Bess Made A Bid For Freedom

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I had a heartsink moment this afternoon - I am still getting over the shock.

When I 1st got my guinea pigs, I bought one of these runs.

triangular run.webp

I have never liked it but my OH has dissuaded me from buying anything else. The doors open outwards, and I have never felt secure trying to get my guinea pigs back out of it after use.

Anyway, my worst nightmare happened today. I was collecting them in after their lawn time. I caught Sparkle easily and took her straight in to their cage upstairs. Somehow, when I was dealing with Max, Bess made a successful escape attempt.

I can' remember exactly what happened, it all happened so quickly but I will never forget seeing Bess's beautiful ginger bum disappearing under the hedge. Fortunately, Max stayed put and I managed to grab her bum before it disappeared forever. It felt like an eternity while I was trying to position my hands so I had her securely held.

My OH is away at the moment and I have just put an order in for 2 of these.

http://www.kennelgate.co.uk/item/Wa...nimal-Hideout-Hut-42x50x46cm/888#.U4o6Bigmn3A

I'm going to be much happier using the hideout huts and a peg out run.
 
Sounds horrible I would have been distraught! I have a top opening run and I transport pigs to the grass in a cat carrier. The biggest group I have is four which is quite heavy but they fit into the carrier. So I put carrier in the run and they get in and out themselves whilst in the run for safety!
 
Briony_S said:
Sounds horrible I would have been distraught! I have a top opening run and I transport pigs to the grass in a cat carrier. The biggest group I have is four which is quite heavy but they fit into the carrier. So I put carrier in the run and they get in and out themselves whilst in the run for safety!
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It was horrible. It felt like an eternity when I was trying to get hold of her securely . I didn't want to hurt her but I knew the consequences if she got away. I was still shaking 2 hours later - by which time all 3 guinea pigs were well settled back in their cage and wheeking for some supper.

The new hideouts will be top opening. I transport mine in a bucket - not as dignified as a pet carrier - but it is secure.
 
Wow, so lucky that you caught her and got her back. I have done away with my ark style run for much the same reason and now have one of those metal grid ones that slot together. No chance of any of my little Houdinis managing to escape from that one!
 
I can well imagine your feelings of shock & relief when you caught her.. My Hazelnut got away from my granddaughter in the garden one day & he was faster than either one of us humans. Fortunately he hid between the fence & the back of a shrub & sort of got himself stuck in the shrub's lowset dividing branches. I had to brave eyepokes & bare arm scratches from the branches crawling in for him, but eventually grabbed him. We now only use top opening doors on cages & runs to get the boys in & out.
 
Glad you managed to get her back. This is always a fear of mine :(
 
Oh goodness. ..my heart sank for you until I got to the " grabbed ginger bum bit ""so glad this ended positively! That feeling is awful, we have our Chins in the lounge atm due to warm weather and the OH was changing their fleece when Luna jumped out, ran into the kitchen and the back door was open....the only thing that stopped her was......rain. A downpour luckily and it scared her.... we felt sick. So glad you managed to grab that lil ginger bum :)
 
Oh my goodness I can imagine how scary that was. :( we use a top opening run for this reason. I'm glad you managed to grab her before she got away x
 
Its always horrible when they managed to escape but dont feel bad, I'm sure every pig owner could tell you an escape story!

When two of mine were little, one of them managed to squeeze through the bars of the run and into the neighbours garden, all in the space of me going into the house to grab some veggies! Next door lady came round and knocked on the door... "there is a ginger thing running around my garden squeaking!". Oops.

Needless to say they were not allowed lawn time until they were too big to get through the bars.

At least you got her back and they are all happy :)
 
Have dismantled the triangular run and am going to offer my local rescues it (IF they want it !).

Today, I have pegged out a run which is big enough hat I can get in it when it is time to catch them.

Guinea pigs are not being photogenic. This is the best picture I could get of her . Here she is - the little minx (Max in background).

Bess and Max.webp
 
when we first got piggies 5 years ago my OH bought one of those runs. 2 days later both girls escaped when I tried to bring them in at night.It was impossible to fling myself at 2 pigs darting in opposite directions. Chocolate was quickly caught but Ginger wasn't recaptured until 6 am the next morning (I got up early the next day after we had to abandon the search when it got dark.) I found her hiding nearby but it still took about an hour to finally get her as she had wedged herself in a really inaccessible nook . Very dramatic for me, the kids and Ginger. The run was of course immediately abandoned and we now have a lovely large run that opens at the top. Ginger is still with us and hasn't made a break for the border since!
 
cambpiggies said:
when we first got piggies 5 years ago my OH bought one of those runs. 2 days later both girls escaped when I tried to bring them in at night.It was impossible to fling myself at 2 pigs darting in opposite directions. Chocolate was quickly caught but Ginger wasn't recaptured until 6 am the next morning (I got up early the next day after we had to abandon the search when it got dark.) I found her hiding nearby but it still took about an hour to finally get her as she had wedged herself in a really inaccessible nook . Very dramatic for me, the kids and Ginger. The run was of course immediately abandoned and we now have a lovely large run that opens at the top. Ginger is still with us and hasn't made a break for the border since!
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I'm relieved to hear that you go Ginger back. Maybe I would have managed to get Bess back - but it was SO stressful . I was beside myself at the thought of losing her so, heavens only knows how I would have been if I had lost her. . Can't wait to get my hideys. Don't care what my OH says - I'm not going through that experience again if I can possibly avoid it.
 
That sounds absolutely terrifying, I'm so glad Max was a good baby and let you catch Bess. I'm rather lucky in that although my OH isn't keen on pets in general, he knows how important my Beany is to me so when it comes to the pig what I say GOES. You get those hideys and you use them, don't let him risk your piglets! <3
 
Really glad you managed to catch her. :D They can be slippery little so and so's at times.

I thought my youngest (Brunel) had slipped under my arm and made it out of the hutch the other day and was very relived to find him under a hay pile. He's still very young and a tad flighty to catch.

My husband nearly lost one of my first pair of boys when we hadn't been going out long. He thought he was being helpful and getting them in from the run for me when I was late home one evening from work and he happened to be visiting. I was told several months later that Sage had slipped under his arm and that he'd spent an hour attempting to catch him before he eventually managed to corner him.

Since then I've 'box trained' all my pigs to make it easier to him to get them in and out when he needs/wants to.
 
:eek: I have one of these runs . oh no I'm going to have to rethink and get rid of it now I only got it as it seems to be quite "animal proof" as I always worry a cat or (worse a fox) came into the garden while my back was turned. Ive had it 3 years and no escapes as of yet but must admit I do worry when its time to catch them
 
Gosh so glad you caught her. I bet you were shaking for a while afterwards.
 
piggylover said:
:eek: I have one of these runs . oh no I'm going to have to rethink and get rid of it now I only got it as it seems to be quite "animal proof" as I always worry a cat or (worse a fox) came into the garden while my back was turned. Ive had it 3 years and no escapes as of yet but must admit I do worry when its time to catch them
Click to expand...
I agree - they do look quite sturdy - and are very convenient. But, they are not for me and my Hoodinis
 
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