Finding A New Friend For Bereaved Piggy

[Squeakums]

Hi, I'm looking for advice regarding finding a new friend for my recently bereaved boar, Leonard.
I have read the thread "Looking after a bereaved piggy" and it was very helpful.

Winnie pig, my other 4 year old boar, died suddenly on Tuesday, having had no apparent illness or injury in the days before. I'm guessing it was a heart attack but I'm too sad to dwell on the reason too much at the moment. However I am aware that I need to start thinking about finding a new friend for Leonard for his own good. He seems to be in normal health, is eating and drinking enough and there's no sign of an infection, injury or anything else that could imply he is also suffering from whatever may have caused Winnie's death. Although he seems physically well, it's obvious that he is lonely, upset and confused at his friend's death and has not been as active, vocal or greedy as he usually is.

Following the advice in the thread I mentioned before, I had a look at the Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator but there are not that many places near Liverpool where I live. I was wondering if the places listed on the locator are the only ones that are recommended or would I be safe going to other local rescue centres? Does anyone know of any other good places in the North West? Winnie and Leonard were both from Pets at Home (forgive me, I'm obviously not going back there) so I'm not familiar with rescue centres or breeders. I understand I will have to take Leonard to meet any potential friends before adopting them, particularly as Leonard seemed to be the Alpha Pig and has a bit of an attitude at times.

Sorry for the length of the post, but if anyone has any advice or can direct me to other useful existing threads that would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Louise

 

[Wiebke]

I am ever so sorry for your loss. It can really whack you badly! You are welcome to post a tribute in our Rainbow Bridge section whenever it feels right for you.

Unfortunately, the recommended rescues are the only ones that we can guarantee for being piggy savvy and to a good standard (quarantine/medical care, pregnancy watch and careful bonding as well as good conditions in the rescue). As things currently stand, anybody can call themselves a rescue without any licence/standard control needed. The results can be very dire - there are even a few that will breed from their rescue piggies; other "rescues" are just a conduit for breeders to get rid of unwanted "stock" they can't sell. the same is sadly still the case with some pet shop adoption centres too. Any other rescue or breeder that you want to use other than the ones we list is on your own risk and responsibility.

The RSPCA branches in most cases don't bond boars as they often don't have the knowledge and/or time. They are individually set up and run accordingly to different standards. The piggy savvy ones are listed in our rescue locator.

Could you get as far as Rainbow Rescue in Southport? Piggies travel well; I have travelled with piggies between 7 weeks and 9 years of age from places as far as Keighley, Doncaster, Wigan (from a fosterer), Mid- and South Wales, all on the train. It is worth going the extra distance if you can!
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/travelling-with-guinea-pigs.109071/

 

[Squeakums]

Thanks for your swift reply! Very useful advice, good to know that the rescues recommended here are known to be of a good standard. Leonard is fine with travelling, I just wanted to know my options in case I end up having to visit several places. I will definitely get in touch with Rainbow Rescue and hopefully they will have a suitable little guy. But in case they don't, would you be able to pass on the contact details of the fosterer in Wigan please?
Thanks again.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for your swift reply! Very useful advice, good to know that the rescues recommended here are known to be of a good standard. Leonard is fine with travelling, I just wanted to know my options in case I end up having to visit several places. I will definitely get in touch with Rainbow Rescue and hopefully they will have a suitable little guy. But in case they don't, would you be able to pass on the contact details of the fosterer in Wigan please?
Thanks again.

She is a supporter of Rainbow Rescue and served as stopover point for piggies I adopted from a rescue in Gretna five years ago. We only list rescues that have been visited and verified by somebody knowledgeable, so we can guarantee for them in the knowledge that that there won't be any unpleasant surprises for forum members.
The Potteries don't do boar dating, but if you can get as far as Milhaven in Keighley, they do and they have bonded a fair number of bereaved forum boars. Sadly, we a re still desperately short of good rescues in the Liverpool/Manchester area.

 

[AuntyC]

Good luck with finding a new friend for Leonard and sorry to hear about Winnie. I foster for rspca centre near Colwyn Bay but we have no piggies in residence at all at the moment......which is good in a way cos it means no piggies need rescuing near us!

 

[Squeakums]

She is a supporter of Rainbow Rescue and served as stopover point for piggies I adopted from a rescue in Gretna five years ago. We only list rescues that have been visited and verified by somebody knowledgeable, so we can guarantee for them in the knowledge that that there won't be any unpleasant surprises for forum members.
The Potteries don't do boar dating, but if you can get as far as Milhaven in Keighley, they do and they have bonded a fair number of bereaved forum boars. Sadly, we a re still desperately short of good rescues in the Liverpool/Manchester area.

Wiebke, according to the Potteries' website they do offer boar dating:
http://www.thepotteriesguineapigrescue.co.uk/ourservices.html

Maybe they have changed recently, but just so you know

Also I contacted Altrincham RSPCA asking about single boar adoption and the reply was:
"We don't tend to pair males together as they are very territorial and don't often get on. Any males we do have we would look to rehome with females."
Seems a bit strange to me? The woman I spoke to advised me to get Leonard neutered and then find him a female friend.
This has confused me as I thought that boars get on well in couples and neutering is a risky process and probably shouldn't be encouraged when there is no urgent need.

I'm still holding out for Rainbow Rescue who I have contacted via email and Facebook but have had no reply yet

 

[Wiebke]

Wiebke, according to the Potteries' website they do offer boar dating:
http://www.thepotteriesguineapigrescue.co.uk/ourservices.html

Maybe they have changed recently, but just so you know

Also I contacted Altrincham RSPCA asking about single boar adoption and the reply was:
"We don't tend to pair males together as they are very territorial and don't often get on. Any males we do have we would look to rehome with females."
Seems a bit strange to me? The woman I spoke to advised me to get Leonard neutered and then find him a female friend.
This has confused me as I thought that boars get on well in couples and neutering is a risky process and probably shouldn't be encouraged when there is no urgent need.

I'm still holding out for Rainbow Rescue who I have contacted via email and Facebook but have had no reply yet

It takes time and experience to bond boars; that is why not all rescues do it. You can contact the Potteries, they are a small rescue, so it very much depends on the piggies they have looking for homes; they have also switched to a neutering policy.

The RSPCA have got a strict boar neutering policy. A few branches still offer boar-baby bonding, but most will only bond cross gender, as boar dating needs both time and experience - and that is not something that all the different volunteer-run RSPCA branches have. We have listed those that are piggy savvy on our rescue locator.

 

[neuroticmum]

Hi, just wanted to add that I live in Wigan and back in March travelled to Milhaven GPR in Keighley to find a new friend for a bereaved boar, travel time was only around 45 mins by car and the trip was a great success, Bubbles (aged 5) met a new friend Clive (aged 18 months) and they lived together nicely for the past 9 months.

Sadly yesterday we lost Bubbles so now I am considering what to do about Clive, will probably end up going to Milhaven again to repeat the process.

Good luck to you and Leonard x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, just wanted to add that I live in Wigan and back in March travelled to Milhaven GPR in Keighley to find a new friend for a bereaved boar, travel time was only around 45 mins by car and the trip was a great success, Bubbles (aged 5) met a new friend Clive (aged 18 months) and they lived together nicely for the past 9 months.

Sadly yesterday we lost Bubbles so now I am considering what to do about Clive, will probably end up going to Milhaven again to repeat the process.

Good luck to you and Leonard x

I am very sorry for your loss! All the best for poor Clive!

 

[Squeakums]

Thanks Neuroticmum, so sorry for your loss. I have been in contact with Milhaven so will hopefully be visiting soon

 

[Squeakums]

Thought I should update - we visited the Potteries Guinea Pig rescue a few weeks ago and Leonard successfully bonded with a baby male who has come home with us and we have named him Butternut. They are getting on really well It took over a month to find a single male so we are thinking of neutering Butternut to avoid the problem next time.

 

[Wiebke]

What a lovely little boy and a gorgeous pair!

Neutering with the right vet would be an option, especially as the western side of the Midlands are not the best area for boar dating.