I just thought I would post to let folks know how the year has begun at the rescue I visit.
So far, in the month of January, 38 piggies have been taken in by the rescue. There are 11 on the waiting list for space.
25 piggies have found new homes, so there is quite a good through put, which is what we like to see.
There are currently 58 piggies in the rescue looking for new homes. Some are still completing their quarantine period and some are females on pregnancy watch, but there are plenty available to adopt.
January ended in the same vane, with a group of 6 coming in. They are serving out their quarantine and have already been reserved. I, personally, am very pleased that they will be rehomed as a group because it is rare to find someone who wants more than 2 and this group is unusual. They are a mum and Dad (The Dad has been neutered.) plus 4 of their sons, who have also all been neutered. I must say it is unique in my experience to find so many males living peacefully together, especially with a female. They are all of adult age and have lived like this for quite some time.
Their new home will be spectacular, by the sound of it, with three levels and the sides all perspex so they can be seen at all times.
I'm glad so many needful piggies have had a good start to the year, it's just a shame that so many need the help.
February looks set to continue in the same vane. This could be a record year!!
It's great that you work at that Rescue, Cibach. Now where do those Guinea pigs come from, and how do they come to the Rescue? What's their story?
Is it a similar story to many animals who come to Rescues because their owners are moving....getting other pets....are old or ill, and can't look after them any more? Or is it because people get Guinea Pigs on a whim, and maybe for their children, then find they can't cope with their needs?
Glynneath is having quite a year so far. Taking in 38 piggies in one month is a lot.
That is quite a turnover you are having. Finding homes for 25 piggies is doing very well.
Did everybody get guinea pigs and then change their mind?
I am glad the six piggies found a home together. A group like that belongs together. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to adopt a family of piggies. It sounds like they have a perfect set up too.
I have always wanted to adopt a group like that.
Maybe some day I will. If my big enclosure is ever empty I will be tempted.
Keep us posted about the shelter. I love hearing how things are going.
How are your piggies doing.
That is such a wonderful rescue place. The little piggies need homes, too. Yes.
Glynneath is amazing. They once took in 27 piggies at once, many of whom were pregnant. If Wales was not so far away I am sure I would have more guinea pigs. They are all so cute.
(02-05-2016, 04:19 AM)Tobi Wrote: [ -> ]Now where do those Guinea pigs come from, and how do they come to the Rescue? What's their story?
Is it a similar story to many animals who come to Rescues because their owners are moving....getting other pets....are old or ill, and can't look after them any more? Or is it because people get Guinea Pigs on a whim, and maybe for their children, then find they can't cope with their needs?
Well we hear all sorts of stories as to why the piggies are being surrendered. There are all the usual ones, the kids got bored, the home is being sold and the new place has nowhere for the piggies, one partner has left and they were that person's piggies. Mostly they are excuses rather than reasons, but I feel the piggies are better off at the rescue than with people who don't really want them.
The common reason just now is that the children have suddenly become allergic to them. I'd rather people just said that they don't want them any more or that they were more work than they realised than make up excuses.
The saddest one for me was Goldie. She was 7 which is a very good age for a piggy, and had become "too inconvenient" as a new baby had arrived. She was clearly in the last months of her life as she had "shrinking pig" syndrome and when I saw her at the rescue she was depressed and sedentary. Suzy didn't think she would last her 2 week quarantine. My heart went out to her and as soon as we could take her, she came to stay. To my surprise she slotted right into the herd and took up with our similarly aged sow and for the 8 weeks that she lived with us they were inseparable.
She sprang back to life and lived it to the full. The herd embraced her and guided her through her last weeks and saw her to the end, keeping her company and never letting her be alone, right to the end.
Guinea pigs are very family orientated and ours welcomed her into theirs whole heartedly.
There is a small number of rescue "friends" who trawl the Free ads looking for piggies for sale, or worse, "free to a good home". Any "free to a good home" are picked up as soon as possible. Any for sale, the seller is guided to the rescue site and encouraged to give them up rather than sell them. It doesn't always work, but quite a few of the piggies come in this way too.
The rescue capacity is officially 40, but in all the years I've been going there I can think of only 2 occasions when there were that few piggies there. Considering it is run out of a small family home with no official funding I think Suzy does remarkably well!!
That is a very good idea, to guide people from the Free Ads sites to your Rescue. Hopefully people who have Piggies they can't cope with for one reason or another will be glad to give them in to the Rescue instead of letting them go to new people they know nothing about.
Of course, it's more had work for Glynneath, but better for the Piggies.
Children who 'suddenly become allergic'? Maybe those children are just catching colds from other children....as most often happens.
I know there are genuine allergy victms around, but hear so much about 'allergies' these days, I wonder what's going on! Apart from the very rare and occasional 'hayfever'....no-one HAD allergies in the old days!
Quote:Mostly they are excuses rather than reasons, but I feel the piggies are better off at the rescue than with people who don't really want them.
This is so true. People can't tell the truth even to themselves. They make excuses for getting rid of a pet. It makes them feel better about themselves. You know they are lying and they know you know, but they will still pretend they have a good reason for dumping a pet.
Goldie was a sad story. It had a fairy-tale ending because your piggies were such fine people. It was wonderful how they took her in and made her happy.
I hate pet dumpers. People take a baby pet and then when it grows up they dump it or get a different pet. No pet deserves that and they deserve no pet.
That is a good idea to check adds for piggies. I makes sure they end up in the right place where they have a chance at a good life.
What you all do at Glynneaths is amazing. Suzy is a guinea pig guardian angel.
Thinking about the allergy situation, years ago a new roommate said she was suddenly allergic to my cat. So I said that is too bad, I will move out(and take my rent money with me) and wow the allergies were gone by the next day.