Enriching The Life Of A Lone Piggie...

[missbrittany]

Hello all! It's been a very long time since I posted anything. Not sure if anyone remembers my two little girls, Sophie and Penny. Unfortunately, I had to put down my sweet Penny last summer. Vets believed she had an infection in her brain and there was no guarantee that medication would make her better.

Since then my other piggie Sophie has been alone. She seems to be doing okay with it considering she was never very close to Penny. However I think she is bored as she spends a lot of time just sitting in her hut. I would like to take a break from owning pigs for a while after Sophie crosses the rainbow bridge so I would prefer not to get another guinea pig. I've tried looking for rescues near me that have older pigs but there aren't any. Does anyone have any suggestions for enrichment that their pigs seem to really like?

 

[sport_billy]

Hello, welcome back to the forum. Yes I remember your piggies. So sorry you lost little Penny.

I understand you not wanting to carry on the cycle of guinea pigs and at some point it will break for all of us in our life

Lots of attention from you in the evenings and maybe some boredom buster type toys. Hay chubes are always good they are chubes covered with hay and can be bought from most pet supply stores in UK bit unsure on US though, maybe kitchen rolls with a silt in the middle filled with hay too. HAve a read of this thread here Guinea Pig Toys

Lots of love to Sophie

 

[DM030819]

Have you tried asking a rescue if you could foster a pig long term, and return her when Sophie passes away?

I think the majority of rescues has a clause in their application form stating that you return the pig to them anyway if you have to rehome them, so it makes sense for them to offer this option.

That's what I'm hoping to do when one of my boars passes away. I need a break from being a pig owner.

 

[Critter]

Have you tried asking a rescue if you could foster a pig long term, and return her when Sophie passes away?

I think the majority of rescues has a clause in their application form stating that you return the pig to them anyway if you have to rehome them, so it makes sense for them to offer this option.

That's what I'm hoping to do when one of my boars passes away. I need a break from being a pig owner.

Oooh that's a good idea!

 

[flowerfairy]

The op mentions that they have tried looking for older pigs in rescues but with no success.

 

[Critter]

The op mentions that they have tried looking for older pigs in rescues but with no success.

Yes, but a temporary foster of a pig of any age until Sophie passes away may be a possibility perhaps? I like the theory of that, I am not sure if it's something a rescue would consider as they may wish for their pigs to only go to permanent homes, or for a fosterer to take one on the rescues terms, not just until Sophie passes, but it's perhaps worth an ask?

 

[DM030819]

That's my thinking. It was a rescue that mentioned it to me at first.

I know they prefer to send a pig to a permanent home, but in reality no home is permanent, circumstances change. Offering a home for as long as you can is a good option.

I'd be happy to take on a pig as if it were my own, pay for everything out of my own pocket and return him either when the rescue wants him, or when he becomes a lone pig.

 

[missbrittany]

Thank you all for the advice! Unfortunately there really aren't any guinea pig rescues near me. I also know my personality and do not think I would be able to just foster a guinea pig, I know I would get too attached and would not be able to give them back. I have bought Sophie some new cage furniture so hopefully that'll spark her interest.