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Thoughts on getting a boar.....

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Lisajazz

Lisajazz

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Hiya I need some advice.

I normally get my pet supplies from a garden centre place that has lots of different branches and one of them is pampurred pets. Anyhoo in there is a boy guinea who has been there for what seems like forever.

He's not what people would conventionally call a pretty guinea pig, but I think he's cute. I asked today how long he's been there and its 3 1/2 months!

He's in a cage on his own and I really feel for him.

Now for me to get him would mean paying the £18 they want for him and then getting him neutered which is £50 in my cavy friendly vet and however many weeks on his own before introducing him.

Okay my questions. Am I being silly? I am ruled by my emotions and is this one of those times?

How does a boar settle in with a big group of bonded girls? Are there any risks of upsetting everyone?

What are they like compared to girls to look after?

Any other things I need to consider. This is a real spur of the moment thing but I just feel for this guy and worry he wont ever find a loving home...
 
Sorry Lisa, I have no advice, but I feel the same way about a boar that I saw in our local pet shop. He was so big he was clearly many many months older than all of the other piggies and I believe he is still there (or was the last time I went in) because potential buyers can see that he is older. It is a shame :(
 
It's sad isn't it? I would not normally consider a pet shop any more but this lad is always just in his hidey and it's been months. He deserves a life!

Do you think someone will give him a home soon?
 
Aww I would be thinking the same as you if I had seen him alone. I really dont have advice but wish you the best what ever you chose to do.
My two boys are quite easy to look after and I bonded them when I rescued Joey from a horrible home and they are very happy together.
Best wishes.
 
If I was in your shoes I would get him to be honest.

He may be on his own foe a while before being introduced but he would have a very loving home and lots of attention of you and then
he'd be dead happy being surrounded by gorgeous girlies!

I also don't think it would cause any upset as he'd automatically be the one and only top male dog

x
 
I think you should give him a home! I gave my boy a home because a wretched family wanted him, from what they were saying they obviously got bored of animals and he'd not get the care he deserved and would end up in rescue.... So I threw a strop and got him! I didn't go in intending to buy a piggie, never mind a BOY piggie, I always said I'd only get girls! But Sonny's my most favourite boy, he's such a charmer, he's come such a long way since his very timid, "leave me alone" days, he's the most loving pet I've ever met, he is just the most amazing little boy. I shudder to think that I almost didn't get him and he almost went to that horrible family! It was fate, he was meant to be mine, as much as I was meant to be his! He definately owns me! I say get him, please save him from being neglected in the back of a pet shop, you'll be so glad you did and in turn he'll love you more than any animal has ever loved you.
 
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Okay so you're all a bunch of emotionally led people too hee hee hee.

Glad to be in similar company then!

So if (and it has to still be a big if) I get him what are they like being introduced to a big group of girls?

Will I have to teach my daughters the birds and the bees?

Are they likely to not get on with each oother if he got introduced?

I did say to my hubby today that if he's still there next time we go in no overthinking hes coming home...
 
I think you need to think what you can offer and bear in mind the ones you already have. If you feel that you can without neglecting your others then if that is the way you feel then there should be no reason why you shouldn't.

I would talk to the pet shop and say that you would be prepared to adopt him as he obviously isn't going to be sold anytime soon and would they consider a reduced fee as it is a case of kindness for the piggie. I am more than happy for you to state that you currently volunteer as a foster carer for me and see if that makes a difference. Sometimes the pet shop will also help towards the neutering costs.
 
Will I have to teach my daughters the birds and the bees? I guess you may have to, other wise you may get a "mummmmmy what's he doing.....:{? moment :))

Are they likely to not get on with each oother if he got introduced? my friends who've brought a boar in have said it's had no different in their already established girls
 
I have one (already neutered) boar, and it's made no difference to Nerys and Nia when they were alone with him after Dizzy died.

A male doesn't interfere with the female hierarchy, so there is no fear of dominance struggles. If you keep that boy next to the girls while he recovers from his op, they can make friends through the bars already and he won't be alone during that time.

I agree that you may point out that you want to ADOPT him, because he hasn't been sold. Best of luck!
 
i havent got any adivce but good luck with making this decision
 
Pay attention to your head, but decide with your heart. If you are prepared for the costs, the setting him up next to the girls fuss and the waiting to introduce them all, then do what your heart tells you is the right thing to do!
 
Sarah from Chucklebunnies said:
Pay attention to your head, but decide with your heart. If you are prepared for the costs, the setting him up next to the girls fuss and the waiting to introduce them all, then do what your heart tells you is the right thing to do!
Click to expand...

i think that's exactly it. well said
 
Only you can decide what you do here, and I think it depends how strongly you feel about the pet trade really.

You can buy this boy and I'm sure give him a lovely home, but if they manage to sell him there will always be another one to take his place. My concern about doing this would be what happen if I go in there in another 3 months and look there's another sad little face who nobody wants. As we all know, you can't take them all, that way we'd all end up like that crazy lady with her tupperware full of pigs!

I think if you like him, and you can fit him into your arrangements, get him, but don't think of it as a 'rescue' situation.

Personally I would be tempted to leave my number with the shop and say that if they decide they want to 'retire' him I'd take him, but not for money.

It's a tough decision really and I don't envy you :)
 
Banana said:
Only you can decide what you do here, and I think it depends how strongly you feel about the pet trade really.

You can buy this boy and I'm sure give him a lovely home, but if they manage to sell him there will always be another one to take his place. My concern about doing this would be what happen if I go in there in another 3 months and look there's another sad little face who nobody wants. As we all know, you can't take them all, that way we'd all end up like that crazy lady with her tupperware full of pigs!

I think if you like him, and you can fit him into your arrangements, get him, but don't think of it as a 'rescue' situation.

Personally I would be tempted to leave my number with the shop and say that if they decide they want to 'retire' him I'd take him, but not for money.

It's a tough decision really and I don't envy you :)
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This is how I have woken up feeling about it. I am such a softie and I am fully aware that there are going to be guineas I come across like this my whole life. I definitely can't take them all!

Going to carry on thinking about it for the time being. I certainly don't want to end up in a situation that I either can't afford (husband made redundant a few months ago) or can't give them all individual attention that they deserve. I am still hoping to adopt the 2 foster pigs I have been minding and I thought I had enough pigs before i even started minding them.

Poor guy. Don't you wish that everyone had a happy and loving home?
 
Lisajazz said:
This is how I have woken up feeling about it. I am such a softie and I am fully aware that there are going to be guineas I come across like this my whole life. I definitely can't take them all!

Going to carry on thinking about it for the time being. I certainly don't want to end up in a situation that I either can't afford (husband made redundant a few months ago) or can't give them all individual attention that they deserve. I am still hoping to adopt the 2 foster pigs I have been minding and I thought I had enough pigs before i even started minding them.

Poor guy. Don't you wish that everyone had a happy and loving home?
Click to expand...

Hi Lisa,

I'm glad you took my post in the spirit in which it was intended. Yes I really do wish that they all had a loving forever home and walking away from animals in poor circumstances is one of the toughest things to do, (not saying this is the case with your boy), but I feel very strongly that paying money to get a single animal out of a bad situation is simply perpetuating the behaviour of the seller and ensuring others go through exactly the same thing :-(

Do let us know what you decide either way :)
 
I rang pampurred pets today (the branch where he is) to ask about adoption and what's the policy on it.

I got told in no uncertain terms that they NEVER drop the price or adopt out. They always sell them at full price.

Anyway I decided to email the company to give the case for adoption. Not of this boy. I probably wont go down that road for now as been thinking about vets bills, food bills and all the practical stuff today. But I want them to consider it as an option in the future. I have pointed out that even pets at home do adoption on older animals now and how it's not a bad business decision as in all the time I have been in there they have sold many pigs and this is the only one remaining unsold. I also pointed out the emotional welfare of the pig is in question here as he remains solitary and isn't handled either which again lowers his chances of a good home and of positive interation with other guinea pigs in the future.

I hope that it gets read and thought about - but who knows. I doubt it but I like to think it will make them think about their policy.

I asked for details on their policy and the rationale behind it. I'l let you know if they reply and what they say.
 
Quick update. I had a reply that said that they DO offer them free to regular customers /s staff after a certain amount of time.

I went into there today and lo and behold he's gone to a new home.

YAY - result for him anyway.

I was really quite stern in my mails to the lady about their welfare so was a bit worried going in there today but it was all okay.
 
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Aww that's good news for the piggie! At least you'll know for the future too, if you see the same animal there for a long time you could suggest that they lower the price or label as adoption to get more peoples interest.

:)p
 
That's really good news for him, thank you for letting us know, I was just wondering how he was the other day.

And well done you for pursuing this.
 
I was so pleased that he found a home. However when I went back in the other day he was there again! Poor lad.

So I uhmmed and ahhed and uhmmed and ahhed some more and today I have been and got him. They weren't budging on reducing / adopting and I just couldn't take it any longer and this morning he left the shop.

He's here and he's great. I have named him Mork and will be booking him in for the snip next week then he can meet the ladies after 6 weeks. I have decided he would be best suited to bessie and gypsy (if they will have him) and I am on the look out for a rabbit 150 and stand. if I have to sell loads of stuff on ebay and buy one new then so be it.


When I asked the lady she said he had been bought by a couple who had said they used to breed guinea pigs but wanted him to go in with a rabbit! Thy advised against it but still sold him to the couple. The following week they brought him back again and said they didn't want him - hence him being back in the shop alone.

He is currently settling in but ha already stolen my heart, he is so so relaxed. He hasn't been in his hidey even once yet and has just gone about the cage munching herbs and being very laid back. He's great.

Sorry about getting him from a shop but I was dreaming about him and couldn't stop worrying if he was lonely and how long was he going to be in the shop for this time. He's 21 weeks old and has lived there since he was 7 weeks. Poor lad needs a family after that long in a shop. They did seem very nice and sad to see him go but i'm just pleased he's not in that cage any more and will soon be living with some ladies.
 
PICTURES! =D

You did what you believed to be the right thing and there are many people myself included who would have done the same!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
yes PLEASEEE PICTURES! and it's great that he's so laid back. you don't see that around pet shop guinea pigs much...i think he's going to have a HUGEE personality..:(|)

PICTURES
 
If Mork (and he is such a stunning boy!) is the one for you, then he is the one for. Every piggy deserves a happy home, and there is no more deserving or less deserving!
 
I'm absolutely over the moon as I have put Mork's cage next to Bessie and Gypsy in their run inside and they have spent the afternoon next to each other. When Gypsy has ever been near to the other girls she's become very agressive and been mean to Bessie but this is a whole different ball game. They are all happy being next to each other standing up against the mesh.

I hope I can get Mork in next week at the vets and that the 6 weeks go really fast.

I need to get selling stuff on ebay to get this cage!
 
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