Wiebke's Tribe Photo Gallery

[Wiebke]

This is a gallery of all the faces and stories of my current and past Tribe piggies. Wiebke's Tribe are specifically the guinea pigs I have had since I became a forum member in March 2009, which has roughly coincided with the start of my Tribe group adventure. I have had other piggies previously, both as a child and teenager and then again as an adult before I joined the forum.

My forum blog thread about my current piggies is in this thread here: Wiebke's Tribe - Sows and the City Boars

Since my Tribe founding patriarch was a guinea pig rescued in Wales called Llewelyn (who kept his Welsh name including proper pronunciation by request of my Welsh husband), I have continued with the Welsh name theme since; with only one exception.

The piggies appear in order of their adoption.

2007

Llewelyn (rescue dated)

Rescue dated neutered boar at a defunct rescue in the wider Birmingham area in October 2007.

Llewelyn 'Lugh & Belenus' (the Celtic gods of Fire and Light); the name of the Welsh Princes of Powys (Pronounced Tkhloo-EL-lyn, nickname Llewi). Ca. end of 2006 - January 2011
Rescued from a wildlife place in Mid Wales where he shared a pen with guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens; half an ear missing. But it was love on first sniff for him and my 3 years old twice bereaved Dizzy, who saw it as her life job to teach him piggy manners.
Llewelyn became the patriarch I built my Tribe group around when conditions finally allowed me to realise my decades old dream of having more than a pair.

This is how it started with old lady Dizzy, Llewelyn and sisters Nerys and Nia



2009

Nia and Nerys (sisters)

Adopted from the RSPCA Walsall/Birmingham in May 2009

Nia 'Bright' (pronounced Nea) July 2008 - May 2014
Despite being one of the smallest sows in the group, energetic and sometimes mischievous Nia became the first First Lady of the Tribe from 2009-12 before retiring to my then Elderlies group, which she led until her death.

Nerys 'Lady', July 2008 - August 2016
Nerys concentrated on eating and doing her own thing; she was my largest sow ever with a truly impressive battenburg cake bum. Because of a twisted congenital thighbone she was not able to run. She preferred submissive as her close friends; especially Hafina.
From summer 2013 until her death she lived in a bonded pair with Nesta, who she had a kind of auntie-niece family relationship although the two were not related.



Taffy and Telyn (mother & baby daughter)

Adopted in August 2009 from a defunct rescue in Scotland.

Taffy 'Beloved', ca. 2008 - November 2014
Pregnant Taffy was part of a large multi-rodent rescue action led by the RSPCA in Gateshead in June 2009. Taffy spent the first year of her life in a filthy breeding pen with 4 boars with likely 4 back-to-back pregnancies, one of them must have been very traumatic as she had a deformed pelvis.
She became the much-loved Deputy Leader and Interior minister of the early Tribe until severe congenital cataracts, the early death of her daughter and bonding issues with newly arrived cataract sow Tegyd encouraged me to form a special Cataract group in summer 2011 with gentle husboar Terfel, her new best friend Tegyd and later Mali.
Taffy went from bright ginger to dark dun and then a mid-brown throughout her life.


Telyn 'Harp' (Original Tribe name: Tegan). 28th June 2009 - July 2011
Telyn was the only girl in Taffy's last rescue born litter of four. As a youngster she had an exceptionally loud voice, a truly ear-splitting wheek and was unable to shut up unless fast asleep; that was how her nickname became her name. She was bidding fair to follow in her mother's footsteps when she sadly passed away from sudden acute heart failure just days after her second birthday, like so many of her very similar looking generation of babies due to a genetic fault caused by inbreeding.


Ceri and Cariad (closely related sows)

Adopted in November 2009 from a defunct rescue in Cumbria. Originated from a closing down breeder.

Cariad 'Darling' (pronounced Karr-yad. Previous name Peggy), ca. early 2009 - July 2014.
Cariad was a true darling, but she was not very bright and rather timid so she often ended up in the wrong place at meal times. It took her once a whole week to step on a new dark coloured fleece to leave the cage while the rest of the Tribe happily gamboled around her and even jumped over her to get out...
When the Tribe became too lively for her, she moved with some other older Tribe ladies into an oldies group in summer 2012.

Ceri 'Love' (pronounced similar to Kerry. Previous name Maggie), ca. early 2009 - January 2014. Previous name
Stunning Ceri was a last minute addition courtesy of the rescue lady to her reserved group mate Cariad. She was a friendly girl who got on with absolutely everybody, so she often did duty as 'paw-holding' illness companion. Ceri made it through a borderline massive bladder stone operation in November 2013.


The Tribe in 2009

Telyn Nerys Nia Ceri Cariad Taffy Llewelyn

Losses 2009
Dizzy (Llewelyn's pre-Tribe wife, 2004-9; adopted March 2007 as a fellow widow for my Minx)

 

[Wiebke]

2010

Fflur (older widow)

Adopted January 2010 from a forum member running an informal rescue in Suffolk

Fflur 'Flowers (pronounced Fleer; previous name Fflower), ca. 2006 - March 2010.
Bereaved 4 years old Fflur was offloaded right at the start of the year. She was a very sweet-natured lady who won both Llewelyn's and similarly marked Ceri's love. Sadly she never woke up from an emergency operation only 8 weeks after her arrival.


Ffion and Ffowlyn (mother & daughter)

Adopted from a defunct rescue in Cumbria in March 2010

Ffion 'Foxglove' (pronounced Feon), ca. 2009 - August 2010
I was offered Ffion as a replacement for Fflur by the same rescue that Cariad and Ceri came from.
Ffion was one of these piggies that haven't read the handbook for guinea pigs. I had to be very careful not to make any steps when preparing the piggy food because she was the only one to come into the kitchen and wait next to me.
Ffion sadly passed away very young from genetic sudden heart failure in August 2010.


Ffowlyn 'Chicken/Fowl', ca. 2009 - May 2013. Original Tribe name: Briallen
Ffowlyn was one of three very similar looking piggies that were surrendered with Ffion and were supposed to be her daughters. The other two sisters were rehomed together, so I was asked whether I wanted Ffowlyn to come with Ffion, too.
Ffowlyn's nickname stuck when some hairs on her back end grew out and formed a kind of chicken tail. She was a playmate for Tegan but had a bit of a talent of rubbing the other piggies the wrong way.



Hafina (mature sow)

Adopted from the predecessor rescue of The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in August 2010.

Hafina 'Summer' (pronounced Haveena), ? - December 2011. Rescue name Amber.
Hafina was found dumped in a cardboard box in full sun on a private person's doorstep with some more sows, one of them lactating. Hafina was no longer young and did have a bad eye injury, which either caused or was caused by blocked tear ducts, which meant she had gunky eyes for the rest of her life. Between her age and her unsightly eye problem, Hafina was unlikely to find a home, so I offered her one.
She was the gentlest and squishiest sow and was told to feel honoured to be Nerys' (much loved) special friend after she allowed Nerys to squeeze her against a wall without complaining. The Tribe took it upon themselves to keep her eyes licked clean. Unfortunately, Hafina developed an infection inside the eyeball, which caused a glaucoma. Her heart gave sadly out during the eye removal operation in December 2011 after medical treatment had failed.



Caron (part of large rescue intake)

Adopted sow from Honeybunnies Rabbit and Guinea Pig Rescue, Leicester in November 2010.

Caron 'Loving', ca. early 2010 - January 2015. Rescue name Carron (after a Scottish river)
Caron was part of a massive multi-rescue hoarding situation (neglect backyard breeding gone out of control) from Lymington on the South Coast. She was the embodiment of my ideal dream piggy as a teenager. It was rather naughty but she was my birthday present to myself.
Unfortunately because of her background, Caron was a rather complex personality. When Ffwlbri dethroned Nia in late 2012, Caron launched a failed takeover bid herself and ended up being systematically bullied by the Tribe. Since she had already started a feud when initially meeting Tegyd and proved to be too disruptive and aggressive for my old ladies' group, so I had to make the heart-breaking decision let her go live with a sister/close relative of hers in August 2013 where she spent a happy time and eventually even found the love of her life in a bereaved and then neutered older neighboar called ZumZum.



The Tribe in 2010
(It's the only picture I have of Ffion and Havina together)

Nerys Nia Llewelyn Taffy Telyn
Cariad Ceri Hafina Ffion Ffowlyn

Losses in 2010
Fflur (March), Ffion (August)

 

[Wiebke]

2011

Tanni (could not be handled)

Sow rehomed locally at the start of 2011

Tanni 'Fire', ca. June 2010 - January 2017, previous name Pudding.
Tanni has got her name not just from her stunning looks but because she could not be handled at first; she was so skittish and frightened. It was her luck because she got dumped into a local 'rescue' by a hobby breeder of the worst kind after just a week on Christmas Eve. I adopted her at the start of the year, as soon as the house was clear of guests.
With patience, relaxed company and good care, Tanni settled down well with the Tribe and accepted handling, even though she never turned into a cuddly piggy. When the Tribe split, she chose to to stay with the long-haired peru half and then with Ffwlbri as the last piggy she accepted.
Tanni as a youngster



Hywel (unbondable boar)

Rehomed locally in February 2011

Hywel 'Eminent' after the greatest of the Welsh kings, Hywel Dda. Previous name Randie.
Ca. September 2010 - September 2016. (pronounced Howell).

I adopted charismatic, dominant Hywel as a successor of Llewelyn for his leadership qualities. He had bveeen surrendered to rescue in order to find company as he was in the habit of bullying every boar he was bonded with. However, it nearly didn't happen when he had very narrow escape from some more unusual post-neutering op complications.
Hywel led the Tribe in its heyday and after the split at the start of 2014 stayed on with his main peru ladies.
Due to ongoing issues in the wake of a recurring root abscess, he ended his life as a TEAS pensioner; sadly for just a few weeks as he found new love with his two new resident ladies.

Tegyd (unbondable widow)

Adopted from Crawley Guinea Pig Rescue, West Sussex (now South Downs Guinea Pig Rescue) in June 2011

Tegyd 'Beautiful like a Doe', ca. 2009 - August 2014; previous name: Mrs Taggy
While in rescue, Tegyd sadly lost the mate she had been handed into rescue and developed cataracts. She was also rather fear-aggressive and failed to integrate into the residential rescue sow herd. Tegyd struggled to cope with the Tribe but she adored blind fellow cataract sow Taffy who had welcomed her with a lick of Tegyd's cataract eye. Since Taffy had just lost her own daughter and increasingly struggled to maintain her position in the Tribe, I paired up the two sows. Tegyd remained Taffy's best friend all her life.


Terfel (rescue dated)

Neutered boar from a defunct rescue in Rugby in July 2011

Terfel 'Oak Prince' for his ginger crown; ca. 2010 - May 2015. Rescue name: Chapati
Gentle, timid and badly bullied Terfel who came out of a shed full of neglected boars found his voice when meeting Taffy and Tegyd at the rescue and instantly melted Tegyd's heart. In view of his rambunctious and strong-minded cataract wives,Terfel grew into a master diplomat who asserted his authority seemingly unnoticed. He became my main piggy whispering teacher.
Terfel remained devoted to his cataract wives (who were joined by Mali in 2012) and followed the last of them very soon after.



Ffwlbri, Tesni & Tegan Syndod (sisters and a Tribe born daughter)

Adopted from a defunct rescue in Mid Wales in October 2011

Ffwlbri 'Moonlight' (pronounced Fullbree), March 2011 - August 2019
Rescue name: Dolly Mixture
Sisters Ffwlbri and Tesni were surrendered to the rescue as totally matted no longer wanted pets in a tiny rat cage. Sadly there was no interest at all in them as a closely bonded pair.
When I bonded Ffwlbri into the Tribe, I knew instantly that I was looking at the next Top Lady. Ffwlbri bided her time for a good year until Nia's health issues meant that she was no longer strong enough. The tightly knitted 'Peru Mafia' family were a rather rough lot, and the Tribe lurched from one crisis to the next for a good year; never quite settling down. In the end I split the Tribe into half with Hywel staying with all the long-haired sows. After Tanni's death, Ffwlbri rejoined her sister Tesni and young Gethin.

Tesni 'Sun-warmed' (pronounced Tessnee), March 2011 - April 2-18
Rescue name: Cinder Toffee
Tesni stunned me by producing a surprise baby after 10 days of her arriving here without having shown signs of a pregnancy. In her own way, she was no less ambitious than her dominant sister; but Tesni (who loved her boars) aimed for the position of First Concubine. Hywel didn't get a say in who his favourite wives were, and Tesni was not exactly polite in relegating gentle Ffraid to the position of Second Concubine.
However, when her daughter Tegan dumped her freshly rescue dated boy within 2 hours back at home in 2016, 5 years old Tesni took one look at Gethin and fell hard for her 5 months toy boy. After all her shenanigans, she spared poor old Hywel not a glance from then on in and spent another two very happy years with the love of her life.

Tegan Syndod 'Little Beautiful Surprise', born 26/10/2011 - August 2019 (named in memory of Telyn)
My little surprise baby was a godsent but has led me a very merry dance in her long life! In looks and outlook she favoured more her auntie Ffwlbri than her mother Tesni and turned into quite a sneaky rebel and troublemaker. Nobody wanted Tegan back on their doorstep when the long-haired Tribe half fell apart after Ffwlbri stepped down as a leader. After Hywel's passing, Tegan spent nearly a year as a sullen single but made friends with very old little peru diva Calli through the bars and eventually moved in with her. They became best of friends until Calli died aged 9. Tegan had by then learned her lesson and joined her equally newly bereaved old Tribe mate Hafren and then for the last months of her life the old Tribe ladies group with Hedydd and Heulwen.
Tegan beat her auntie Ffwlbri by only two weeks, but to date she is still he piggy that has been longest with me.



Hedydd (baby sow)

Adopted from Glynneath Guinea Pig Rescue, South Wales in December 2011

Hedydd 'Skylark' (pronounced Heddith), born ca. September 2011 - October 2019
I adopted Hedydd as a playmate to grow up with for Tegan; she was about a month older. They weren't quite best of friends but enjoyed a healthy rivalry.
Compared to Tegan, Hedydd had ultimately the more successful piggy career as she became in due time the leader of the ginger sub-group of the Tribe and then the First Lady of the Ginger short-hair half of the divided Tribe. Hedydd was a steady, unfussy leader who kept her group stably together for 5 years; first with her new husboar Maelog and then with Pioden until she was the last of his wives to pass away shortly after her 8th birthday.


The Tribe in 2011 (at the start of Hywel's reign)

Cariad Ceri Caron Tanni Ffowlyn
Nerys Nia Hywel Hafina Taffy Telyn

Losses in 2011
Llewelyn (January); Telyn (July); Hafina (December)

 

[Wiebke]

2012

Heulwen (sister of Hedydd)

Adopted from Glynneath Guinea Pig Rescue in South Wales in January 2012

Heulwen 'Sunshine' (pronounced Hyle-wen); ca. July 2011 - July 2019.
Heulwen was the oldest surviving daughter from a backyard 'cat's takeaway' hoarding situation. Her sister Hedydd was the only survivor of the following litter; she was still a nursing baby when rescued. Their mother then went on to give birth to another 6 girls in rescue. I fell in love with Heulwen when I travelled to Glynneath to pick up reserved Hedydd (who was closest in age to Tegan), but had to wait until Heulwen had finished her mandatory 10 weeks pregnancy watch at the rescue and could travel north with a bunch of other rescue-bound piggies.
Since Heulwen was extremely timid at first due to her fully witnessing the horrors of the place she was rescued from, she initially spent time with friendly Ceri and moved with her to the quieter Cataract group to get her bearings before being eventually introduced to the full-on Tribe.
Heulwen and Hedydd nevertheless always shared a family bond right to the end of their long lives with younger Hedydd emerging as the stronger of the two and Heulwen falling in line behind her.



Ffraid and Bethan (sow group mates)

From a private emergency intake from a domestic situation in the Channel Islands in April 2012

Ffraid (pronounced Fryde; original name Freya), ca. 2007 - June 2015
Ffraid had been already pregnant once before she found a new caring owner. Unfortunately, the mostly older piggies had to be found new homes in a hurry after the relationship broke down under traumatic circumstances.
Gentle and friendly 4 years old Ffraid was looking very similar to Hedydd; they could have been twins. She very much attached herself to her white nosed ginger 'family' and tried to establish herself as Hywel's favourite concubine in the face of Tesni's opposition.
In 2013, she became a member of the of the old Tribe ladies pensioner group first under Bryn but as the last survivor she moved back to her friendly ginger family together his successor Maelog when I split the Tribe in early 2014. Her last weeks in old age were spent with kind-hearted Carwyn for company when the group became a bit too much for her bloating issues.

Bethan (original name Betty), ca. 2009/10 - January 2014
Bethan had been a single child's pet and was the youngest group member. She was very people orientated and loved to clamber on my lap, especially for a treat or a for a cuddle. A very cheerful and delightful Tribe member!
Her body sadly closed down despite her experienced vet not having found anything amiss.


Bryn Oscar (older widower)

Adopted from Barnsley Animal Rescue Charity (BARC) in September 2012

Bryn Oscar the Name Deaf (formerly Oscar); ca. 2007 - October 2013

5 years old Bryn turned out to be anything but a sad widower with no interest. With his one eye having a black eye liner, he was the perfect swash-buckling pirate, cutting a swathe through his old Tribe ladies and taking every opportunity he could wiggling through the grids and exchanging piratical insults and curses with the other boars.
While his rumble-strutting became increasingly arthritic, he packed as much fun and games into the clearly happiest year of his life. When he passed away, it felt like he had spent a life time with us.
I can't but smile whenever I remember Bryn!


Mali (older widow)

Adopted from Milhaven Guinea Pig Rescue, West Yorkshire in November 2015

Mali 'Molly' (formerly Nala), ca. 2008 - May 2015
4 years old Mali arrived here as an emergency adoption in order to make urgently needed space for a large multi-rescue operation. She'd been surrendered with her blind companion when her loving owners needed to move into sheltered accommodation and were not allowed to keep pets. Sadly, Mali's companion passed away and she herself developed cataracts. It took all of Terfel's skill and patience but as soon as Mali realised that the other sows had the same issues as her, she wanted to be in! In time, she became Tegyd's devoted sidekick. In her last months, Iola joined her and Terfel.
With her upbeat youthful mentality, Mali lived to an old age and even divised a new waddle scent spoor loop two days before she unexpectedly died from heart failure.



Hafren and Nesta (bonded sow pair)

Adopted from a defunct rescue in Rugby sight unseen in December 2012. Both sows had been spayed.

Lots of boxes with mostly pregnant sows had been dumped on the rescue's drive very early on a Sunday morning and space was urgently needed to accommodate all the ensuing babies.

Hafren 'Sabrina/Severn' (rescue name Fir), ca. July 2011 - January 2019
Hafren and Nesta had been surrendered by an angry dad much to the upset of one of his children over the lack of cleaning care. I'd offered two places with the Tribe for whatever sows the rescue lady would want me to take.
Hafren fitted in well straight away with the ginger group of the Tribe. Repeated attempts to take over the leadership from daintier Hedydd were seen off but did cause unrest. So after Terfel's death in 2015, Hafren was introduced to Big Iola and bonded with her over a shared outlook on life; they became real besties. When both Hafren and Tegan lost their companions within two weeks of each other in July 2018, they moved together until Hafren's death in January 2019.

Nesta 'Agnes' (rescue name Pine) ca. July 2011 - May 2017
Socially somewhat awkward Nesta managed to fit into the Tribe but the only piggy she never got into trouble with was similar looking Nerys, who Nesta seemed to perceive as family of hers. So it was a natural choice to bond her and Nerys as a pair when both sows got involved in the upheaval that followed Ffwlbri's takeover of the leadership.
After Nerys' death in 2016, Nesta refused to re-bond although she was happy enough with having fellow teddy boars Nosgan and Nye as neighbours. She was never quite right in the wake of an abscessed incisor removal operation and died in her sleep a few weeks later.

(Nerys and Nesta)


The Tribe in 2012

Hywel Hafren Tegan Ceri Caron Ffwlbri Tesni Tanni Heulwen Hedydd Hafren Bethan Nesta and Nerys

Losses in 2012
none for 15 months

 

[Wiebke]

2013

Pili Pala & Papi (closely related sows)

Bonded sows adopted from Milhaven Guinea Pig Rescue in West Yorkshire.

Pili Pala 'Butterfly' for her eye patch (nickname: Pili; rescue name: Poppet), December 2012 - October 2018
I fell in love with Pili Pala's sad eyes, which reminded me of when met my all time most special piggy Minx. It was a very long wait from early May until August bank holiday with my reservation withdrawn twice since Pili kept persistently biting open her bad mange mites patch she was rescued with as a baby from conditions 'every bit as bad as they can get'. Thankfully, her patch healed up for good as soon as she met the Tribe although it would stay bald.
Pili Pala grew into a friendly, gentle sow who appreciated the love of her companions and the medical and feeding support she need for the last year of her life. When the Tribe split in 2014, she went with the ginger half.

Papi 'Poppy' (for her oriental poppy colouring; rescue name: Roxana), March 2013 - March 2017
Rescue born Papi came from the same rescue intake. She would always stay on the small and very much on the skittish side. Papi was especially happy in the stable conditions the group led by Maelog and Hedydd. Sadly, she had to be pts when she developed a swelling at the back of mouth which was not visible from the outside and which blocked the esophagus just three days after Maelog's passing.


Maelog and Rhosyn (bonded husboar and wife)


First fostered for TEAS sanctuary in Northampton from February-July 2013 and then adopted in September 2013

Maelog 'Battle Prince' (pronounced Mylog; previously Mallow), 2010 - February 2017
Maelog was surrendered to TEAS because of permanent dental damage to his (fallen out) companion, like by Maelog, who had a tendency to over-react when he felt threatened. Maelog was neutered and paired up at TEAS with a sow whose face looked deformed on free-ads pictures. Thankfully, there was nothing wrong with Rosa; she just a naturally ratty looking face.
Because neither had any medical needs, I fostered them for TEAS until the summer holidays after which they returned here. The sanctuary had to make the decision to put them up for adoption, so for the first (and only time), my husband told me to adopt them and keep them permanently.
Maelog took Bryn's place in the Old Ladies' group and then became the husboar to the ginger half of the Tribe in late January 2014 (shortly after Rhosyn's death) for the next three years. He was very happy to be in charge and letting Hedydd the sows run the group...

Rhosyn 'Rose' (previously Rosa), 2011 - January 2014
Rhosyn didn't have the best of starts to her life, living with rabbits and looking like she had something wrong with her face when she was advertised on free-ads. TEAS was alerted and took her in. Thankfully, she didn't have anything wrong apart from an unusually narrow face. Rhosyn was a demure and shy little sow who let loved-up Maelog think he was in charge while it was actually her who surreptively pulled the strings.
Rhosyn sadly didn't make it through a high risk emergency operation.


The Tribe at its largest in 2013


Losses in 2013
Ffowlyn (May); Bryn (September)

 

[Wiebke]

2014

Bedo (rescue dated)

Neutered boar, rescue dated at The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue, Kidsgrove/Stoke-on-Trent in February 2014.

Bedo 'Little Splendid Lord' (endearment of Meredith, pronounced Beddoh; rescue name Foxy), 2013 - July 2018.
Bedo was found in a cardboard box with his fallen-out mate on a freezing October morning on Cannock Chase park land and was neutered at the rescue. I travelled up with several of my newly split-off ginger Tribe sows in order to find them a husboar of their own liking. It was a somewhat surreal experience because the lady who turned with (bereaved dating candidate #2) found that she couldn't let him go when the chips were down and went happily back home with her boy and Bedo's rescue wife, who had not gelled with the Tribe wives while Bedo came home with my own girls...
Anyway, shortly afterwards Bedo met his lookalike lady Jessica and Krystal (TEAS fosters), who failed to bond with the Ginger group. When given the choice, Bedo preferred to stay with the new ladies. He went on to become a wonderful nanny to the TEAS triplets and a very dedicated, loving and much loved family man.

The Ginger Ladies went on to be perfectly happy with Maelog, who had just lost his beloved Rhosyn.


Morwenna, Myfina & Mererid (The Triplets baby sisters)

Adopted from TEAS sanctuary Northampton in May 2014

The Triplets arrived with quite a bang; life was never the same afterwards! Mererid and Morwenna are still with me as I am wiring this, coming up to 8 years.

Myfina 'My Little Lovely One' (pronounced somewhat like Me-VEE-nah. Nickname: Myfi. Baby name: Flora).
24th February 2014 - 26th December 2017
Myfina was the largest and quietest of the babies and their leader. She combined markers of three different breeds, which is very rare and the result of long term inbreeding. Myfi sadly developed a blockage over Christmas and passed away just as we were off on Boxing Day morning to face a several hours' wait the Out-of-hours services for her euthanasia. Not my best Christmas!

Morwenna 'White Seas' (Nickname: Menna. Baby name: Fauna). 24th February 2014 - 19th June 2022
Morwenna was the smallest of the sisters and at just 40g of birth weight needed additional feeding support to make through the first dodgy days of her life. I named her for her white teddy fuzz. She was the most skittish of the three but very competitive and very good at getting into all sorts of scrapes and schreaming for her daddy boar to come for help! Teenage was rather tough but the three sisters made it through without a separation (only just). Things have thankfully calmed down a lot afterwards. Morwenna was the first Tribe piggy to celebrate her 8th adoption anniversary on 1st May 2022.

Mererid 'Pearl/Margaret' (pronounced like Merrerrid. Nickname: Merry. Baby name: Merryweather). 24th February 2014 - 15th February 2022
Mererid was the most mischievous of the sisters and the least skittish ones. She and Morwenna were forever either bickering or getting into scrapes. As they grew older they have become very closely bonded. Mererid is very much my Black Pearl. She has sadly passed away just 9 days before her 8th birthday when old age finally caught up with her.


Angharad (orphaned baby sow)

Adopted from The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in Kidsgrove/Stoke-on-Trent in August 2014

Angharad 'Much Loved' (ponounced An-Carrad. Nickname Ankie. Rescue name: Baby Roo) 2014 - April 2017
Angharad arrived in rescue as an orphaned baby left with a rabbit for company. She came here to find a ready-made family to give her love and security. Angharad was a very quiet, unassuming piggy; very much the counterbalance to the lively Triplets. A few months in, she grew a curly mop on her back, which gave her a unique look. She sadly passed away very young when she suddenly lost the ability to swallow. She was much missed by her new piggy family.


Bedo's Family in its hey-day



The split Tribe in 2014

Hywel with the long-haired half of the Tribe


Maelog with the ginger half of the Tribe

Pili Pala - Hafren
Papi Heulwen Maelog Ffraid Cariad Hedydd

Losses in 2014
Rhosyn & Bethan (January); Ceri (February); Nia (May); Cariad (July); Tegyd (August); Taffy (November)

 

[Wiebke]

2015

Iola (widow)

Rehomed privately via TEAS referral in January 2015 after Iola failed to find a rescue place despite a long wait.

Iola 'Jenny' (pronounced Yola. Nickname: Big Iola. Previously Lola), 2011 - July 2018
Iola was my largest sow and didn't fit in with groups but Terfel did work his magic she 3 years old Iola did join him and his remaining oldest cataract wife, Mali. Sadly, Iola's presence was not enough to prevent Terfel from joining his cataract ladies just 3 weeks after Mali.

Iola did find a new friend in Hafren; the two bonded over sharing the same outlook on life became known as my Two Fat Ladies (after an old UK cooking series); they were quite a pair! Even though leadership switched several times between them, they remained best of friends until Iola's death in 2018. Iola made it through a spaying operation for very large ovarian cysts in 2017.


Carwyn (returned failed bonder)

Neutered boar adopted from North East Guinea Pig Rescue (Tyneside) in May 2015

Carwyn 'Blessed Love' (rescue name: Frank), ca. early 2012 - October 2018
Carwyn spent the first three years of his life in a tiny foot/30 cm square bare breeder box; he could express any joy and excitement only by climbing on the back of his companion. His father and older brother sadly died sooner after their rescue, and his litter brother who he had fallen out with and ended up with a disfigured lip from also didn't live for very long. Carwyn made up for all three by packing the second half of his life with joy. He was a vocal, happy boar who threw himself into the good things in life. I am so glad for him that his good time was just that bit longer than his bad time.
He came here to be an end of life companion for old Ffraid, and he was a very kind partner of her. His happiest time came when I adopted a rescue-chosen young sow pair for him, Briallen and baby Heini 'Lively'. It was love at first sniff for big Carwyn and tiny Heini.

She taught him to play popcorns, how to run more than a foot at a time (although Carwyn never turned into a big runner) and she kept him neatly barbered, so I only ever had to some minor tidying up. Carwyn was later joined by sisters Hapus and Llawen but Heini and their shared love was the big and enduring theme of his later life.

Helygen (widow)

Private intake after her owner was forbidden by the landlord to get a new companion for her in June 2015.

Helygen 'Willow' (pronounced Helliggen; previously Lady Gigglepig), January 2015 - May 2019
Ca. 6 months old bereaved Helygen found a happy home with Maelog and the Gingers group. She was small for her age and never grew large but she adored Maelog's successor Pioden and became his faithful half-sized shadow.

She sadly passed away very unexpectedly and suddenly in the between the last carer visit and our arrival at home from our first little holiday in two years.


Briallen and Heini (bonded sow pair)

Adopted from The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in July 2015 after Ffraid's death

Briallen 'Primrose' (pronounced Bree-Akhlen, nickname Brea; rescue name Bella); early 2015 - January 2020
Traumatised ex-toddler's pet with a massive thing about hands and being handled. Briallen was a gentle but timid girl, who took a little time to accept Carwyn, and very much the outsider in the trio. It took patience, persistence and plenty of piggy whispering to very slowly bring her round. She learned to trust me implicitly, but preferably hands-off.
Her time came when Barri squeezed through the divider in the run on the lawn and introduced himself while I answered the door. I've never seen a muckier sow but since Briallen had started to take control of the situation by the time I caught up with the two, I left them to it. They became very attached to each other and stayed together for her the rest of her life although they were at times joined by one or the other of my socially challenging sister pairs.


Heini 'Lively' (pronounced Haynee; rescue name Ellie), June 2015 - January 2019
Baby Heini lived up to her name; she was a happy, friendly and lively piggy and grew into a competent Top Sow of her group, but whose heart very much was with her big love Carwyn. Heini passed away just three months after Carwyn from a burst ovarian cyst, aged only 3 years.


Carwyn's new group in 2015


Losses in 2015
Mali & Terfel (May), Ffraid (June)

 

[Wiebke]

2016

Nimue (special needs sow)

Private intake February 2016

Nimue (pronounced Nimway; from the Arthurian legend in the Mabinogion. Formerly Peach), 2015 - March 2016
Tiny Nimue was brought back from a shop by a friend of mine because there was clearly something majorly wrong with her. In January 2016 she suffered a devastating stroke but did miraculously pull through. Since my friend was working long shifts as a nurse, she was unable to give Nimue the regular support care she needed.

Nimue was a delight. Big Iola took her little frail fuzzy new companion very much under her wing and took it very hard when Nimue started suffering a round of mini-strokes, which meant that she was to frail for even conscious dental work she needed because she could chew only on one side. She only had a month with the Tribe but it was filled with piggy and human love and Nimue expressing her joy in some rather wobbly zoomies and little popcorns.


Gethin (rescue dated)

Neutered boar dated at the RSPCA Walsall (Birmingham) in March 2016

Gethin 'Dusky' (rescue name Murray), ca. October 2015 - October 2021
Gethin was rescued from a house overrun by multiplying piggies. I dated him with Tegan after the the Peru group fell apart when Ffwlbri stepped down as the leader. Gethin was his fosterer's choice; he was a very gentle, loving boar. Sadly, Tegan dumped him within 2 hours of arriving home but her then 5 years old mother Tesni fell hard for her new 5 months old 'toy boy' and their love endured until Tesni's death two years later at the age of 7 years. Her sister Ffwlbri had joined them in 2017 after Tanni's death.

In view of the age difference, I adopted peru baby Carys as Gethin's future wife to bolster the foreseeable loss of Ffwlbri (who actually lively for nearly another year) in October 2018. Equally gentle Carys became Gethin's second great love. They enjoyed a very close bond for the remaining three years of his life.
They were joined in May 2020 by Tegeirian to help bridge the age gap for Carys.


Hapus and Llawen (sisters)

Adopted from now closed Little Pip's Rehoming in Devon in September 2016

Hapus 'Happy' (pronounced Hah-pis; rescue name Nya), ca. late March 2016 - 08/03/2023
Hapus and Llawen were rescued as babies from a very bad major multi-rescue situation; their survival trauma at the start of their life has sadly shaped their life. Having to compete for scant resources, the sisters have never been best of friends. Hapus was the stronger of the two although she has remained rather skittish. Because of their social issues, finding them a stable situation has not always been easy but they did fit in with Carwyn and Heini until Hapus and Heini clashed over both suffering from ovarian cyst related problems at the same time in 2018, so Hapus and Llawen went to live with Briallen and her Barri instead. After the sisterly feud broke out worse than ever, Hapus stayed on with Barri but in 2019 took to a young Heini-lookalike sow called Heilin. The two have become best of friends and like to play with each other occasionally even as adults and have spend the best part of 4 years together.
In Autumn 2022 Hapus re-bonded with her widowed sister Llawen and was soone after joined by Nye's widow Hyfryd. After both companions had passed away by January 2023, Hapus as the remaining old and by then very frail lady was reunited with Hapus again for a few more weeks. Hapus died about a couple of weeks before her 7th birthday.

Llawen 'Merry' (pronounced: Tkhlow-en. Rescue name: Agnes), ca. late March 2016 - 11/01/2023
Llawen is the worse affected sister with some more serious social issues. Llawen went with her sister to live with their ex-companion Briallen and her new husboar Barri but since the full outbreak of her feud coincided with Carwyn's death in October 2018, Llawen moved back in with Heini until Heini's death three months later. Unfortunately, Llawen was not welcome back with her sister Hapus, didn't bond with any other piggy but couldn't cope on her own, this gave me some serious headaches.
In May 2019 I adopted a little Heini lookalike baby girl for her in the hopes that little Heilin would be accepted for her 'family' looks; but sadly not. In my desperation, I introduced Heilin successfully to Hapus and then re-bonded Llawen back with a less than thrilled Briallen and Barri, who accepted her on sufferance but they settled down well without any further upsets.
Llawen was left on her own for a few weeks after first Briallen passed away in January 2020 and then Barri in April 2022, enjoying a short-livedfeud through the bars with equally widowed single Morwenna in her own last weeks but eventually she and Hapus decided to bury their hatchets and move in with each other in their old age, temporarily joined by similarly aged newly widowed Hyfryd.
Llawen living to within spitting distance of 7 years is something I never expected, given the hellhole she was born into. Providing stable company after she refused to accept any piggies she was not introduced to while young and in view of her social issues has been a challenge, especially when her companions of old started passing away; but I think I have managed to do my best for her and keep her in as stable a social environment as possible for her whole life-time.

Nosgan (widower)

Neutered boar; private intake in October 2016 (with permission from the RSPCA Walsall where he was originally adopted from)

Nosgan 'Nightsong' (previous name Victor, after grumpy old man Victor Meldrew from the UK sitcom One Foot in the Grave). 2014 - April 2019
Neutered boar Nosgan was the closest I could find as a prospective companion for newly bereaved Nesta, whose bond with Nerys seemed to indicate that family looks would work best for her after a Tribe-internal solution could not be found. Nosgan was originally an emergency adoption with little known about his background. Unfortunately, after the death of his boar companion, newly neutered Nosgan failed to find favour with either sow group of his previous owner. He also failed with Nesta, who did like him - as long as he stayed safely on the other side of the divider and did not invade her space. Nosgan was extremely skittish; he got his Welsh name because you never saw him but only heard him.

So I picked up a newly arrived little teddy boar for him. Unfortunately, introductions had to wait since Nosgan had bashed in his eye badly on a C&C grid in a blind panic and it was touch and go for a while whether we would be able to save it - thankfully we did and he even regained a bit of sight. He and easy-going young Nye were very much a yin-yang pair, not just in looks but also in personality. They shared a happy boar bond for the rest of Nosgan's life since the ladies were clearly not his thing!
Nosgan sadly developed a hernia as a late post-neutering complication. Since an operation would have been difficult and could have easily just shifted the strain onto the other side, the vet recommended to leave it be. He had another happy two years with Nye before a piece of gut got trapped in the small hole.

Nye (unplanned extra surrender)

Adopted from The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue Stoke-on-Trent in November 2016

Nye 'Noble' (previous name Panda), ca. July 2016 - Sept 2022
Nye had been an impulse surrender in addition to two free-ads piggies; according to his owner, he was one year old but his tescticles were only just starting to descend. He and Nosgan bonded straight away once Nosgan was well enough and Nye was neutered at the start of the next year. While the boys needed a couple of short separations due to teenage hormone spikes triggered by a strong season in the room and Nosgan not being able to cope well with a randy teenager, their bond survived these little hiccups just fine, even when after spayed Nesta's death mother and daughter pair Hyfryd and Hirael moved into Nesta's adjoining cage on the table. Nosgan was not fussed but Nye loved to flirt through the bars with the girls.

When Nosgan died, I intruced him to Hyfryd and Hirael. Nye made a beeline for Hyfryd and gave her big smack on the eye, and the case was settled. Big Hyfryd and small Nye made a rather incongruous pair but he is the only Tribe boar Hyfryd has ever accepted and fallen in love with. Nye took his new duties as a husboar very diligently but their love has endured.


Carwyn's group in 2016

Carwyn in the middle with Heini, Llawen, Hapus and Briallen

Losses in 2016
Nimue (March), Nerys (August) Hywel (September)

 

[Wiebke]

2017

Calli (old widow)

Rehomed privately from a local friend in January 2017.

Calli (anagram of 'lilac'. Kept her name). May 2009 - June 2018
Calli is the only Tribe member who has kept her non-Welsh name; but then I have known her as 'Calli' when she and her two companions came here during a friend's house refurbishment originally for 4-5 weeks which turned into 6 months of a rebuilding nightmare in 2015. Because I had grown quite fond of them, I did offer my friend that the last standing group member would be welcome to join the Tribe if they found it hard being on their own.
Calli arrived here aged 7 years; the oldest piggy I have ever rehomed, but she lived to celebrate her 9th birthday - something she would not have had without regaining her zest of life from being around other piggies. She wouldn't bond with any of my piggies initially (at some point I had four bereaved single sows) but over time, she and Tegan, my two peru divas were building up a friendship through the bars and were able to live together. When Calli passed away very quickly and suddenly, Tegan was very upset.


Pioden (widower)

Adopted for dating from The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in Stoke-on-Trent in March 2017

Pioden 'Magpie' (pronounced Pyodden. Rescue name Pepe). Ca. 2013 - November 2021
Pioden was a new intake at the rescue when old Maelog needed euthanasing. Because of the rescue's time pressures, I didn't have much time for a slow intro and needed to get started straight away. Huge Pioden was ecstatic but half of the Ginger group did a runner, seeing him bearing down. Anyway, dainty Hedydd (the Top Lady) and Heulwen did welcome him and then immediately progressed to bringing him under their control. The rest of group joined some days later once they had convinced themselves that Pioden was harmless enough after his initial overexcitement.
Pioden was surprisingly timid and gentle once you got past his size and his gagging testosterone 'exhaust'. Nothing is known about his pre-rescue life but as a 3 years old neutered boar, he must have most likely have already been through a failed boar bond and at least one 'marriage'. He adored his ladies, especially little Helygen, but outlived all of Maelog's four widows over the course of just one year from autum 2018 to autumn 2019.
Once Pioden was down to just 8 years old and very frail Hedydd, I adopted a baby girl from The Potteries GPR to ensure he would not be left on his own. Little Dryw spent the last 2 years of his long life with him as her beloved daddy boar. Just at the end, when old age started to really catch up with Pioden, I adopted to two baby girls to bolster Dryw's impending loss. I would have normally done this a year earlier had it not been for the pandemic.


Hyfryd and Hirael (mother & daughter)

Adopted from Milhaven Guinea Pig Rescue in West Yorkshire as stuck in rescue in March 2017

Hyfryd 'Lovely' (pronounced Hevrid. Nickname: Hyfi. Rescue name: Tessa), end of 2015? - 20/12/2022
Hyfryd was fully grown when she was found dumped pregnant in a tree trunk in a park in Leeds together with another pregnant sow and a boar. Hyfryd was rather traumatised (her first home must have been rather rough), didn't want to live with any other piggies or boars apart from her rescue-born daughter. It would take cheerful litte Nye to eventually melt her heart, but they have been very happy together since May 2019 and Hyfryd has come on a lot since her early days.

Hirael 'Long Brow' for her distinctive stripe (pronounced Heeryle. Nickname: Heeree. Rescue name: Lila). 1st December 2016 - August 2021
Hirael has always remained a very shy and skittish sow hiding behind her large mother. She felt somewhat pushed to the side by the developing friendship between Hyfryd and Nye.
When dating husboar Macsen got stuck here during the first pandemic lockdown in March 2020 but failed his date and missed my back-up adoption option Tegeirian by just three days, it was gentle Hirael who took him on. She enjoyed having a boar who loved her unreservedly just for herself.
Hirael's long term walking problems sadly worsened over the course of spring and summer 2021 until she lost control of her movement completely and was no longer able to keep upright.

Barri (vet surrender)

Neutered boar, adopted from TEAS sanctuary, Northampton in June 2017

Barri 'Summit', for his ginger tuft on the top of his head in memory of Terfel (previous name: Pickles).
August 2016 - April 2022
Barri had been a vet surrender due to inappropriate home treatment for a very advanced case of bad ringworm. Thankfully, he made a full recovery at TEAS and was neutered. I was asked whether I would like to adopt him since he should ideally stay within reach of the sanctuary due to the severity of his ringworm. Since he reminded me of a much loved pre-Tribe piggy, I really wanted him.
Barri was a rather full-on teenager but gentle Briallen did ride out the storm and then took him in hand. They made a very good pair as she could cope well with occasional strops. They became my go-to pair for any problem youngsters, looking shortly after Meleri and Miaren before ending up with Hapus and Llawen; the latter returned after Heini's death in January 2019 and is Barri's remaining wife.
Barri developed a chronic gut problem in December 2019 which needs daily medication and management; especially during flare ups. He passed away from sudden organ failure at the end of April 2022. He had a minor ringworm return in December 2017 but it was very quickly dealt with.


Gareth Rhonwellt (rescue-born neutered boar)

Neutered boar, adopted from Barnsley Animal Rescue Charity BARC in South Yorkshire in July 2017

Gareth Rhonwellt 'Gentle Timothy' (Rescue name Tiny Tim). 21st December 2016 - September 2021.
Gareth was a rescue-born piggy with strong forum connections; both rescuer and rescue fosterer were forum members. Because of a bad background with potential genetic problems, the fosterer wanted a home that would stay in contact and would be able and willing to cope with any problems.
Gareth initially bonded with Iola and Hafren who very much insisted on respect but once the trio had been joined by Teggy a few weeks later, I split them up into pairs. Gareth and Teggy later took on the lively twin sisters Meleri and Miaren, who were a rather contentious lot. Miaren eventually moved out on her own volition to set up home with newly neutered Lelo in March 2019 but Meleri stayed on while Gareth slowly went into suspected liver failure.
Gareth was the gentlest of boys who was happy to be told by his strong-willed wives what he had to do.


Tegwen Draenog (Teggy) (widow)

Adopted from TEAS in Northampton and now defunct Little Pips Rehoming in Devon in August 2017

Tegwen Draenog 'Beautiful and Blessed Hedgehog' (nickname: Teggy), pronounced Teggwen Drynog. Rescue name: Mrs Tiggwinkle (nickname: Tiggy). Her Welsh name is reflecting her rescue name by request but is staying as close as possible to her everyday nickname)
ca. 2015 - June 2022

Teggy and her companion Nutkin were surrendered to Little Pips Rehoming rescue around Christmas 2016 in very bad state due to malnutrition. Teggy was just over 400g and Nutkin only 300g as supposedly one year old boars; both had dental overgrowth and suffered from severe scurvy due to being fed on vitamin C-fee rabbit pellets without hay. Because of their dental and complex health problems, they were transferred to TEAS sanctuary. Nutkin sadly died from an internal scurvy bleed soon after but Teggy did win through thanks to the correct care and vet support.
After the death of Teggy's dental sanctuary companion I was asked by TEAS whether I was interested in adopting her with the option of her returning to the sanctuary if she ever needed long term medical care for any health issues resulting from her malnutrition. Thankfully, this has not been the case. Teggy needed an emergency operation for a large urethral stone in October 2020 but has made a full recovery.
After losing both her younger companions Gareth and Meleri just a month apart in September/October 2021, Teggy has found new happiness with young Tudur. She passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly aged 6 years despite her bad start in life.
Her and Nutkin's story is told in full as the Christmas rescue story in Guinea Pig Magazine # 59 in 2020 by Erica Evans from Little Pips Rehoming.


Beryn (ex-single)

Sow, adopted from the RSPCA Bryn-y-maen/Colwyn Bay in North Wales in September 2017

Beryn 'Candytuft' (Rescue name: Alyssa), 2015/16? - August 2021
Beryn was found wandering the grounds of Colwyn Bay cricket club and was not reclaimed in early summer 2017. I was alerted by her fosterer, a former forum member. Every 4 years I used to adopt a piggy in memory of my most special piggy ever, Minx (2004-7). Beryn did come along exactly at the same time. She must have been somebody's beloved single piggy since she was well kept but very people orientated. Beryn holds paws-down the Tribe record for failed bondings due to her lack of early socialisation, which made her very insecure. The only piggy ever to break through was very submissive but vocal older lady Betsan who Beryn eventually bonded and lived with for the last year of Betsan's life until her sudden death in February 2020.
Young supposedly bullied Macsen was just that bit too confident for her when coming here from TEAS in late February 2020 for a slow bonding trial but then my options for new companionship ran basically out due to the pandemic. Beryn moved back next to narrowly failed former suitor Dylan and his small wife Begw, who she got on best through the bars for the rest of her life and continued with her regular human cuddling sessions with me.

Meleri and Miaren (baby sisters)

Rehomed privately via the forum in December 2017

Meleri (early Welsh saint. Nickname: Millie), 9th November 2017 - October 2021
Meleri and Miaren were the result of a pet shop pregnancy from a forum member who was unable to hang onto all three baby girls. Since I was within reach of the member and though that Beryn would likely accept babies (in fact she was quite literally scared stiff by them), I offered a home so they could be visited.
After plan A failed, it took a bit of trial and error to work out where they fitted in best, which turned out to Teggy and gentle Gareth where Meleri stayed on until her death from a fast progressing neurological problem just a month after Gareth's death. She also needed one eye removed in April 2021 after a very strong cataract caused a hard to control eye infection inside the eye.
Meleri was the smaller of the two sisters, very insistent to not come last. She had this habit of standing on one of her mates when begging at dinner time to appear larger.

Miaren 'Bramble' for her black head (pronounced Mee-Arren. Nickname: Mimi), 9th November 2017 - June 2022
Miaren was the stronger and less fractious of the sister pair but had to put up with a lot of squabbling from her sister.
Miaren eventually managed to sneak into one pen with a young solo boar having just come to the end of his post-neutering op safety way in early 2019. She had a look at the premises and the boy and basically never left. Quiet and respectful Llelo had the perfect 'family' looks with one white and one ginger side and allowed her to be his mistress in the first years.


Losses in 2017
Tanni (January), Maelog (February), Papi (March, 3 days after Maelog), Angharad (April), Nesta (May), Myfina (Christmas)

 

[Wiebke]

2018

Dylan (ex-single)

Neutered boar, adopted from The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in Stoke-on-Trent in July 2018

Dylan (kept his Welsh name), ca. 2015/16 - 4/10/2022
Dylan was a no longer wanted single piggy who had spent the previous two years of his life in a hamster cage on a diet of lettuce and carrots. At first he was unable to walk more than a yard without hopping as the muscles at his back had atrophied. He is still somewhat picky with his food and has a tender digestion in old age. Dylan also had some social deficits from being on his own during the formative early months of his life.

I adopted Dylan as a potential suitor for Beryn; it failed, although not by a huge margin. Dylan chose little baby boy Llelo instead has his companion. This bond failed during teenage when quiet but quietly confident Llelo increasingly refused the abject submission that an insecure Dylan insisted on - the more the less willing Llelo was willing to give it.



But Dylan has found lasting happiness with a baby girl that came here as an emergency when a rescue surrendered unwanted 8 weeks old boy turned out to be a girl the weight of a small 3 weeks old. Runty Begw has a feisty side but she is not a challenge for Dylan and they are enjoying a close and loving bond.


Llelo (returned Tribe-born baby boar)

Private local rehome in October 2018

Llelo 'Little Llewelyn', pronounced Tkhlello (named in memory of the Tribe founder; baby name Beetroot), 1st September 2018 -
Llelo was born here with two other brothers when I emergency holiday boarded a highly pregnanct pet shop sow and her sister for a local owner; the babies arrived in less than day of the sows coming here. I offered a home to one of the baby boys at separation age but allowed Dylan to choose which of the babies he was getting on with better. The other baby went with me by train to Leicester to Neville's Nest GPR to find a home quickly via their dating service while I returned with an already reserved baby girl, Carys.

(Llelo in the middle with his mother on the right)



When his bond with Dylan failed, Llelo was thankfully already halfway through his 6 weeks neutering post-op wait. He had quite a long list of potential dates (foremost Beryn and Llawen; both a 'no thanks' in a quick lap test meet), so I was not too unhappy when Miaren jumped the queue and introduced herself to Llelo a few days later in early 2018. They have been together since as a pair. Both have a white and a ginger side.
Shortly before Miaren's sudden passing in June 2022, they bonded with their neighbouring sow pair, Brathlys and Melangell.


Carys (baby sow)

Adopted from Neville's Nest Guinea Pig Rescue in October 2018

Carys 'Love' (named in memory of Cariad and Calli; rescue name Daisy), 21st August 2018 - 24th October 2024
Carys was a rescue-born baby. Much to my surprise when I put in an adoption offer specifically for her, she turned out to be the only one of her family to not have had a request because of her ruby eyes.

Carys came to live as future companion for nearly 3 years old Gethin and 7 1/2 years old Ffwlbri, who went on live for nearly another year.
Carys turned out to be as gentle as Gethin and the two enjoyed a very close bond for the second half of his life. Even Ffwlbri attempted a few little popcorns in play with young Carys!
After the end of the first Lockdown in May 2020, quirky Tegeirian finally joined the trio after being reserved for me since January. In view of the rather large age gap between Gethin and Carys, I wanted some companionship provision in place for her.
Carys and Tegeirian went on to live also widowed husboar Cai looking for a new home and wives after Gethin's passing. Older gent Cai sadly lived for only one more year, after which the two friends joined bereaved Tudur and Heilin. Tegeirian and Tudur sadly both died from cancer in May 2023 and over the turn of the year in January 2024. Carys and her new best friend Heilin then went to live with Brangwyn, Beti and age mate Begw.
Carys passed away a month after her 6th adoption anniversary. She was a gentle sow and a great social enabler with a knack of making friends whoever she lived with.




Breila and Cerian (bonded sow pair)

Adopted from April Lodge Guinea Pig Rescue in East Kent in November 2018

Breila and Cerian are admittedly my big slip up (so far the only one) of my job as a rescue adverts coordinator for Guinea Pig Magazine - they never made it into the magazine. Their picture turned up after I had lost my beloved Bedo in early summer as one of a big wodge of beloved faces and was just about to lose Carwyn to a mystery illness (turned out to be a brain tumor) and with me being stuck at home without the use of a car for 6 months due to health reasons. It turned out that I could get to Sandwich on East Kent coast surprisingly straightforward on just two trains with a walk between stations in London, so depite the distance, it was feasible; the train journey to Keighley in West Yorkshire to pick up Pili Pala and Papi had been much more complicated! Since the girls were rather unlikely to find homes quickly between the red eyes and long hair, and with the rescue full up, I was given permission to adopt way out of the normal range. So the overnight trip became my little special holiday of that year.

Breila 'Briar Rose' (pronounced Brayla; previous name: Rose), ca. May 2017 - 19/12/2022
Breila had sterile IC. She started the symptoms just days before her adoption date but I do have experience with it and I still wanted her.
She was a very nervous sow with a tendency of defence lunging at other piggies but otherwise a sweet-tempered sow and closely bonded with her best friend Cerian. She was about 5 1/2 years old when she into a sudden and quick decline over the weekend before Christmas.

Cerian 'Little Love' (pronounced a bit like Kerry-Ann; named in memory of Ceri and Carwyn.
Previous name: Scarlett), ca. May 2017 - 5/4/2024
Cerian is a friendly and gentle girl but she will relentlessly dominance mount any (guaranteed non-aggressive) 'husboar' I have tried to intrude. She is very close with Breila, is her emotional anchor and often shares their hut with her at night.
Cerian did take a long time to get over Breila's sudden death and never accepted another companion. She rather liked to wind up all the other Tribe piggies during her regular free roaming time instead. Cerian was able to celebrate her 5th adoption anniversary and lived within spitting distance to her 7th birthday.



Losses in 2018
Tesni (April); Calli and Bedo (June) and Iola (July, within 3 days of Bedo); Pili Pala (September); Carwyn (October)

 

[Wiebke]

2019

Begw (mis-sexed baby sow surrender)

Adopted from The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in Stoke-on-Trent in January 2019

Begw 'Little Pearl/Peggy' (proncounced Beggoo). Born ca. November 2018 - 17/12/2024
On her rescue surrender pick-up, Begw was shoved through the entrance door of very smoked-up house just after the end of the Christmas holidays; according to her owners, she was a no longer wanted 8 weeks old baby boar. Unfortunately, the gender was wrong and the weight was that of a smallish 3 weeks old baby, which caused the Potteries fosterers a major problem, who all had only boars to look after at the time and couldn't provide the instant companionship that a baby at weaning age needed. Since neutered Potteries adoptee Dylan had just split with teenage Llelo, she travelled here as soon as possible and passed her mandatory rescue quarantine together with Dylan in my hospital cage.
The two have been inseparable since. Begw has never grown large so I have come to assume that her age given at surrender is actually correct. She is a very vocal and rather timid girl but she does have a feisty side and can stand up to Dylan if needs be.
Beti joined Begw and Dylan in January 2022; she helped Begw cope with Dylan's passing in October 2022. The two sows accepted young Brangwyn as their future husboar in May 2023 and they included a short-lived golden oldies Tribe widows group in summer 2024. Begw was the last of the very devoted new friends to pass away (Heilin, Carys and Begw).


Betsan (older widow)

Private intake from the owner of Nimue and Calli in January 2019

Betsan 'Betsy' (previous name Boots); ca. 2014 - February 2020
Betsan was my local friend's last piggy; coming off the free-ads to be a companion to my friend's last surviving group sow, who sadly passed away very soon after Betsan's arrival. Betsan was as squishy a personality as she looked. Very vocal but wouldn't budge one millimetre - and ever so gentle Betsan was the one who finally broke through Beryn's fear-aggression/socialisation deficits problem. It took three bonding sessions over the course of two weeks, each lasting for as long as Beryn could cope, but as the sows confirmed their ongoing interest through the bars in between I persisted. They did become great friends. Betsan's complaints were very effective in teaching Beryn good piggy manners.

Sadly, I found Betsan dead one morning with a mouthful of hay sticking out just before the pandemic took off - she must have suffered a very quick heart attack out of the blue overnight. Beryn sadly went back to being afraid of other piggies for the remainder of her life; but she has had that one big piggy love in her life.


Heilin (baby sow)

Adopted from Neville's Nest Guinea Pig Rescue in Leicester in June 2019

Heilin 'Generous' (pronounced Hey Lynn. Rescue name Ariel). February 2019 - 1/8/2024
I have adopted and named Heilin in memory of Heini, who had to be mergency pts in January. Unfortunately, Heini's companion Llawen had permanently fallen out with her sister Hapus, didn't bond with any other Tribe piggies but couldn't cope being on her own, either. Sadly, three weeks old very timid Heilin didn't work out with her, either, but Llawen's sister Hapus took an instant liking to Heilin and the two sows have had a very close and happy bond. They are still playing chase with each other occasionally!

Heilin is sadly still extremely timid and continues to be stressed out when handled. She and by then 6 year old Hapus have accepted their 'neighboar' Tudur as their 'husboar' in June 2022 after the death of his own old lady Teggy, who sadly didn't vibe with Hapus. Piggy soap opera...
After Hapus's and then Tudur's death, Heilin joined Brangwyn's group of Tribe widows and spent her last weeks in a trio with widowed Melangell and Esme. Heilin had the gift to get on well with all her other companions and was loved back by them.


Dryw (baby sow)

Adopted from The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in August 2019
(Rescue born at and fostered by @Flutterby )

Dryw 'Wren' (Pronounced Dree-oo. Nickname: Deedoo. Rescue name: Wren) 1st August 2019 -
When Potteries boar Pioden was down to his last wife, I contacted the rescue for a potential new younger wife that could not challenge by then 8 years old and very frail and arthritic Hedydd in the last weeks of her life but who would be there to see then 6 years old Pioden out. Hedydd passed away just a few weeks later in October 2019; she loved the little baby and even tried a couple of very arthritic popcorns. Pioden followed her two years in November 2021.

Dryw has some rather strong fear-aggression issues and is very good at picking up feuds through the bars. Because of the pandemic, I wasn't able to sort out suitable unchallenging baby companionship for Dryw until quite literally at the last minute. Baby girls Llinos and Lleian didn't even have 3 weeks with by then very frail Pioden but their presence really helped Dryw with the loss of her beloved daddy boar, Looking after the babies has given her new confidence and has calmed her down quite a lot.


Brathlys (unbondable/biting sow)

Adopted from Gertie's Lonely Guinea Pig Rescue in Newcastle, Northeast England

Brathlys 'Scarlet Pimpernel' (Nickname: Lissie from Welsh Llys 'Flower' after Brathlys changed her coat colour dramatically within a few months of her arrival) Rescue name: Bingo. Ca. 2018 - 12/08/2023
Never comment on a rescue group about having a favourite breed! You may be contacted by them: "Wiebke, I have the perfect looking problem piggy for you. And by the way, I can deliver her to you next week on my way to my holiday destination."
Brathlys was found by a neighbour living rough in the garden weeks after her owners had moved out and taken the hutch with them, after a pretty harsh late winter. She was badly traumatised with humans and other piggies; it cannot have been a nice home in the first place. Any bonding attempt during her 6 months in rescue had failed because of her being so fear-aggressive and she was also quite a massive hand tweaker, often breaking the skin.
Anyway, while she will still gently tweaking reminder when I take her back to the cage, I have managed to sort the worst of it within 2 weeks. And within a couple of months I had managed to set her up with a husboar, Alan, who sadly passed away very unexpectedly in August 2021.
After two failed bonding attempts with (mounting) boars after Alan's loss, Brathlys thankfully got on with widowed young sow Melangell from TEAS in October 2021 and has managed to join their neighbours Llelo (not a mounter by nature) and Miaren (who sadly died very shortly after the bonding) to form a happy and stable trio until her death. Despite going blind with very advanced cataracts, she continued to enjoy her life. There was nothing wrong with her inner clock and her voice in starting a food when dinner was running late.



Alan (dated)

Neutered boar, adopted from Neville's Nest Guinea Pig Rescue in Leicester in October 2019

Alan 'Coltsfoot' (kept his name as it also has a Welsh meaning. Nickname: Dally). Ca. 2018 - August 2021
Alan spent initiallysome weeks as a neighboar to Brathlys before I started slow bonding as there was no aggression between them during the whole process but Brathlys would get overwhelmed by her stress and become fear-aggressive, so I stopped each time as soon as this happened.
Thankfully, I was very lucky with Alan because he was a very clever and patient boy who knew when to hold back and when to push - not all that common in a newly neutered boar! By December, he and Brathlys were a pair. Brathlys relied very much on Alan and his guidance. It was a real tragedy when he deteriorated very quickly over a weekend and sadly died within hours of the earliest piggy savvy vet appointment I could get for him.


Losses in 2019
Heini and Hafren (January); Nosgan (April); Helygen (May); Heulwen (July); Ffwlbri and Tegan (August); Hedydd (October)

 

[Wiebke]

2020

Macsen (dated)

Neutered boar, adopted from TEAS sanctuary Northampton in March 2020

Macsen 'the Greatest' (after Macsen Wledig, Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus in the Welsh Mabinogion. Previous name: Pooh). Ca. May 2019 -

Macsen was a supposedly bullied new addition to an existing boar trio who got caught up in a marriage breakdown situation. He came here as Beryn's last (failed) date in the wake of her losing Betsan in February. Unfortunately, by the time she decided to not not get on with Macsen, who had been dominated on but who was not badly bullied, the had pandemic and lockdown had struck, so he stayed on and was eventually paired up with Hirael.

In the wake of Hirael's passing in August 2021, he has happily bonded with young mother/daughter pair Manon and Maelona.

Macsen in his prime is very much insisting on abject submission (repeating the pattern) and underneath his laid-back approach lurks a surprisingly sensitive soul.


Tegeirian (mis-sexed companion to a boar)

Sow, adopted from Merrypigs Sanctuary in Stoke-on-Trent in May 2020

Tegeirian 'Orchid' (pronounced: Teggayrean). Nickname: Rhian 'Maiden'. Previous name: Sammi). Ca. July 2019 - May 2023
Tegeirian was a panic rescue surrender in January together with her new boar mate after she was bought as a little boar companion to the family's boar but turned out to be female. Since she reminded me of my recently passed and much missed peru family without resembling any of them too closely, I had her reserved, pending her 10 weeks' pregnancy watch at the sanctuary. Thankfully, Rhian had a lucky escape. Unfortunately, we missed the already organised socially distanced handover by a matter of 3 days when the UK suddenly went into a first 10 weeks' Covid Lockdown. So it was after a wait of 20 weeks at the very end of May that we could meet halfway between Stoke and Coventry for a socially distanced transfer. After Rhian failed to find favour with both Beryn and Dryw, she settled in well with Carys and Gethin as my third option.

After Gethin's death in October 2021 Rhian fell in love with Cai; he was her favourite husboar for sadly just a year until his sudden death in October 2022. Afterwards closely bonded girlfriends Rhian and Carys merged with Tudur and Heilin. Rhian became Tudur's new leading lady and he had a rather soft spot for her.


Rhian is the rumbliest sow I have ever met and is a bit of a crackpot but she is best of friends with gentle Carys and is very happy with their new husboar Cai.



Losses in 2020
Briallen (January); Betsan (February)

 

[Wiebke]

2021

Manon & Maelona (mother & baby daughter)

Adopted via TEAS sanctuary, Northampton in October 2021

Manon 'Queen' (rescue name Lily). Ca. March 2021 -
Manon was rescued pregnant from a truly horrible place. She and one of the two daughters in the litter of four were reserved for me and moved on to TEAS for me from a private sanctuary in Northampton. The adoption had to be postponed due to mum and daughter coming down with ringworm. Manon is still very skittish but slowly coming out of it. Her back end is still thin and saggy; this cannot have been her first pregnancy but more likely her third.

Maelona 'Princess' or rather 'She-prince' (pronounced Mylona; nickname: Lona. Rescue name Daisy).
July 2021 - 3/8/2024
Maelona has sadly got a full dose of her mother's stress while in the womb; her mother had not had time to relax and settle in by the time she was born. Lona is extremely skittish and will likely remain so for all her life; similar to rescue-born Papi. She is starting to trust me enough to pick food of my fingers or even eat hay with me standing by. But it won't be a quick process.
Lona did grow into a quiet but happy sow who loved her food and enjoyed the stability of her little family. She sadly went into acute heart failure right out of the blue just after her 3rd birthday.

Mother and daughter have bonded as planned with bereaved Macsen although it took a second attempt as Manon was not yet ready for him the first time round.



Melangell (young widow)

Adopted from TEAS sanctuary, Northampton in October 2021

Melangell 'Sweet Angel' (pronounced Mellanggekh. Nickname: Mella. Previous name: Chestnut). Ca. June 2021 -
Melangell was the companion of a TEAS resident before coming here as part of the dating group from TEAS in the wake of all the unrelated losses in a very short time in summer and autumn 2021. She'd been living shortly with Manon and Maelona before her arrival.
Melangell is a friendly, cheerful young sow who loves meeting new piggies.

After Brathlys failed to accept both Tudur and Cai, Melangell was my third fall-back option - and thankfully, this one did work out!
Melangell was also instrumental in brokering a successful merge with their neighbours Llelo (who Melangell has a crush on) on and Miaren in June 2022. With her outgoing nature, she has made instant friends with them during meetings on the roaming ground with Llelo helping out with her strong urges when a couple of wild teenage seasons became a bit too much for poor Brathlys.


Tudur (young widower)

Adopted from TEAS sanctuary, Northampton in October 2021

Tudur 'King of the Tribe or People'/Tudor (pronounced Teedeer. Previous name: Spike). 13/12/2020 - 3/1/2024
Tudur had a very lucky escape from ending up as snake food when his pregnant mother was rescued from a 1m sq enclosure she shared with 3 boars and 2 other sows by a local family. I adopted him after he was returned to TEAS by forum member after the death of her elderly sow.
Tudur was emphatically chosen by ca. 6 years old Teggy, who had lost both her younger companions Gareth and Meleri in just a month. After Teggy's death in the following year he was accepted by Hapus and Heilin in June 2022 and in October of the same year by twice widowed Carys and Tegeirian.




Cai (older widower)

Adopted from TEAS sanctuary, Northampton in October 2021

Cai (Arthur's foster brother and then seneschal in the Mabinogion. Pronounced Ky; formerly Kylo). 2017 - October 2022
Cai was surrendered from the same home and boar group as Macsen and became another member of the TEAS end of life companionship scheme. Unfortunately, his owner could no longer hang onto him after the death of her older sow due to a change in circumstances beyond their control.
After failing with both Teggy and Brathlys, Cai has found new happiness with Gethin's widows Carys and Tegeirian.

Llinos and Lleian (baby cousins)

Adopted from Hazelcroft Guinea Pig Rescue in St Albans/Herts. in November 2021

Llinos 'Linnet' (pronounced Tkhleenos or Leenos. Rescue name: Pansy). 08/08/2021 -
A cheeky and confident little girl!

Lleian 'Smew' after the smalles native duck species (pronounced Tkhlayan or Layan. Rescue name: Pixie) 15/08/2021 -
The smaller and a bit more nervous of the two who is determined to get her fair share.

The mothers of the two rescue-born babies from a large intake of pregnant sows are likely sisters and have been rehomed as a closely bonded couple after they didn't receive any adoption requests as a family of four. The two baby girls were chosen by the rescue when I was specifically looking for a couple of baby girls to bond with fear-aggressive 2 years old Dryw and 8 years old Pioden, who was coming to the end of his life. Thankfully, the plan has worked out. Pioden had nearly three weeks with his third set of wives before he passed away. He enjoyed having a nap in the hay with little Lleian snuggled up against him.





Losses in 2021 (after an amazing gap of 18 months during the first part of the pandemic):
Hirael, Alan and Beryn (August); Gareth (September; in the same week as Alan and Beryn); Meleri and Gethin (October); Pioden (November)

 

[Wiebke]

2022

Beti (young widow via vet referral)

Private local vet referral in December 2021

Beti (Betty). March 2020 -
Beti was referred to me by my local vet after they had to pts her companion. The traumatised family didn't want to continue with guinea pigs but wanted a depressed Beti to have the company she clearly needed.
Beti struggled at first with meeting new piggies and needed to work through some major fear-aggression issues resulting in a few failed bonding attempts, which ruled out the initial alternative option of her becoming part of a rescue companionship service.
She has thankfully bonded with her totally non-aggressive neighbours Dylan and Begw in January after living next to them for a month and has settled down well with them. Which means that she is now officially a Tribe member!



Modron Millyn Barcud Blodyn Brangwyn Bronrhyddyn
(dumped family of three with two resulting litters)

The family as adopted from Maria' Animal Shelter, Cornwall October 2022

Modron, her daughter Millyn and son Barcud were caught living rough in some dog walking waste land under a major road viaduct and taken in as an emergency by the local rescue in late August 2022. Both sows were pregnant by Barcud, who was neutered soon after arrival in the rescue.

Modron 'Mother' (from an old Mother Goddess; rescue name: Peggy). Born ca. Summer 2021 -
Modron gave birth two baby sons by her own son Barcud on 29/10/22, Brangwyn 'White Raven' and Bronrhyddyn 'Robin'.
Millyn 'Sweet Violet' (pronounced: Mikhlen; rescue name Dolly). Born ca. Spring 2022 -
Daughter of Modron. Gave birth to daugher Blodyn 'Flower' and son Boncath 'Boncath' after her arrival in rescue.
Boncath/Merlin has been rehomed with permission of the rescue as a companion to bereaved Thor from @Bradshaw Piggies in November 2022.
Barcud 'Red Kite' (pronounced Barkid). Born ca. Spring 2022 -
Barcud is the son of Modron and brother of Millyn and the father of both baby litters. He had to be temporarily split from his family shortly after his adoption to first look after his son Boncath from the first litter and then his sons Brangwyn and Bronrhyddyn from the second litter in order to prevent any further pregnancies.

Blodyn 'Flower' (rescue name Spice). Born 19/09/2022 -
Daughter of Millyn and Barcud. She stayed on with her mother and grandmother Modron until April 2023 when she was bonded with her 6 weeks younger half-brother Baeddan.
Boncath 'Buzzard', litter brother of Blodyn is now called Merlin and is living with @Bradshaw Piggies .

Brangwyn 'White Raven' (pronounced Braan-gwin). Nickname Bran (pronounced Braan). Born 29/10/22 -
Brangwyn has been neutered and has bonded with Dylan's widows Beti and Begw in April 2023.
Baeddan 'Boar' (pronounced Bythan). Baby name Bronrhyddyn 'Robin', i.e. 'Redbreast'; pronounced Bronn-rhithin), sons of Modron. Born 29/10/22 -
Baeddan was neutered together with his brother and has been bonded with this half-sister Blodyn in April 2023.


The whole family reunited for a one-off photoshoot in early November



Brathlys and Melangell moved together with neighbouring pair Llelo and Miaren in June 2022 shortly before Miaren's unexpected death but formed a stable trio until Brathlys' death a year later in August 2023.



Hyfryd (Nye's widow), Llawen (Barri's widow) and her fallen-out sister Hapus have moved in together to form my third incarnation of a Golden Oldies group in September 2022. They were all coming up to 7 years.


After the unexpected death of Cai his widows Carys and Tegeirian have bonded with Tudur and his remaining wife Heilin in October 2022.



Losses in 2022:
Mererid (February); Barri (April); Teggy/Tegwen, Morwenna and Miaren (June, the latter two 5 days apart); Nye (September); Dylan and Cai (October, 5 days apart); Breila and Hyfryd (December, 1 day apart)

 

[Wiebke]

2023

No new adoptions















Reunited for a family photoshoot:

Losses in 2023
Llawen (January); Hapus (March); Tegeirian (May); Brathlys (August)

 

[Wiebke]

2024

Merlin (widowed returnee)

Returned from @Bradshaw Piggies in January 2024

Merlin. Born 19/09/22 -
He is the rescue-born oldest son from my Cornish family from Millyn's litter. His baby Tribe name was Boncath 'Buzzard' but he became Merlin when he joined the Bradshaw boars in November 2022 and served as a friendly companion to their various old age boar widowers, starting with Thor, for just over a year. He has returned here after the sudden death of the last of them, Rufus.


Esme (widow)

Arrived January 2014 from @Claire W

Esme. Born 15/07/20 -
Skittish Esme has spent several holidays with her companions (Edward, Ella and Elizabeth) at my home before coming here for good after losing Ella and Elizabeth within 9 weeks.
Bonded in a larger group with Brangwyn and his two older wives as well as Tudur's two older widows.


Sulwen (widow)

Arrived from @Little Ones in April 2024

Sulwen 'Blessed or Bright Sun' (pronounced Silwen; former name Sisu). Born October 2021 -
A long standing forum member's end of the line piggy, Sisu arrived here as an emergency intake when she didn't cope well with being on her own after the death of her husboar Sprout.


The Tribe in 2024
Brangwyn has taken over Tudur's job of looking after my older widows by bonding with Tudur's remaining widows Heilin and Carys as well as with Esme to form my fourth Old Ladies Tribe group in January 2024.



Losses in 2024
Tudur (January) - Llelo (February) - Cerian (April) - Heilin and Maelona (1st & 3rd August) - Carys (October) - Begw (December)