Should I rehome my pigs?

[Jb18]

Hey,

I am hoping for some advice please and understanding (no judgement) ….

I am currently thinking of rehoming my two boys..

It breaks my heart to even think of this possibility however both boys are 3.5 years old and I now have a son who is 1 years old.
Before my son was born we decided his bedroom into two parts so that we could keep the pigs in the second half of my son’s bedroom.
Since having a baby my partner and I are finding it difficult to give the pigs the attention they deserve. They are cleaned once a week, spot cleaned daily, fed and watered etc but I can’t help but feel this guilt every time I see the pigs sitting in the room alone… I wish that I could dedicate more time towards the pigs but being a parent is definitely leaving me with a lot less time on my hands than I expected.
My partner does the majority of looking after the guinea pigs and in the day I am with my son. I know I could probably make more time somehow in giving them more attention but I am so exhausted due to lack of sleep etc… I know it’s not a real excuse but I am being as honest as I can be…

Before my son was born, I’d take the pigs out in the garden and take them out of their cage regularly for a cuddle but now they run away from me when I go to stroke them . I guess they’re just not used to being handled now.
I wouldn’t say they were unhappy but they could certainly have a better quality of life elsewhere.

I have been given the go ahead for the pigs to go to a foster home until they are adopted but I am feeling really awful about it.
Number 1) because I love them Number 2) could I do more?

Please can I ask for your advice as to whether I am doing the right thing?

Thank you x

 

[Jb18]

Also, I didn’t add that it can be quite stuffy in the bedroom leaving it a bit smelly (even right after cleaning the cage). I do not like to put my son in his bedroom for this reason.

 

[Tigermoth]

Do you have space to keep them in your front room? Then you get to interact with them more just in a day to day basis. Jenny is in our front room, the pen takes up a lot of space mind you which is fine for my teenage kids but wouldn’t have been ideal when they were smaller. Depends on the space you have etc.

 

[Lady Kelly]

It's such a tough decision but shortly after having my daughter I reached the same decision over my piggies, that they would be my last for a while. I expected this might be years as I had a group of 4 but through a series of unfortunate illnesses it was much sooner than anticipated. I decided not to re-home the group but to wait until I had one left and then re-home so they wouldn't be left on their own. However, I did not have the issue over the room that you are having.

There is no judgment here. Parenting is hard, doesn't matter how much you believed it before giving birth it's always much harder than you anticipated. The pigs will be fine with their basic needs met while they have each other for company but only you can decide what you are truly happy to do. What I will add is that while you are making a decision based on what's best for the piggies, it will never be a wrong decision

 

[Merab]

So sorry that you have had to come to this decision.
I think it takes a lot of courage to put the piggies’s welfare first as you love them so much.
Life changes and priorities have to change too.
Giving them up will feel like a bereavement so be gentle with yourself.

 

[sport_billy]

First off, don’t worry too much about the interaction. Piggies need company of their own kind more than anything we can ever provide.
If they are being fed and watered, cleaned and have shelter and access to a healthy diet and enough time spent with daily to ensure there are no health problems arising - then their needs are being met.
Life changes and circumstances change, if you feel rehoming is best for them then you are putting their needs above all else.

 

[Jb18]

Do you have space to keep them in your front room? Then you get to interact with them more just in a day to day basis. Jenny is in our front room, the pen takes up a lot of space mind you which is fine for my teenage kids but wouldn’t have been ideal when they were smaller. Depends on the space you have etc.

Hello, thank you for replying. Unfortunately we live in a really small house so there isn’t much free space in the living room. Our little one is crawling too which makes it a bit awkward as the piggies love to kick their poops out of their cage

 

[Jb18]

It's such a tough decision but shortly after having my daughter I reached the same decision over my piggies, that they would be my last for a while. I expected this might be years as I had a group of 4 but through a series of unfortunate illnesses it was much sooner than anticipated. I decided not to re-home the group but to wait until I had one left and then re-home so they wouldn't be left on their own. However, I did not have the issue over the room that you are having.

There is no judgment here. Parenting is hard, doesn't matter how much you believed it before giving birth it's always much harder than you anticipated. The pigs will be fine with their basic needs met while they have each other for company but only you can decide what you are truly happy to do. What I will add is that while you are making a decision based on what's best for the piggies, it will never be a wrong decision

Thanks a lot for you message. I really appreciate it.
I’m sorry for the loss of your beloved piggies.

It’s so difficult as you list pros and cons, then make the decision in your mind and find yourself rethinking it again.

Above all, I want what’s best for the boys and I wish I had more time to give them. You only get one life and it makes me wonder if there is one for the boys where all their needs can be met if that makes sense.

 

[Jb18]

So sorry that you have had to come to this decision.
I think it takes a lot of courage to put the piggies’s welfare first as you love them so much.
Life changes and priorities have to change too.
Giving them up will feel like a bereavement so be gentle with yourself.

Thank you for your kind reply

 

[PiggyPoo]

Sounds to me like they are well looked after, so I wouldn’t worry! I think in the near future you will have more time and they will be great for your child. Keep them if you can but if the space is a real issue and you have to re-home that will be fine too xx

 

[Tigermoth]

Hello, thank you for replying. Unfortunately we live in a really small house so there isn’t much free space in the living room. Our little one is crawling too which makes it a bit awkward as the piggies love to kick their poops out of their cage

But on the upside think of all the snacks. And the fine motor control in picking them up

It's tough, I'm sorry you are in this predicament. You are making your decisions by putting them first which is really tough, a proper head Vs heart moment.