Finding a new friend.

[Merv987]

I posted here a couple of weeks ago because one our little guinea pigs died, we're now ready to find our little snuggles a new friend, she actually seems quite happy, comes out far more for cuddles, and is probably eating a bit too well, (it's harder to do portion control for one piggy) but we kniw she'll be happier with a friend. The thing that worries me, and I mean no offence to anyone, is if a rescue centre with find us worth of letting us have a new piggy. We have a large cage 150cm long, but it's in a very messy conservatory/junk room. It's off my girls bedroom, which is even messier, (how we like it). It gets hot, but we have a fan and leave the doors open in summer, and they have a heater and heat pad in winter.
A few years ago we wanted to adopt cars from a cat rescue place, we found 2 we liked, went everyday for a week to bond, but at the end they wouldn't let us take the cats because if paperwork regarding the lease on our owned flat. My daughters were really upset, we ended up getting cats from gumtree.
Anyway, can anyone tell me if they are likely to say no, how strict are they? Wheek and squeak near Southampton is our nearest piggy rescue place.

 

[Merv987]

I forgot to say, our piggies are/would be 4. One passed away about 6 months ago, the second 2 weeks ago, both showed no sign of being ill, but is that a possible reason they wouldn't let us have a new friend for ours, I've flowed all the guides I can find, but we still lost 2 piggies.

 

[Wiebke]

I posted here a couple of weeks ago because one our little guinea pigs died, we're now ready to find our little snuggles a new friend, she actually seems quite happy, comes out far more for cuddles, and is probably eating a bit too well, (it's harder to do portion control for one piggy) but we kniw she'll be happier with a friend. The thing that worries me, and I mean no offence to anyone, is if a rescue centre with find us worth of letting us have a new piggy. We have a large cage 150cm long, but it's in a very messy conservatory/junk room. It's off my girls bedroom, which is even messier, (how we like it). It gets hot, but we have a fan and leave the doors open in summer, and they have a heater and heat pad in winter.
A few years ago we wanted to adopt cars from a cat rescue place, we found 2 we liked, went everyday for a week to bond, but at the end they wouldn't let us take the cats because if paperwork regarding the lease on our owned flat. My daughters were really upset, we ended up getting cats from gumtree.
Anyway, can anyone tell me if they are likely to say no, how strict are they? Wheek and squeak near Southampton is our nearest piggy rescue place.

Wheek & Squeak is the best piggy rescue in your area (and the only we can recommend) and they offer residential dating - lucky you! Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

You have to ask the rescue whether they are OK to rehome to a family with smaller children (some rescues have stopped after fatal accidents with adopted piggies from unsupervised handling/fatal freak jumps).
I would also not be quite surprised if they may have concerns about the conservatory during heat waves/extreme heat in summer or cold spells as your measures sound somehwat inadequate for the new extremes that come with climate change and that are bound to broken again in the near future. Keep in mind that the outside air coming into the house on a hot day is sun warmed and can be hotter than the inside of the house!

But as long as you signal that you are willing to cooperate with the rescue to find practical solutions with their help for any concerns that they may have, you are starting on a good foot. All they can do is say no. I would just enquire before telling your girls.

Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs