So, I was finally promissed a guinea pig ...

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JustineTarini

So after 3.5 years of begging my lovely boyfriend for a guinea pig, he finally decided that if our landlords said it was alright, that he would buy me one as long as I took care of it. Needless to say, my hopes were crushed.

In our rental agreement, it did state that no pets were aloud, but upon moving, we were asked if we had any pets.

After my boyfriend had agreed that we could get a guinea pig if our landlords said it was alright, I asked them. He said that he knows many people with guinea pigs, and every time that he goes to their home, he is immediately greeted with a very strong odour.

Now, in order to convince my boyfriend to allow us to keep a guinea pig, I needed to show him proof (and more than one website) that they do not smell if they are properly maintained. I am VERY willing to clean their cage every day, and clean them once they begin to smell. Our apartment is very clean and organized, and we have expressed to them when we were competing for the apartment my obsession with cleaning.

Once I finally got up the courage to ask, he seemed alright with the idea, and told us that he would first need to talk to his wife before making a decision. After a week of waiting, I decided to make up and excuse to get him down to our apartment and just quickly ask him if he had spoken to his wife. So, as you may have guessed by now, he said no reason being they smell and they don't want the apartment or their house to smell of animal (b.t.w they have a large dog).

Now, even though this may sound really pathetic, I am really sad that I cannot get a guinea pig. I have always wanted one, and I have taken care of my sisters when I go down to Minnesota. I feel as though they do not believe we can properly take care of them, since their experiences with them have been bad. Now, I don't want to just go up to them and be like "let me have a guinea pig" but I just don't know what to do.

This is probably just a whole bunch of words jumbled together, and I thank those who actually read this, but I really need advice. I know this is lame, but I cried for like 2 hours over a dang guinea pig! Help me :(
 
Aww thats sad you can't have one. I have mine indoors at the mo and as long as you keep intop of the cleaning then there isn't a problem.

To be honest guineas are social animals and I wouldn't just get one, they do far better in pairs. I'm not sure what to suggest really. :(
 
^ No, it's not possible to keep it outside since I live in Northern Ontario and the current temperature is -35! I had planned to keep more than one, but they only had one Abyssinian so I was going to wait until I had gone home to my hometown.
 
Mine are kept indoors too and they don't smell (apart from if I've let them go one more day than I really should have).

That's a shame that your landlord can't see that they are great pets - and that they don't smell. Too many people just assume that they will be smelly.
 
I suppose seeing he's the landlord he's allowed to make the rules, but as he has a dog I can't really understand why he objects to a guinea pig. As everyone else has said, if they are looked after properly they do NOT smell. My three lived in our living room, and I was paranoid about cleaning, but they never smelled - visitors used to just comment on the lovely smell of the hay. It's not "lame" to cry about it, when you'd obviously set your heart on having some piggies. Maybe you can be very subtle and gentle, and work on him to change his mind?

But please stay in the Forum, because at least you can share everyone else's guinea pigs - I had to rehome mine last year, and miss them dreadfully - but I still love to see photographs of so many different piggies on here, and read their various stories.
 
It's so crushing when you have your heart set on something, for you dreams to then be dashed. Really sorry you can't get a guinea pig, but agree with Sueg about staying on the forum.
 
I was wondering if it would be appropriate to speak to him again. Our landlords are young (mid 20s) with a one year old and a child on the way, and they have very busy lives. I am a very shy person, and I HATE bothering them for absolutely anything. Do you think it would be appropriate to maybe send him an e mail with some links to websites that explains if the cage is not properly maintained it would smell? Also, would you think it is fair if I were to tell them that we could make a contract where I am willing to get the carpet and couch cleaned once we leave in 4 years and tell him that if the animal is not maintained and the appartment begins to smell, we will get rid of the guinea pig right away with no hesitation (I'm not too worried about this because I have taken care of my sisters guinea pigs and I know how to properly clean them in order to illiminate the smell).

Can someone maybe give me feedback on this idea?

Thank you so much everyone, you have really helped me!
 
Are they "approachable" people? Even though you're shy, do you think they would listen to any ideas or suggestions you might make? You don't want to antagonise them, as they've initially said "no" to the guinea pigs, but if you think they are reasonable and nice people, then it might work if you send them a polite, helpful, informative email with your request - and particularly with your idea of offering to make sure the carpet and couch will be cleaned ..... the worst they can do is still say "no" to your request, but maybe it's worth a try, when they see you are prepared to be responsible and co-operative.

Anyway, that's my thoughts on your idea - don't know if anyone else has any suggestions too?

Oh yes, another thought - make sure he knows the guinea pigs won't be permanently "free roaming" around the whole apartment, and that they will be living in a cage. If you do get them and decide to let them have "floor time", he won't know, as he'll be aware they live in a cage.
 
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i tell you what, i spent many years sobbing into my pillow because my folks wouldnt allow me pigs, that finished in march 2008, when i moved into my then boyfriends (Now fiances) flat and we got two, then two more, then a lone boy. it took me years to get one, i know exactly how you feel. cheer up honey, it'll change one day xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
I think it may be worth asking your landlord if he would be prepared to let you have one(two!) if there was a clause added to your contract which stated that any damage, dirt, blah blah caused by the animal was your responsiblity and you would foot the bill. You could say you would keep them by the window to prevent smells (not recommended to leave pigs in a draught....but anything to get him to change his mind)
 
Hi,
I have 3 piggies and they are all indoors each with their own cage.
I clean my 3 out every 3 days and they don not smell.
Being as your a shy person like me i would suggest emailing them to explain as it is easier to sit and write it rather than say it face to face.
Hope you can get to have your piggy.

Take care,Louise xxxxxx
 
I'm sorry that your landlord's are being difficult about this. Do you think that you might be able to approach them about it, or are they the type who won't change their minds? But if it's worth approaching them one last time, email might be a good way to do it, as you can think carefully about what you want to say, and provide them with pictures and links to back up what you're telling them, rather than risking getting flustered if talking face-to-face, and forgetting what you meant to say.

It might be a case that they're getting guinea pigs and another animal mixed up. I know one person who was telling me I was stupid for getting a guinea pig, that you couldn't leave them in a cage, regardless of how big they were, and they smelled bad, etc., etc. Then she got on to how they kick really hard, at which point I realized she was thinking of rabbits.
 
Welcome to the forum :)

The problem with promising to rehome out the pigs if the Landlord is still not happy about it after a trial period is where do you put the pigs? Would you have a home lined up where the people are guinea knowledgable and prepared to take in a pair of guineas and foot the vet/food/bedding bills when needed for up to a possible 8-9 years of the guineas' lives? I do understand why you have posted and hope that you get a suitable solution for all, but it's worth covering all angles.

If you are really wanting to be with piggies and like-minded people, how about contacting www.cavyspirit.com who may know of a shelter in your area where they may appreciate an extra pair of hands?

Fingers crossed you find a happy solution one way or the other :)
 
Good luck hope you sort it out with him & get to have some lovely piggies! Offering cleaning & clause about damage seem like good ideas to me (considering there won't be any).

Try not to make the e-mail too long and essay like though. Make it straight to the point with the relevant links etc.. If it ended up too long he may not want to waste him time reading it & not look at it properly.
 
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