New piggy

[jolovespiggies]

Hello friends

I would like some advice please about finding another piggy.

I am looking for a friend for Merley and at the moment, with the rescues believe it or not I am drawing a blank.

I have supported rescues now for as long as I can remember and I really would like to choose my next piggy as it will be the first time ever. I fancy a little Teddy or Sheltie (I know I will have to groom the sheltie every day) and wondered if anyone knows of anybody who might have one, rescues included. I would like a young one so I can get him used to being handled.

Thank you so much for any help and advice.

Love
Jo xxxx

[wyvernsmile]

I wish you lived closer to me! (US/Ohio) A breeder who is so wonderful to her piggies has been sharing photos of some cute little ones being born the last few weeks. But they are still a few hours drive from my house.

We had to drive a good ways to pick up our second piggy because there aren't many in my town. Will you drive a bit if you find the right little one?

[Bean]

I'm sorry your search for a friend for Merley hasn't come up with anything yet.

We got Rocky through someone placing a free ad on Gumtree - someone else told me about it because they clearly wanted shot of her quickly (they had a new baby and didn't have time) and weren't asking for money, so they were worried she'd fall into the wrong hands. We happened to be looking for a wife for a post-op Josh so it worked out well all round.

She'd been handled terribly (she was a toddler's pet and he handled her unsupervised) but despite acting like a paranoid rocket for the first few weeks, she came round and is so chilled out now. She's feisty and playful but very relaxed.

Just go to Gumtree and put in your area and 'guinea pig' and maybe something will come up? I just did a quick search in Cornwall and think those three lovely ladies would keep Merley busy haha!

I totally understand about you liking the idea of a baby for once though, and having one you can handle lots from being young. Some pigs are easily won over once they get the right home, but I know Merlin has been a bit more reluctant.

When we adopted Josh and Cads, I waited for babies to come up at the rescue as I felt bad that we were always adopting old dodders who didn't live as long, and the kids were getting skewed ideas about how long animals lived for!

Good luck, Jo, and keep us posted!

[sadyandmrsk]

There is a little teddy bear guinea here in saskatchewan at petsmart but i don't think you live near me   and i wouldn't buy from a petstore, especially petsmart

[jolovespiggies]

I would indeed drive a good way love to find the right piggy but it would be a very long drive indeed Wyvernsmile hunni as I live in the UK, but thanks so much for the information, it is much appreciated. I have just looked on Gumtree and there are some piggies for sale Bean love, thank you so much for pointing me in that direction. Paul is being difficult now saying that he doesn't want babies, in fact I don't think he wants another one at all because the run we would put the new piggies in, so they could see each other, is going to be taken up with a hedgehog from the 19 of this month but I hasten to add, only whilst he has his run at night. We do not have the room for another pen so at the moment we are totally baffled. Thanks Sady hun but I am in the UK.

Hugs
Jo xx

[jolovespiggies]

Sorry Bean sweetie, I will keep you informed.

Hugs
JO xx

[Bean]

Is Merley not neutered? I thought he was, so couldn't another female go in with him? It's unusual for that pairing not to work.

Exciting about the hedgie! But I hope you find space for a pigger too!

[3piggles]

Jo, there are several sites that showcase adaptable guinea pigs in rescues. Just select a rescue in your area, and see what they have available. There are so many guinea pigs in rescues, who need forever homes, so I really hope you will try to adopt. You are a great piggy mom

www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/

www.guinealynx.info/rescue_organizations_uk.html

www.facebook.com/piggybank.gpr/ This group rates rescues based on input from people who have adopted from them. A former member is very active in this group. They are even rating rescues outside the UK, as they get enough input to support a rating.

www.pets4homes.co.uk/adoption/rodents/guinea-pig/ This site seems very similar to our PetFinder. I would call about any pigs, first, just to make sure they are still available for adoption, as I don't know how often this site is updated.

If you search for Guinea Pig Rescues UK, you will find a lot of options. I hope you find the piggy of your dreams As far as the Sheltie goes, should you need medical attention and not be able to care for the piggies, Paul would have to do all the work. He may not be as interested in grooming a long haired guinea pig daily, as you are. Also, there are so many guinea pigs in rescues, so many, while breeders keep pumping out more, and owners don't bother to sex their pigs well enough to avoid pregnancies, that it would be irresponsible to risk a pregancy and add to the number of guinea pigs. If Merle is neutered, I definitely suggest getting him a lady friend. If he isn't, a young boar he can raise and enjoy would probably be your best bet. I hope you find the perfect piggy for him

[jolovespiggies]

Thank you for your kind advice Piggles love and for all the links. I will be getting Merley a friend from a rescue, I just don't know which one yet. My friend Maria doesn't have any any her sanctuary which is a shame. We have decided not to get babies and I hear where you are coming from with regards to the sheltie and I have abandoned that idea too. I will keep you posted.

Hugs
JO xx

[jolovespiggies]

Sorry Bean darling, yes Merley is neutered and please do not worry, we will work something out if it means we have to sleep on the ceiling lol!!

Hugs
JO xx

[3piggles]

I loved my Teddy girl, Molly. She was such a low key sweetheart, and very snuggly. I wouldn't get a long haired pig just because I'm not up to that level of care, and I think a skinny is out of the question, because I don't know enough about skin issues with them. I love my girls, and love every piggy I've had, though I would love to have a Teddy again

I'm sure you will find a way to keep all of your pets. Where there's a will, there's a way It sounds as if Paul needs his enthusiasm recharged a bit, so maybe the hedgie or the new piggy will renew his interest. Good luck

[jolovespiggies]

Thanks Piggles love, he needs everything recharged a bit!! I would like a Teddy but it isn't set in stone, I am totally prepared to be flexible and just want to give a piggy a home.

Hugs
JO xx

[3piggles]

I've found, no matter what type of piggy I set out to get, I bring home the one who captures my heart, and gets along with my other piggies. I don't think we have as much say as we'd like to think we have

[jolovespiggies]

You are probably right Piggles love, I believe they can send messages things to us and we don't realise it.

Hugs
JO xx

[3piggles]

Jo, can you take Merle to meet other piggies, or do you have to choose a friend for him, and hope for the best?

[jolovespiggies]

Not really love as at the moment I am having trouble finding any at all. My friend Maria doesn't or I would say yes, I will take him there to choose but I am very limited as none are being advertised. I am very concerned about him although he is running around happily enough but I refuse to go to a shop and I don't think they would let him choose for himself, they would just want a sale.

Hugs
Jo xx

[Bean]

When I was looking for wives for the boys, Camp Nibble (my favourite local rescue) had no ladies in, neither did the RSPCA or another rescue a bit further away. Of course as soon as I'd got my girls (one was given to us by a friend who didn't have time to look after her anymore, and the other we got through a free ad) two of the rescues got in females - I nearly scooped them all up but restrained myself reminding myself how much space we have! Luckily they all found homes - I kept an eye, just in case!

Merley sounds like he's doing just fine, so I'm sure he can wait a little longer for the right little lady to need your help.

[3piggles]

He does sound as if he's adjusting. I think he's finished mourning, and is ready for a new mate, as well as able to be on his own for a while. We went for a few years without having a single guinea pig for sale or adoption, anywhere in New Hampshire. It was really weird. That's when I started adopting from the Massachusetts SPCA where I got Grishy, Mia, Momo, Noodles and Oodles. It's such a great rescue, though it's best for people who already know a lot about guinea pigs. They staff mean well, but they don't know what the signs mean, so would match the wrong pigs.

Have you tried The Piggy Bank? www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1w4KG-5WpUKJ7_BfiT6WI4pvqIMQ&hl=en_US

If there is a seemingly good match at one of the rescues in the UK, there might be a way to get that piggy to your friends rescue, for you. I see different people setting up transportation around the UK or US, so the animals get where they are most likely to be adopted. Also, perhaps your friend could contact some of the other rescues, and see if they have a sow she thinks Merle would like.

[jolovespiggies]

Thank you Bean love, he does actually seem q

[jolovespiggies]

Let's try again lol!

Thanks Bean hunni He does seem quite happy on his own at the moment. Thanks for that piggles love, Sidmouth is about two hours drive from here so I would have to have a word with them first and make the necessary arrangements. I will have to have a word with Paul and see what he says.

Hugs
JO xx