Don't know what to do

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Alicia

Alicia

Adult Guinea Pig
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My 3 guinea-pigs are living in a 4ft hutch, I know its not ideal but its the biggest hutch I have and Mum won't let me buy another one. I've also got two 3ft hutches, which are both really bad quality and are very near the ground so if it rains, water gets in them. I just assumed that when the 4ft hutch fell apart she'd let me buy another one, but the 4ft hutch is breaking and she wants me to put them in a 3ft hutch instead. I told her no way am I putting 3 guinea-pigs in a 3ft hutch but she can't see the problem. I've covered the 4ft hutch with tarpaulin to try and keep it from falling apart more but I'm annoyed that I can't spend my own money on a new hutch for them. It's the same with everything, I earn £43 a week, and from my 17th birthday next month £40 of that per week will be going on driving lessons. I don't want to learn to drive, but my parents say I need to so there's all my money gone. It annoys me that I work for my money and can't spend it on what I want to.
I don't know what to do about the housing problem, the 4ft hutch is ok for now but I really want to get them a new hutch and I don't understand why Mum won't let me buy a new one. They have a 6ft run attached to their hutch so in the day time they have lots of space but at night time they are shut up in that tiny hutch. I want to give them so much more and for stupid reasons I can't. They deserve much better and I really want them to be happy piggies, but I know they're not. I've never seen them popcorn, and I see all the lucky piggies on here who have loads of space and look so happy and I want to do that for my guinea-pigs.
Sorry for the rant I just needed to rant somewhere.
 
Perhaps a compromise would be the best way forward. Have you sat down with your mum and explained how you feel and what you hope to do with your money - dont say "I want...", say "I would like..." and give her the reasons behind why.

Driving lessons are a great idea, but cars are expensive to run and lessons themselves are not that cheap either, so maybe if you do a block of say 10, then if you could save up in the mean time even a little a week you can say to her that you have x amount towards a new hutch for them and have managed to do well in your lessons, perhaps as a reward for doing well at driving a new hutch could be a gift.
 
Try sitting down with your mum and explaining properly why a 3ft foot hutch isn't an ideal space for three piggies and talk about how you would like to use some of your own money to put towards a new hutch. Driving lessons are extremely expensive and I think it is a bit of a big ask to expect you to pay £40 a week for driving lessons leaving you with just £3 left :(

I love Pepperdogs idea that if you do well in your driving, a new hutch would be a great idea for a reward :)

As your birthday is coming up, may be you could ask for a new hutch and nothing else or at least some money to go towards it. I know it sounds silly but I once received a second hutch for my girls that stays at my parents house when we go and visit them as a birthday present and it was great.
 
Or maybe you can find a second hand hutch someone is getting rid of that is either free or doesn't cost you much.
 
Sorry, but I read that you were working for that money, is that from a job or do your parents give it to you for chores?

If you have a job and earn that money, then it's yours to keep and do what you want with IMO. You've gone out and attained a job and work to earn that money, so it's simply unfair for your parents to depict what you spend that money on.

How old are you? I would personally make a bit of a stand (though I am strong willed and my parents like that) and say that it's your money and you will spend it how you like, and as you don't want to start driving yet you will be spending 2 weeks wages on a new hutch for your animals, for which you have a responsibility and a duty of care for.

Just my opinion
 
Yes, the money's from a job :) I've tried most of these, taking a stand probably won't work because if Mum says no then I can't really. I have been tempted to just buy a hutch but I know I'd be in loads of trouble. It just annoys me so much, its my own money. Mum earns her money and spends it on what she wants to, why can't I. My parents won't buy me anything for the pets for my birthday and I don't think they'd give me a gift for doing the driving lessons, because they see it as something I have to do and they expect me to want to learn to drive just because my sister was so excited to drive. Thank you for the replies
 
Aw, this is so sad - you want what's best for them and it must be sooo frustrating.
Can you not 'save' a bit and then say someone gave you a brand new hutch...:x
Have you got an understanding relative who could have a friendly chat with your parents - sorry, but I hate to hear of young people being 'forced' into something they don't really want to do because their parents make them. I mean, live by their rules to an extent but you are also allowed to have interests of your own :)
My son's ex girlfriend was forced to go to Uni to train as a teacher by her ultra strict parents - their options were teaching or to be a doctor (neither of them were her choice)
Her job was too stressful for her and she was a wreck...so sad :( She practically lived here with us as she hated her home life and finally moved in with her grandmother when her and my son broke up (mainly due to her anxiety through work) !
 
Why don't you join your local freegle (freecycle) group and see if anyone is giving one away. That's what I done with Lola and Angel's hutch. I got it for nothing off freegle and a friend renovated it for me. Result - brilliant double decker hutch that didn't cost a penny. ;)
 
I spoke to her tonight, and it just turned into an arguement and she told me I don't spend enough time with my pets or love them. It's made me so annoyed because she only said that because I don't do things her way. I either spend too much time with them or not enough. I can't do anything right for my Mum so I really don't care what she thinks, I'm going to buy a new hutch whether she likes it or not. I will be saving money from now for a new hutch, not driving lessons. I'll get to them when I want to do them
 
perhaps do one driving lesson per week with an independent school I think £20 is the going rate right now , no need to rush the learning if you actually dont need to drive yet :-) about 20-30 lessons is about normal to pass so its only like less than 6 months and you will have your license
 
I am quite a DIY person and in this position, I would use the two 3 foot hutches to repair and expand the bigger one. Wouldn't need to spend anything that way and you would be recycling the others.

Just an idea :)
 
Well done for sticking to your guns.

You could point your mum in the direction of the RSPCA minimum standards?

Maybe if money is a big thing for her, you could point out that forcing them to live in a hutch that's too small, they'll end up fighting and bite wounds will need veterinary treatment, which is hardly cheap!

I know how it feels to have that kind of thing going on with your mother, mine is very similar! It's certainly not an easy position to be in. Apparently I don't love my animals or treat them well either. I hardly think that spending £2000 in vets bills for one guinea pig is not treating them well. In my mum's case, it's her doing what she knows will get a reaction from me, so I've stopped giving her that satisfaction!
 
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