Bereaved Winnie

As @Bill & Ted said, it’s about personality.
One option would be to foster a companion who could go back to the rescue as and when you lose Winnie.
I think some forum members have done this in a similar situation.
Breaking the cycle is hard but sometimes we all need to end, even if only for a short time.
 
Thanks, I will speak to the rescues. I would feel bad taking a pig on as if we are a forever home and then taking it back to start again with a new family… but if it’s an older lady, I know one of the rescues had a bit of a ‘retirement corner’ for old sows and maybe that would be an option for them when the time comes. If we did foster a girl, I would pay all medical fees etc and be happy to ‘sponsor’ her for the rest of her life if we have to return her back to the rescue.

We love having pigs, but losing 2 out of 3 beloved pigs before they turn 3 years old (despite our best efforts and vet care) has been quite traumatic, actually not so much the ages but especially the very sudden and seemingly helpless circumstances of their deaths and all the what ifs.… and we’ve had our fair share of trauma from sudden human loss and illness too in recent years, which makes for a lot of heartache all in all.

So I’m not sure what’s next. But any piggy we take for any length of time, will be cared for to the very best of our abilities and hopefully one day we can have a happy ending.
 
Update on Winnie - she’s been at a rescue since Sunday hoping to meet a couple of 4 year old girls who are also sadly bereaved. The first girl didn’t work out and so they stopped trying that pair yesterday, so after a rest Winnie is now been tried with the second one, a lovely little fluffbomb who is very timid. They spent the evening and night as neighbours through a divide and have been together since this morning. Apparently they’re not really interacting with each other and both being reserved but at least there’s no fighting so hopefully a good sign. It’s taken us a few weeks to find single pigs so I hope this one works out! Will update when we know more. As ever, we’re in total awe of the expertise and time that the rescue person puts into this just to match 2 piggies, it’s such a massive ask and so appreciated.. and whether we come home with a new girl or not, they deserve thanks and a fair donation for the sheer time alone that’s been put in.

Keeping paws crossed this one is a match..
 
thank you, we haven’t heard yet today and I don’t want to bother the rescue as I know these things take time but I’m hoping no news is good news?! I’m sure she’ll message soon either way. Hopefully we hear soon. We need to know if it’s time to buy a hat or time to start looking for another friend!
 
we just got this update ☺️ won’t count my chickens but it sounds positive I think!

The girls have been together all day today. It has been quite difficult to monitor them as they are both shy and haven't interacted very much while I've been in the room with them, but what I have seen has been positive. If there was going to be any chasing or fighting I would have seen it by now. I'm therefore planning to leave them together overnight and assuming all goes well, they should be ready to come home to you tomorrow.
 
LucyP said:
As ever, we’re in total awe of the expertise and time that the rescue person puts into this just to match 2 piggies, it’s such a massive ask and so appreciated.. and whether we come home with a new girl or not, they deserve thanks and a fair donation for the sheer time alone that’s been put in.
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I just wanted to say I agree totally with this comment. It's exactly how I felt last Jan when I left Toffee at a rescue hoping to be matched with Spice. The lady at the rescue took such a lot of trouble. Like your Winnie it took a bit of time but she persisted and I'm forever grateful.

Fingers crossed that you can bring Winnie home tomorrow with a new friend 🤞
 
Thanks so much, fingers crossed! It still feels emotional, I still need to collect Mabel’s ashes from the vets and we’re still in shock that she’s gone, so in that sense it feels hard and surreal to bring a new girl home. But the new girl is bereaved too, she really needs a friend and we will 100% give her the best life we possibly can and love her just as much as any of the girls we’ve had. It’s just all quite unexpected still. I will be so relieved if we bring home the new friend though and that’s the main feeling right now!
 
Sorry me again with a quick practical question! If I do go to collect the two girls tomorrow after their bonding, will they be ok to share one carrier? I know normally you’d always put a pair together but I ask because last time we brought a newly bonded girl home (Mabel) she spent the whole car journey moving around this carrier and making noises, she seemed really agitated. I wonder if it’s normal for two newly bonded pigs to need more space and if I should take a second carrier so they can come back in one each? I have a spare one.

Many thanks
Lucy
 
I should add they’ll be a car for about an hour
 
Many thanks - I emailed her earlier but haven’t heard so will take the spare with me just in case.
 
I've always taken a spare if we go on a trip even with my well bonded pairs. I do have boars though! It's a safety net just in case.
 
I’d definitely separate on the journey home. So glad they have found new friends. 🥰
 
The rescue have said on this occasion as they are both small and very timid she would advise they travel together in one carrier but to take the spare in case there are issues and we can pop one of them in that if needed. They’re still getting on well this morning so this sounds like a match! Very excited.
 
Oh what sad news - so sorry for your loss and hope Winnie doesn't pine too much. Sending you a hug x
 
Thanks so much - she seems to be managing ok this time and we’re hoping to bring her a new friend today so will see how she gets on
 
LucyP said:
Sorry me again with a quick practical question! If I do go to collect the two girls tomorrow after their bonding, will they be ok to share one carrier? I know normally you’d always put a pair together but I ask because last time we brought a newly bonded girl home (Mabel) she spent the whole car journey moving around this carrier and making noises, she seemed really agitated. I wonder if it’s normal for two newly bonded pigs to need more space and if I should take a second carrier so they can come back in one each? I have a spare one.

Many thanks
Lucy
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Hi

I am so glad that the bonding is working out and that your wait and patience have borne fruit. :yahoo:

Rescue bonding is really worth the extra effort and circumstances if you can access it. Once you realise just how much care and time is going into the piggies in care, you understand why responding can sometimes be a bit sluggish. :clap:

Yes, after two days their bond should be strong enough to bring them home together; they should be past the rough bit and well into the small group establishing small print. It is the quick dating half to an hour pairs that have only taken the first hurdle (acceptance) in the bonding hurdles race. Yours should be alread on the home straight. ;)

What I would recommend that is you wipe the two piggies with a rag; then run it over carrier inside and leave the rag in the carrier so it smells of their combined group scent. This signals 'part of our group territory' to them.
If your anxiety is too high and your attention will be distracted from the road, then please take two carriers but have both of them carrying the mingled group scent. Stage a quick re-intro on neutral ground with a welcoming hay pile and some veg before transferring them to their cage. Make sure that the cage also gets a quick wipe.

All th best for bringing Winnie and her new mate home.
 
Thanks so much for this advice! I’m going to be in a taxi and will be in the back with them. If I think they’re struggling I’ll ask the driver to stop so I can sort them out but hopefully we’ll have a smooth journey.

The rescues are amazing with what they do. They must have dozens if not hundreds of pigs pas through their hands and still each one gets so much care and love.
 
LucyP said:
Thanks so much for this advice! I’m going to be in a taxi and will be in the back with them. If I think they’re struggling I’ll ask the driver to stop so I can sort them out but hopefully we’ll have a smooth journey.

The rescues are amazing with what they do. They must have dozens if not hundreds of pigs pas through their hands and still each one gets so much care and love.
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If you can be with them, then a single carrier should work. You can also always ask the rescue for their assessment of the bond if you have concerns.

But I am looking forward to meeting Winnie's new friend!
 
Can't wait to see pictures of Winnie's new friend! What's her name?
 
Neither can I 😁 When Posh was bonded at my local rescue Tilly and Posh shared the same carrier home. It was a bit nerve racking as Tilly was so tiny and was making lots of squealing noises but they both survived the journey of around 45 minutes.
Hope it all goes well for them
 
Thanks everyone! They both stayed still on the way home and the new girl was understandably cautious for the first couple of hours at home but she’s been mooching and chutting a bit. She stayed in the corner for a while but when Winnie came over and ate the red pepper meant for her, she suddenly sparkled into life and came out for a good mooch around and a munch on the various hay piles scattered around. Winnie is very excited and keeps trotting round with her. There’s been some mild rumble noises from the new girl but Winnie is ignoring them and doesn’t seem too bothered at all.

Meet little Dottie….
 
The first pic is the rescue lady Sarah holding her, she gave her a haircut since then but she is still very fluffy!
 
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