Finding A Friend For A Bereaved Pig

[Werezal]

Hey all,

I was wondering if you could help me with some suggestions. I had two boars who have lived together since they were babies but sadly one passed away last week leaving me with a very confused bereaved pig. I've followed all the advice on the forum and am currently trying to find him a new friend.

He isn't neutered so the RSPCA have told me they wouldn't consider letting me re-home, I've contacted a local pig rescue but he's on a waiting list to be paired up until January at least. Is there any other ways I can get him a friend in people's experience and if I do have to wait any suggestions on how to make sure he's a happy pig? I've made sure he has lots of toys to gnaw on and I give him extra attention and play time.

Any advice would be wonderful, thank you xx

 

[Wiebke]

Hey all,

I was wondering if you could help me with some suggestions. I had two boars who have lived together since they were babies but sadly one passed away last week leaving me with a very confused bereaved pig. I've followed all the advice on the forum and am currently trying to find him a new friend.

He isn't neutered so the RSPCA have told me they wouldn't consider letting me re-home, I've contacted a local pig rescue but he's on a waiting list to be paired up until January at least. Is there any other ways I can get him a friend in people's experience and if I do have to wait any suggestions on how to make sure he's a happy pig? I've made sure he has lots of toys to gnaw on and I give him extra attention and play time.

Unfortunately, we are also coming up to the time when rescues close over the festive period although some privately run rescue may make an exception for bereaved guinea pigs, depending on how busy they are.

Any advice would be wonderful, thank you xx

Hi! Great that you are caring so much about your boy. Would you please add your county to your details, so we can help you with further recommendations. Unfortunately, your options depend very much on your location; we can help you a lot better if we have an idea where you are. Please click on your username, go to personal details and scroll down to location. That is going to make it much easier for us to help you.

The RSCPA don't offer boar dating, with the exception of one or two more piggy savvy branches that will go as far as bonding rescue born baby boars (so they have any) with a full single adult boar.

 

[Werezal]

Hey Wiebke,

I think the absolutely world of my boy! I've been doing my best to be a substitute pig but I think he's aware I'm not quite the real deal Profile is now updated - I live in Portsmouth, Hampshire. I've contacted Wheek and Squeak and the Cat and rabbit rescue in Chichester. I've tried the RSPCA and Blue Cross too.

My boy is 2 years and 4 months and was the dominant of the two. I would be prepared to spend time bonding the pigs but I just want what's best for him and don't want him to be sad. Any help would be brilliant and your tips on supporting a bereaved pig were so helpful, thank you xx

 

[Wiebke]

Hey Wiebke,

I think the absolutely world of my boy! I've been doing my best to be a substitute pig but I think he's aware I'm not quite the real deal Profile is now updated - I live in Portsmouth, Hampshire. I've contacted Wheek and Squeak and the Cat and rabbit rescue in Chichester. I've tried the RSPCA and Blue Cross too.

My boy is 2 years and 4 months and was the dominant of the two. I would be prepared to spend time bonding the pigs but I just want what's best for him and don't want him to be sad. Any help would be brilliant and your tips on supporting a bereaved pig were so helpful, thank you xx

Could you get as far as Sidmouth? I know that it is quite a stretch, but Erica at @Little Pips Rehoming does residential boar bonding. It is at least worth asking to see whether she may be able to fit you in before Christmas. The other good rescues are all Bristol way, so again quite a stretch. You have covered your immediate area, so I am very sorry that you haven't been successful closer to home.

Having been in your situation with urgently needing to find a new companion for acutely pining bereaved piggies of my own before I was able to start a group, I really sympathise. I ended up with having to go quite a distance, too, even though it was a case of no sows to be found in the whole central Midlands at the time...

 

[Werezal]

I think Sidmouth might be a little bit too far, I was just imaging Charlie sitting in the car for an hour let alone a good few! Thank you for the advice though, Bristol might be more of a better option in terms of travel.

Thank you for your sympathy, Its mad to think that they're so rare! I admire your determination! I really don't want to buy a baby from a pet shop when I know I could give a rescue piggy a good life. Have you ever tried to bond an older gent with a baby male?xx

 

[Wiebke]

I think Sidmouth might be a little bit too far, I was just imaging Charlie sitting in the car for an hour let alone a good few! Thank you for the advice though, Bristol might be more of a better option in terms of travel.

Thank you for your sympathy, Its mad to think that they're so rare! I admire your determination! I really don't want to buy a baby from a pet shop when I know I could give a rescue piggy a good life. Have you ever tried to bond an older gent with a baby male?xx

As an encouragement, I have travelled over three hours on the train with guinea pigs from 7 weeks of age to 9 year old ones (that one as as part of a several days' journey all the way from the Channel Islands to Liverpool, which she and her companions all survived just fine).
5 year old widower Bryn Oscar did come all the way from Barnsley to join my own elderly and frail ladies for the happiest year of his life; I picked him up at a rescue fundraiser in Doncaster, which was another 3 hour train journey, but it didn't seem to fuss him at all when it came to happily finishing off all his dinner veg on the way!
My 3 year old Taffy and Nerys, both on daily meds, travelled 6 hours in the car each way with us for a week in North Wales.
Travelling with guinea pigs

As I have strictly only sows and neutered boars, I have never bonded two boars myself, but it can be done. I have seen several happy pairings. You just have to be aware that not every baby boar will necessarily click and that there is the awkward time when the youngster hits the big hormones which can lead to fall-outs. Other forum members can help you more on that score.

 

[scott1]

In the meantime, if you have a small powder mirror, or small mirror put it in his cage, just to give him a sense he's not alone. For some pigs this works like a charm, or others it does nothing. But it might be a good "band-aid" until you find someone new.

 

[Julesie]

Thank you for your sympathy, Its mad to think that they're so rare! I admire your determination! I really don't want to buy a baby from a pet shop when I know I could give a rescue piggy a good life. Have you ever tried to bond an older gent with a baby male?xx

I have done this with my most recent guinea pig. He was four years old when we sadly lost my guinea pig Matthew. I put them in the hallway with a bowl of vegetables and they got on quite well. I sat with them for a good two hours just watching them in the hallway and the little baby tried to mount my elder male a few times but quickly learnt Romano was the head man of the place and now he is constantly following Romano around like a little duckling. When I got him he was five weeks old so very young. I found Romano tended to act more like a father towards him. You just have to know that theres a chance of when the little one grows up they may fall out if the baby decides he wants to be dominant if your piggie is dominant. So far that hasn't happened with Romano and Bakura but I am closely watching them as hes about 7 months old roughly now.

The main thing I suggest is trying to decide if you want to risk them falling out a year down the line which may or may not happen and has only happened once to me out of four bondings, or getting an older male from a rescue.

Before Romano and Bakura I paired Gilbert 3 years old at the time with baby Ryou and they got on very well. So much so that when when Gilbert got ill Ryou (1 at that time) became very protective and stood over Gilbert protectively as I was taking him to the vet to go to heaven. It was very sweet/sad.

 

[Cute_Guineapigs]

I was in your position earlier this year. I had 2 boars, when sadly 1 had to be put to sleep. Elmo was on his own, and I tried rescues, and even went on a boar date with an adult boar at the rescue. The rescue boar was too dominant and we stopped it before fighting ensued. My friend had a single boar looking for a home, so I tried Elmo with him. They bonded straight away with no issues. They are still happily bonded.

My friend still had one single boar that she was looking to rehome, so I got him as well and named him Charlie. I kept him in a separate cage and I knew he'd need a friend of his own. I again tried rescue and did boar dates, but Charlie was too dominant for other adult boars. I thought about neutering and bonding to a sow, but because of living arrangements, I decided it wasn't practical. So my last option was a baby boar. I didn't want to buy from a pet shop and the rescues didn't have any babies at the time, so I went to a good breeder. Harry was nervous but seemed suitable. I bonded them in the supervised neutral area for 8 HOURS before I thought it was safe to move them to their cage. They both seemed dominant but after a while, they settled together. They are happy together now, they play and popcorn together. Harry is 6 months old now and I'm aware he could become more dominant but having a back-up plan and awareness of piggy language should help.

Bonding to a baby boar can be done, but it needs careful planning, a back-up plan in case it all goes wrong and an understanding of piggy language. Hope that helps.

 

[Werezal]

Thank you for the suggestion Scott1, I've placed a tiny compact mirror in his cage just in the hope he feels he isn't alone.

Julesie I'm so so sorry for your loses it must've been heartbreaking. Both yours and Cute_Guineapigs stories have been so helpful, thank you. I know that with this decision I almost need to be prepared for the possibility it might not work. I've spent the last couple of weeks trawling forums trying to learn about behaviours and make sense of how he might be feeling right now. I've been in touch with two more rescues since my last post but I'm waiting on people to come Inspect my home.

Charlie's mood seems to fluctuate, he was doing really well but seems to have become a bit low again the last two days. I've tried extra attention but am conscious not to over feed him. I think if I don't hear anything back from the rescues within the next few days I'm going to have to intensify my search as I don't want his quality of life to be impacted. Your piggies all have the most wonderful names! thank you again for all of your help, I'm determined to try and offer a little pig a good home and support my boy xx

 

[Werezal]

It breaks my heart seeing how many single piggies there are on gumtree and pre-loved who are up for sale because children lost interest they're such beautiful affectionate animals. Wish I could adopt them all!