting carried out by forum staff members. We are happy to promote rescues that are on our approved rescues list however we cannot promote new or unvetted rescues simply because of a shortage of rescues in a particular area of the country. That would not be the actions of a responsible forum.
 
VickiA said:
Sadly there is no official regulation or monitoring of rescues. Any person can set themselves up & call them self “a rescue”. As we have witnessed in the not so distant past welfare standards vary tremendously between “rescues” and as a forum we have a responsibility to promote only those reputable rescues with satisfactory welfare standards, showing and rehoming policies and an absolute bar on breeding. Piggy Bank do an amazing job vetting rescues and their approved rescues are all on our rescue locator. Plus there is our own vetting carried out by forum staff members. We are happy to promote rescues that are on our approved rescues list however we cannot promote new or unvetted rescues simply because of a shortage of rescues in a particular area of the country. That would not be the actions of a responsible forum.
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Thanks Vicki that was what I wanted to say but couldn't find those words as eloquent as yourself
 
VickiA said:
Sadly there is no official regulation or monitoring of rescues. Any person can set themselves up & call them self “a rescue”. As we have witnessed in the not so distant past welfare standards vary tremendously between “rescues” and as a forum we have a responsibility to promote only those reputable rescues with satisfactory welfare standards, showing and rehoming policies and an absolute bar on breeding. Piggy Bank do an amazing job vetting rescues and their approved rescues are all on our rescue locator. Plus there is our own vetting carried out by forum staff members. We are happy to promote rescues that are on our approved rescues list however we cannot promote new or unvetted rescues simply because of a shortage of rescues in a particular area of the country. That would not be the actions of a responsible forum.
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Sorry I didn’t realise that there was a piggy bank that vetted rescues, I assumed it was something forum members did, which is why I offered to help
 
Stayc1989 said:
Sorry I didn’t realise that there was a piggy bank that vetted rescues, I assumed it was something forum members did, which is why I offered to help
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You don't have to say sorry :hug: you've done nothing wrong .

Anyway, it doesn't do any harm in reminding everyone that there are other rescues around. Some are good, some are not so good . I count myself as lucky that I am in reasonable travelling distance of a rescue on our approved list. Other members are not so lucky - but I'd sooner they found a good rescue not on our list than go to P@H, a breeder - or Gumtree.
 
Stayc1989 said:
Sorry I didn’t realise that there was a piggy bank that vetted rescues, I assumed it was something forum members did, which is why I offered to help
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Never apologise for something you didn’t know.

I’m not sure what people know about the Piggy Bank. The Piggy Bank is a network of high standard guinea pig rescues who are very active behind the scenes in big hoarder/neglect rescues. They coordinate large scale rescues, organise transport and distribution of piggies between rescues and ensure that all piggies get removed to safety. As well as individually running their own rescues. Last year there were some very large scale rescues. For example about 160-180 piggies wee removed from one property in Gosport. The Piggy Bank rescues coordinated the collection of all piggies who were then spread out between the rescues and rehomed when fit. Many (if not all) of our approved rescues are part of the Piggy Bank. The Potteries GPR is a member, and we rehomed 4 of the Gosport boars this year.
 
Stayc1989 said:
Maybe we could add the rescue and vets that rome_italy uses. I know she speaks very highly of both, and would be nice to have more rescues and from across the world to help other members.
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it's just by chance that I have read this thread and this post... my reply is in delay, I see.
Honestly I had thought about asking the Moderators to add the names of the few rescues we have in italy, but it would not be useful unfortunately... Maybe only some good soul from the near Switzerland might arrange a transfer for an italian piggie and this would be a risk at the border, too.
I have had contact with two different rescues. The one in Bologna is very little and is run from a lady and some nice ladies volunteers; she won a cancer long ago and decided to "pay the bill" with the Heaven doing something good for the rabbits and the piggies. She does any effort for fundraising, just like you do in UK. Here, too, volunteers and good souls give donations for these places which are always on a tight budget. The only difference is that here in Italy such rescues does not even have a shelter! no base, no house... nothing. My last piggie comes from a rescue of northern Italy with no shelter; the group of volunteers live in different italian cities and keep at home one or more abandoned rabbits/piggies; the volunteers provide grass, vegs, hay and food and the rescue pays all the vet cost.
This is not the best situation because you cannot visit the rescue and can choose your piggie just online looking at the pics of him; but the rescue saves a lot of money doing that letting the piggie live at home cuddled, loved and far from huge herds of pets.
After the adoption the rescue starts a research for a "lift": there are nice people who travel for business and agree to offer a lift to a pet... sometimes a group of nice people are needed for delivering a pet from a city to another one.

About the vets, I am not and will never be a devoted client of any doctor, I don't think a doctor can be a Goddess and before speaking generally highly of one of them I need to be sure. In Rome there are 3-4 names of cavy savvy vets only... one is considered as His Holiness... a famous Professor who runs his own exotic clinic and travels all over the world for teaching other vets and learning more and more. The italian owners get the list of the cavy savvy vets from the net and from the rescues themselves. I don't see any other member from Italy here, hence it may be useless add here a list of italian vets. But if you like I can give you the names of the only few vets in Rome, the ones I have known personally or have heard something good about.
So far I am satisfied with the vet I am in contact with; I chose him not because of the long list of praises he gets on fb or because he is often invited in TV, but because when I contacted him by email he seemed to me humble when he simply told me "there are better vet surgeons than me for sure, also in Rome" and because he is in strict contact with collegues abroad and seems to be not too "closed" regarding the possibility of trying an alternative treatment. And he is a passionate "pro grass" and "no pellet", hence I don't need to explain my reasons about my choice of the diet.

And just a thought about italian rescues: I felt very disappointed when I had to sign a very strict contract with them; such contracts keep people far from adoption. Last week I had to wait for an hour at the vet because a crazy group of volunteers from a rescue arrived before me wanted to obtain a post mortem on a rabbit, not for knowing more about his desease, but for being able to report the adoptant owner to the Court! My vet refused to proceed, there was a mess into the clinic and I started thinking about the contract I also had to sign up... "the piggie remains property of the rescue, if something bad happens we can ask for a postmortem... if the cause of the death is yours you will be fined with 300€...". :evil:
Next time I am not sure of going to any rescue again...
 
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