What was your rescue experience?

[summerleaze]

The people I meet through piggy rescue often tell me how they acquired their previous rescue pigs and how that rescue handled the whole process. Many of them are very good and very positive.

I'm amazed at how different each rescue undertakes the whole adoption process though, even within large organisations such as the RSPCA.

Some people are happy with how it all went, other people feel let down. It's only natural that people have different standards/procedures but I would be interested to hear what forum users rescue experience was, whether you've adopted from a small independant or a large animal shelter.

I've asked today as I recently had a lady phone me to say how upset she was with her local "rescue". She simply wanted two sows to live in her sitting room with her. There was no home/follow up visit, no enquiries as to the size of her hutch/bedding or request for photos, there was no paperwork involved either, no receipt for the donation. Even worse it turns out that both the sows are pregnant and the "rescue" offered her no support or help either. So what should have been a happy adoption has turned into a bit of a nightmare for the lady - I've offered her ongoing advice and support but she lives several hundred miles away so am unable to help in any other way.

So I would love to know other people's rescue experience!

 

[katiep]

Ours has been very positive - Jeremy came to us from Guineas for Life, with a full history and paperwork. He is a very healthy and well-looked after boy, and has been with us for about 18months now. We are also adopting Humphrey from Hels who is kindly bringing him down to N.Wales all the way from Scotland!
I am always so impressed with how much rescues do for their little residents, getting them out of horrible environments, cleaning them up and treating them, and rehoming them.. it must be a full-time but very rewarding job!

 

[Sue G]

When I decided I'd like to adopt some guinea pigs (early last year) I didn't know a great deal about g.p. rescue (and how I wish I'd known about this Forum back then). I don't even remember the places I contacted, other than Wood Green Animal Shelters, but nobody was very helpful, and W.G. actually turned me down as a potential adopter because I wasn't going to provide a permanent outside 6 foot run for them. I ended up adopting from my vet nurse who has been a constant support, and my vets do tell me my piggies are fit, healthy and well looked after. I think I have more knowledge now anyway about where to look for rescue piggies, but back then my experience was disappointing.

 

[helenllama]

I got Blaze and Spice from Hels and I found it very possitive. I know I can ask for advice, and they get frequent updates on the boys.

 

[Lucinda]

My experience was great, Louise! You were very thorough and I was happy to provide the information you wanted.

By the way Nigel was naughty tonight and I had to grab his coat to hang onto him, just like you described......

 

[summerleaze]

By the way Nigel was naughty tonight and I had to grab his coat to hang onto him, just like you described......

Thank goodness I didn't cut his hair then, little monkey, he's just testing your reflexes !

 

[boureki]

All of ours have been happy experiences - our very first pigs were from GBH here in Beckenham, Kent - they were fantastic, took details, asked questions, but said after talking to us and meeting us that a homecheck wasn't necessary as we had apparently asked all the right questions and ticked all the right boxes. There was no adoption form or donation receipt though. We have had four pigs from GBH.

Dylan we had from RSPCA Medway, they did give a receipt and form, but again asked lots of questions but never did a homecheck.

Pepe was from Kate (Starshine) from TGPF - same again, forms and questions and pics of our arrangements.

Boomer from Sokel (Hels) kindly brought from Scotland to Kent through them and Louise, no forms, but details given etc, photos sent of setup etc.

Bear as you know was from you Louise at LBGPR Lots of pics exchanged plus Louise kind of knew us a bit from before TGPF, so I think she knew what we were about!

All very positive and happy experiences and we regret not one.

Edited as I pressed wrong button and posted mid sentance!

 

[starla]

I only have Woodstock from you Louise! and I think you gave great help/advice before the adoption, and I know I can always ask for advice whenever. You homechecked and did paperwork, and gave me leaflets with info etc

 

[Niki]

My experience was good & bad - i adopted Howie from a local rescue but wasn't told he was impacted. They did homecheck beforehand & i was given a receipt but the adoption papers weren't actual adoption papers i was his "guardian" it was very long-winded with para this subsection this. The care sheet i was given wasn't great, one of the things "to DO" was to give a mineral block (seemed like an old care sheet)
I received no follow up visit like i was told at the homecheck & as the adoption papers requested that i inform them when he passed away i did so.
The person i spoke to had a very blase attitude but did thank me for letting them know.

Toddie was from Kate, who had met me before & seen my set-up, i did get an adoption certificate from Kate

Maddie came with Albie (rip) & Lottie (rip) from a lady in Nottingham called Mandy, she had rescued Albie, Kate & Beks rescued Maddie, Lottie as part of a group of sows & these 2 were introduced to Albie.
I adopted all three of them, i sent pics of my set-up & i was known from here

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

I originally had 3 from the now-closed Sprowston Guinea pig rescue - saw them on the website, went to visit and then once I had the cages ready, Cheryl dropped the girls over to mine so she could see where they would be living, which I thought was a nice way of doing it.

Wood Green initially turned me down too - in the end I had to send photos of the hutch and run (with me standing next to them, to show scale!) as I was outside of their usual homecheck radius. All ok in the end though. But when I went to collect Harry they then said he had scarring in his eyes and a small lump on his tummy - which they then couldn't find when I asked them where it was so I could keep an eye on it. Quite good paperwork though, a pack of info about guinea care. I found it a bit odd that you have to have a permanent 6foot run and agree that the pigs will be out in it every day - as I have mostly long haired pigs, I don't put them out if it's damp or wet! And I told them so too.

Now I'm rehoming pigs myself, I tend to try and match people with the right pigs, let them come and meet them, and when the pigs are ready I drop them to the person's house so I can see where the pigs will be living and supervise any introductions to existing pigs - that way I'm happy that all should be ok! I keep in touch by phone / email afterwards, most people are really lovely and send pictures of the pigs in their new home and let me know how they're getting on.

I think there are sadly quite a lot of 'rescues' that aren't really rescues at all, I would certainly be wary of a 'rescue' that didn't want to know where the pig would be going, or have some sort of homecheck and adoption policy!

Sophie
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