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thank you! not sure whether to go with another boy and risk them not getting on (although i read somewhere that a baby is more likely to get on with an older one)...
 
dearbarbie said:
thank you! not sure whether to go with another boy and risk them not getting on (although i read somewhere that a baby is more likely to get on with an older one)...
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There are two safer ways you can take than just buying a youngster and keeping your fingers crossed that there won't be another fall-out when the youngster hits the big hormones: either by boar dating at a good rescue under expert supervision or by having your remaining boy neutered by an experienced neutering vet, so he can live with a girl; cross gender bondings are the most stable.

Crawley Guinea Pig Rescue (by Gatwick) is your closest rescue that offers full residential boar bonding. It is very time consuming so not all good rescues can do it, but any resulting bond is generally as stable as a sow bond. Your boy only comes home with a new friend if their has been success, so there is no risk for you and you don't have to stage the bonding. By going to a rescue, you also have a place to fall back on for the whole life of their piggy. The key to a successful piggy bond and especially to a boar bond is character compatibility. Don't just go out and buy yet another piggy without respecting your boy's preferences!
Here is a full boar dating blog from a rescue lady from South Wales to give you an insight in what is involved: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?59233-Boar-Dating-Service-Wales
http://www.crawleyguineapigrescue.org/

The other way you can take is by finding a vet with a good track record in piggy neutering (that cuts down enormously on the otherwise still fairly high risk of post op complications). After a 6 weeks post op wait your boy will be ready to live with a sow or two; ideally he can date at a rescue under expert supervision, so you know that they will get on. I have a surprise baby from an over 5 weeks post op boar (not one of mine) to prove that particular point. Cross gender pairings are the most stable of them all and often very loving, especially if the piggies are allowed to make their own choice!
We have both a piggy savvy vet locator as well as a good standard recommended guinea pig rescue locator on the bar underneath the forum logo.
 
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Thank you so much for the information - it's really helpful - and for all your support today - I'm normally a reader not a poster and it's really nice to feel welcomed now I actually posted today! :)
 
It's strange though how we hot into the hutch. Just a thought but so you have a back gate to your garden?

So when you got up was the door on the hutch open?
 
we do have a gate, yes, at the side next to the house... and the trail led in the opposite direction - so confused. my boyfriend discovered Wheatley was gone, he said the hutch door was open, yes - not fully open but big enough for a piggy :(
 
I'm so so sorry this has happened. This is why I've always had indoor piggies as I'm too scared to think of someone stealing them or an animal managing to get them from me. :(

I'm glad your other piggie is okay and I am praying that you will find your missing piggie alive and just missing a bit of his fur. Possibly put some female scented hay or things in the garden may help lure him back if he is still alive. Chances are he's scared to return if he is alive because thats where the attack was.
 
Julesie said:
I'm so so sorry this has happened. This is why I've always had indoor piggies as I'm too scared to think of someone stealing them or an animal managing to get them from me. :(

I'm glad your other piggie is okay and I am praying that you will find your missing piggie alive and just missing a bit of his fur. Possibly put some female scented hay or things in the garden may help lure him back if he is still alive. Chances are he's scared to return if he is alive because thats where the attack was.
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I keep going out in the garden to see if he's wandering about - hay sounds a good idea. I have no idea how their sense of direction is though...!
 
You could try contacting your local RSPCA and see if you can set a small cat trap and fill it with hay and veggies to lure him out. I saw this done on an RSPCA Australia program when a guinea pig was running loose in a hotel grounds. It actually worked and they caught the piggy so maybe it's worth a try. I really hope you find him safely. Poor little fella.

Stay strong *hugs*

~ Amy
 
None :( I'm going away tonight until Sunday and wish I could stay to look for him. I guess the chances of finding him are slim to none, especially if a fox was involved and he became supper :( horrible thought :( he's my wallpaper on my phone and I get so sad looking at him!
 
That's what I want. The poor love :( My boyfriend mentioned we should work out what to do about getting a new pig soon for our remaining boy but not sure how long it will take me to feel ready :( anyone done this - had to get a new pig to replace another?

It's a well-known fact that there are foxes living in a derelict garage two houses away, bet it was them. Still, I looked over the fence of the garden between us and there's no sign of anything...
 
dearbarbie said:
That's what I want. The poor love :( My boyfriend mentioned we should work out what to do about getting a new pig soon for our remaining boy but not sure how long it will take me to feel ready :( anyone done this - had to get a new pig to replace another?

It's a well-known fact that there are foxes living in a derelict garage two houses away, bet it was them. Still, I looked over the fence of the garden between us and there's no sign of anything...
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Many of us have had to find friends for a bereaved piggy. Try using the rescue locater at the top of the page to find rescues near to you. Many of them will offer 'boar dating' where you can take your little guy to pick a new friend he gets on well with and get support to bond them together from an experienced rescuer.

Huge hugs to you at this awful time and you will know when the time is right to get a new friend for your lad.
 
It may also take a little while to find a friend so, even if you don't feel ready for a new furry right now, you could just start making enquiries and contacting your local rescue to talk about boardating
 
It is often difficult for us humans to deal with the fact that guinea pigs grieve no less deeply than we humans, but they cannot afford to grieve for as long, so we usually end up looking for a friend before we ourselves are ready for a new piggy in our life.

On the other hand, you may find that being able to do something constructive for your bereaved piggy will help you as well as there is so little left that you can do for Wheatley now. It is always such relief and a mood booster to see a bereaved piggy regain its special sparkle!

Each bond is unique, so you can never replace a piggy. They will create their very own bond with you in due time; mostly without you noticing and through the medium of the joy they bring into their companion's life. Don't feel bad if you won't feel anything for your new piggy at first while you are still numb and grieving; that is not at all rare. Despite having nearly two dozen piggies, I never stop to miss those piggies that have passed away, and they all have a special place in my heart.

I lost my first own piggy some thirty years ago when the neighbours' dog not only wiggled under their (badly maintained) fence, but also managed to break into what we thought was a safe, sturdy run with a solid chicken wire top. My sister had the shock of her life coming across the dog in front of our house, carrying the body of her own piggy in its mouth when she came back from school. We didn't find my boy until the next day; he'd had been flung into a tangle of raspberry bushes. His neck was broken, so at least he'd not suffered for long. But it was extremely upsetting for us all, to put it mildly!

Sometimes, it can help if you make a gesture in memory of your piggy that has gone. Perhaps sponsor a rescue piggy in a rescue that has been found wandering with nobody coming forward - like you would so desperately find Wheatley. Perhaps you may like to plant a shrub or rose bush in your garden or in a big pot (so it can come with you whenever you move house). There are places that create little markers for piggies, so you have a tangible sign; other members should be able to help you with that if you wish to.

You also may want to discuss with your partner the option of keeping your piggies indoors if that is a possibility - just for added peace of mind!
 
Awww I'm so sorry to hear this its very upsetting ,like others said I would bring the other guinea pig in if the fox knows theres one more it might come back xx
 
I just want to add onto what Wiebke said. If you feel you want to get another piggie, you could go to a rescue and ask about the stories of the piggies. If you end up adopting one who had a terrible start to life, you will feel like your beautiful boys possible death meant something and it will help you along knowing you are helping another piggie in need and your boys possible death was for nothing.

I never lost my piggie in such a sad horrible circumstance but I did lose my favourite boy back in the summer. He and I had the biggest bond that I have never felt with anything in my life. When I lost him I felt awful and after I adopted the new piggie I barely felt anything towards him at all. I felt horrible as I just continued to grieve for Ludwig (my display picture) and I kept finding myself comparing the new little guy to him. What ended up helping me was someone telling me that I shouldn't compare the two and that Ludwig's death meant I have been able to help another piggie who may have ended up in a home left alone in a cage at the back of the garden. Thinking that made me feel better to know I have given him a good life, just like I did Ludwig.

I hope any of this helps the tiniest bit. *hugs*
 
Wiebke said:
It is often difficult for us humans to deal with the fact that guinea pigs grieve no less deeply than we humans, but they cannot afford to grieve for as long, so we usually end up looking for a friend before we ourselves are ready for a new piggy in our life.

On the other hand, you may find that being able to do something constructive for your bereaved piggy will help you as well as there is so little left that you can do for Wheatley now. It is always such relief and a mood booster to see a bereaved piggy regain its special sparkle!

Each bond is unique, so you can never replace a piggy. They will create their very own bond with you in due time; mostly without you noticing and through the medium of the joy they bring into their companion's life. Don't feel bad if you won't feel anything for your new piggy at first while you are still numb and grieving; that is not at all rare. Despite having nearly two dozen piggies, I never stop to miss those piggies that have passed away, and they all have a special place in my heart.

I lost my first own piggy some thirty years ago when the neighbours' dog not only wiggled under their (badly maintained) fence, but also managed to break into what we thought was a safe, sturdy run with a solid chicken wire top. My sister had the shock of her life coming across the dog in front of our house, carrying the body of her own piggy in its mouth when she came back from school. We didn't find my boy until the next day; he'd had been flung into a tangle of raspberry bushes. His neck was broken, so at least he'd not suffered for long. But it was extremely upsetting for us all, to put it mildly!

Sometimes, it can help if you make a gesture in memory of your piggy that has gone. Perhaps sponsor a rescue piggy in a rescue that has been found wandering with nobody coming forward - like you would so desperately find Wheatley. Perhaps you may like to plant a shrub or rose bush in your garden or in a big pot (so it can come with you whenever you move house). There are places that create little markers for piggies, so you have a tangible sign; other members should be able to help you with that if you wish to.

You also may want to discuss with your partner the option of keeping your piggies indoors if that is a possibility - just for added peace of mind!
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OMG that sounds horrific! You poor dear!

Thank you - the remaining boy is popcorning around his run in the garden (we used to leave them out there all day and they were fine - danger seems to come at night when I don't lock the bolts properly (beating myself up about it being my fault!)

I worry that if we bring them indoors they will stink the house out - they're like little poo and **** machines ;) we do have an indoor run we make and line with bin liners and kitchen roll/newspaper for easy tidying. We also don't have much space for them - I did suggest we put them in the shed but it's right at the bottom of the garden and I don't like going there in the dark at night - their hutch is currently on the patio by the back door.

I've had so many pets since I was a child and Wheatley came almost as close to my dog...only in a few months and I only realised recently. We hung out pretty much every night...must stop crying at my desk!

Our last hamster is buried in a little box under our rosebush - my OH suggested we put the fur we found in there too as it's all we have left of him. I also like your sponsor idea - that's really lovely.

I think next week perhaps I'll start researching piggy dating - Machete doesn't actually seem bothered most of the time apart from when he randomly squeaks quite loudly as if in pain, but he must have heard it all happening :(
 
Don't worry about them smelling when inside - if you keep up with their cleans they are fine. My hubby didn't want ours indoors at all (in fact he didn't want piggies at all but I needed them). We got them in May and now MrS is besotted to the point where Toby& Barney were moved into the house at the beginning of October. We haven't managed to get an indoor cage sorted yet so I have a monstrosity of an outdoor hutch in the middle of my lounge - and I LOVE it! I clean out every other day, even at times where we are up to three 3 (work 12hour shifts so don't always manage every other day) they still don't smell.

I have a totally different relationship with my babies now compared to when they were outside.

If you can find room - DO IT!
 
Piggies have a way of worming their way into one's hearts, don't they? They have such big personlities compared to their small size.

Burying the hair is a good idea! You want some physical kind of reminder.

I wish you all the best for your search for a new friend for Machete! The rescues we recommend are operating all to a good standard, so you benefit from the experience as well as having the assurance of not getting any nasty surprises. Unfortunately, anybody can call themselves a rescue, and the results can be very dire indeed! It is well worth going that extra mile. By going rescue, you will also make space for another piggy in need of expert care to find their own happy ending.
PS: Here are the links to Crawley GPR: https://www.facebook.com/crawleyguineapigrescue?ref=ts&fref=ts or http://www.crawleyguineapigrescue.org/ There may be a waiting list, but that is because it is really worth it!

Losing my beloved sweetie Strolch was heart-breaking at the time and I cried buckets, but there was another surprising twist to the story two years ago. Call it karma or the most surreal coincidence how Tesni's single surprise baby to be born at my home shortly after I rehomed the mummy turned out - the supposedly safe over 5 weeks post neutering operation dad (not one of mine) certainly doesn't look anything whatsoever like his daughter! The odds of winning the lottery are higher... http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?87476-Karma-or-coincidence

I very much hope that a very special piggy will come your way one day, too! ;)
 
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I know it feels like a betrayal when you get another piggie friend to fill a gap for the one/s left behind but I have found that it does help me to transition from constant misery whenever I think of the piglet who has passed to an easier stage of being able to remember them with smile and start talking about them fondly without bursting into tears each time - I like to think that I'm rescuing another piggie ( because I always piggy date at rescues) and helping them in the memory of my recently passed piggies. x
 
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