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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2015 17:59:56 GMT
Hi everyone! Yesterday, I found this forum and spent time reading various posts. Very interesting! So I joined today and would like to introduce myself plus ask a question or two... I've been married for 25 years and live in Oregon. My husband and I have an older cat and I've begun to check out the possibility of adopting a guinea pig or two (probably two). I'm leaning towards sows. I've never had a guinea pig before so I'm taking my time reading all that I can before I adopt. I do have a question... How did you know that guinea pigs were the right pet for you? I've read the article on it but would like personal opinions. What is it about guinea pigs that make you smile? Like I mentioned, I am new to the world of guinea pigs and am a big research fanatic so sometimes my decision on adopting a new pet takes time  |
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Post by Bean on Feb 12, 2015 18:44:30 GMT
Hello and welcome to Wheekers!
Nice to see you doing your research about whether they're the right pet for you. Have you paid a visit to a local rescue or shelter to meet the piggies they have there? A lot of rescues are happy to help people decide whether a certain pet is for them by chatting to them about it and introducing them to some, even if they're way off thinking about adopting.
We had pigs from when I was a kid, so my fondness for them is deeply entrenched in me! I just love their goofy natures and the fact they are generally such sweet-natured animals. I've had such a wide range of personalities over the years - some I've adored for how friendly, clever or funny they are - others have won me over by being sweet and shy or by having big personalities that everyone else has to fit round. They're definitely more fun in pairs or groups - they're having a better time so they're more interesting to be around. I also love all their noises, especially the manipulative wheeking they do to get attention and food! You can train them out of it by not responding to it if you don't like the noise, but I like that they start up a chorus as soon as they hear me chopping in the kitchen or rustling a plastic bag! They're very much a part of our family.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2015 21:06:10 GMT
Hi Bean and thanks for the welcome! It was interesting reading about your experience. I did find an adoption center 1 1/2 hours away from me which is actually the closest shelter. There is a female guinea pig, 10 months/14 days old, with red and white long hair...but not as long as a Peruvian. She's been there since Dec. 19th. They only have one piggie so I'm not sure if I should drive out there and visit with her considering she doesn't have a friend. And from what I've read, isn't it better to adopt 2 bonded females at the same time or is it just "easier"? She's really cute though...half her face and back are split red and white.
Thoughts on what I should do? If I should go and drive out there, it would be Friday morning, leaving around 9:30 or so.
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Post by Bean on Feb 13, 2015 7:54:44 GMT
Have you spoken to them about how often they tend to get pigs in? It might not be too long before they have a suitable companion for her.
She sounds lovely and driving out to meet her and chatting to the shelter about whether guinea pigs are the right pet for you is a great idea. But it is a long drive, so if you feel you might rush into a decision because you've driven all that way, I'd probably be inclined to think it over a bit more and get everything ready in the meantime.
About her being on her own - if she's a lone pig in a rescue, I'm sure being a lone pig in someone's home where she'll get lots of attention, stimulation and interaction will be far nicer for her. A friend will come along at some point wherever she is. It's quite unusual for two females not to get along - it happens, but it isn't common. So I wouldn't worry too much about that. If another pig does come into the rescue, many will run a sort of dating service to make sure they're compatible before rehoming.
Good luck deciding - although part of me thinks you might have already haha! Keep us posted!
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 13, 2015 14:59:39 GMT
Hello and welcome I'm an animal lover, and have always tried to give the pets we had the best possible lives. My daughter bought two guinea pigs, a tiny cage, and generally took terrible care of them. One got really sick, and since I was paying all the vet bills, and taking the poor boy to his vet appointments, I took away her pigs. Hubby and I bought them a rabbit cage, which while still small, was great for a hospital cage with space for a friend. He didn't make it, ultimately, and I now had a guinea guy who had come to rely on me, so I got him a friend. Eventually the local rescue heard about me from some mutual friends, and asked me to foster two little guinea girls, so I had four, in two cages. It just spread from there I loved everything about guinea pigs, but even more, I could give them great lives, and know they weren't with someone like my daughter, who would keep them in a tiny cage, and generally ignore them. I think there is a closet guinea pig rescuer in me I think, if you have the means and the time, it would be worth going to that rescue and meeting the piggy. If guinea pigs are right for you, you will know it as soon as you meet that piggy. If that is the case, adopt her. If you check our Wheekerpedia section, we have a Housing thread with pictures of members Cubes and Coroplast (C&C) cages. A good sized C&C cage costs about $30, while $30 won't buy you anything acceptable in a store bought cage. Do you have the space for a decent sized cage. It would be a minimum of 2x4', bigger is always better Is anyone in your family allergic to hay? Do you have the money for vet bills, as guinea pigs can have some very expensive health problems? Is there a guinea pig knowledgeable vet in your area? You could check on the actual costs of some of the more common guinea pig treatments. I'm not trying to discourage you, at all. We get so many members who buy the pig first, then find out they can't afford it, don't have room to make the cage bigger to add a second pig, or that someone is allergic to the hay. The poor pig ends up getting used to the new home, then being returned to the rescue. It's great that you are doing so much research. Checking on these other things is just a way to not have unexpected complications |
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 13, 2015 18:42:50 GMT
A warm welcome to our happy family love.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2015 1:24:46 GMT
Thanks everyone! I appreciate the input. Today, I drove out to the shelter, held and visited with her, but decided not to adopt her. Guinea pigs are just not the right pet for me. I have a 15 yr. old cuddly cat and she'll be our companion for as long as her health holds out. Good luck with all your piggies!
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Post by Bean on Feb 14, 2015 8:28:32 GMT
Glad the visit was useful and helped you come to a decision. Whilst we're all animal lovers, not every type of pet is right for us and it's great to find that out before you adopt, so good job with your research!
Sounds like you have a lovely bond with your cat - we talk about all sorts besides guineas here and a few of our members have cats, so we'd be very happy if you stuck around regardless of your pig status! Thanks for letting us know how your visit went too.
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 14, 2015 16:03:55 GMT
I'm glad you found out before you adopted a guinea pig. I hope your cat lives to a ripe old age |
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 14, 2015 19:28:13 GMT
Your kitty sounds adorable love and we all understand what you are saying.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2015 0:42:40 GMT
Thanks! My cat has a few health issues and unfortunately it doesn't look like she'll live another year...but one never knows, right? I found out that the guinea pig I visited on Friday got adopted. That's great news and I hope she likes her new home!
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Post by Bean on Feb 17, 2015 8:14:21 GMT
Aww that's great news - really pleased for her, especially if she'd been there a while. It must feel like everything worked out as it should.
Sorry your cat is having some health problems, I hope she surprises you and has many zingy years ahead of her, but whatever time you have, I'm sure you will all treasure it.
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 17, 2015 16:09:21 GMT
Excellent news about the piggy, but sad news about your cat. Can't do much but give her lots of love. Hugs  |
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 17, 2015 18:57:26 GMT
Excellent news but for Kitty. She may just surprise you and live for a long time. Someone in our neighbourhood has just lost a cat who was 18. Everything crossed.
Hugs
JO xx
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