To Foster Or Not To Foster - That Is The Question!

[Kallasia]

Hi all!

So I've been toying with the idea of fostering guinea pigs for a while now, and I just wanted to get your opinions.

I've got my two boars at the minute, but when we move house I'll have room for more. My partner doesn't want to take on more "permanent" rescue pigs, but fostering could work.

I'm worried about getting too attached though... Like how do you cope with nursing them and then giving them away?

Also, what do you consider to be the biggest pros and cons of fostering?

 

[DM030819]

Someone I know swapped to fostering after losing her last piggies and it's probably something I'll do too.

She enjoys the flexibility of it, and finds it easier to deal with medical issues when you don't have the strong bond with them.

It can be hard when you start to think about what homes they have gone to afterwards but a good rescue will always make sure they go to a good home.

 

[Dindypig]

You could think about fostering on a rotation basis. Check with your rescue to see if they are willing to let you foster for two months then take them back to the rescue to swap them for some others for two months. This might allow you to foster without 'failing' and the rescue gets pigs that have been 'tested' in a secure. loving home. The pigs will hopefully benefit from the extra handling that rescue can't always provide.

 

[Julie M]

I am fostering 3 baby piggies at the moment 2 sows and a Boar. They are due to go back to the rescue as the sows are big enough to be re homed. And the Boar has a Boar date soon with a potential new friend.

I will be so sad to see them go and will most likely cry but I'm happy inside knowing I've helped them to grow and now they're going off to be loved by new families. I would definitely do it again.

 

[Reenie]

I fostered before I got my own piggies - actually that's the reason I got my own, I loved them so much, and wanted to find a pal for the rescue one I had - I soon found out why he was a single! I was only getting them used to being handled though, and never had to deal with any health issues. I did get attached, but once they went back to the sanctuary, and I got others, it was fine. The biggest advantage I found was that if you're going away you take them to the rescue rather than having to teach someone how to look after them. At the time I was quite often working away for a few nights at a time. I tended to make this changeover time - when I took back one lot when I went away, and got the next couple when I came home.

 

[Pawz]

I fostered but will stop once the last are homed. I don't get as attached to the fosters as I do my own pets because I constantly remind myself "they have a home(well, they will have eventually) and I am just looking after them until that home is ready." I treat the situation the same was as if I were looking after a friends pets.