I did it! I now have 14 piggies!

Black piggies said:
That's great, hope it won't come to that. How's the bonding going?
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I think we're like 90% there on the bonding, it's pretty peaceful. I actually just moved them to an empty c&c cage with only a pile of hay and they are doing okay with that space. Everybody is in the hay together. I would have rather waited a little longer but my dog was coming back from his grandma's early and I needed to get them up off the floor. The logistics are a little weird right now because the bedroom I'd normally use has the pigs I'm quarantining. Ugh.
 
Yep! Unless there's a sudden turn I think they're going to make a nice herd. Sage might always be a bit of a grump about having friends though, ha.
 
Let us know how your meeting with the nurse goes. I hope she does prescribe them as ESA's for you. As you said, Guinea Pigs are hardly like 17 cats.
 
Featheryfriend said:
I got an appointment with my nurse practitioner for tomorrow. She's a wonderful lady so hopefully this is something she feels is within her power. I don't imagine she's ever prescribed 17 emotional support guinea pigs before but there's a first time for everything. I'm probably going to end up in the urgent care here for a shot of Valium, I am absolutely beside myself. 😬
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I put 'ha ha' at the thought of prescribing 17 guinea pigs, but I hope it doesn't come to needing urgent care or valium.
Sorry your landlord is being unhelpful, hope he comes to a sensible compromise. Perhaps if you offer to have the flat professionally cleaned when you end your lease. Just to make sure that every last bit of hay is removed from all those improbable difficult corners!
 
Well, a bit of good news at least, the bonding really clicked overnight! I swear they make more progress when I'm not looking at them, ha. Sage is being courteous to everyone. Parsley is delighted, she's a real pig's pig who loves everybody so she's who it was all for really. I gave them back their paper bags and they're all weaving in and out, so cute.
 
That's fantastic, well done on successful bonding! I'm pleased for Parsley, who was looking a bit underwhelmed by the dominance dance of the others.
 
Black piggies said:
That's fantastic, well done on successful bonding! I'm pleased for Parsley, who was looking a bit underwhelmed by the dominance dance of the others.
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Parsley just immediately submits to everyone she meets and gets it over with. 😂 She'd rather make friends than have a career in management!
 
Also... thank you so much everyone who's been participating in this little thread, checking it has really helped me stay grounded, first through the shock of suddenly gaining a huge herd of piggies and now the stress of dealing with these most lovely landlords. Hopefully I'll have good news to share later.
 
Regardless of the outcome today 🤞all these little piggies have inspired me. When I have my own home (no stinky landlords!), more help, and more cash flow someday, I can see myself perhaps running a full-blown small animal rescue/sanctuary. 🤔 There obviously aren't enough in my region. Who knows what the future holds.
 
That would be fantastic giving the region a rescue. I grew up with 3 brothers and have a 12 year old son and can't work out how you had the ability (at 13 did you say?) to do round the clock feeds for a poorly bird, (sorry brothers and son😂), so you have the dedication!
 
Black piggies said:
That would be fantastic giving the region a rescue. I grew up with 3 brothers and have a 12 year old son and can't work out how you had the ability (at 13 did you say?) to do round the clock feeds for a poorly bird, (sorry brothers and son😂), so you have the dedication!
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I was an unusually responsible kid, haha. TBH I couldn't consistently rely on my parents to do any of the animal-related labor (One time I asked my dad to feed my birds (while they were healthy) as I was late for school... came home to some hungry birds 🙄) so I knew it was all on me if I wanted them to make it. They all survived the illness/liver failure and went on to live long lives and die of old age. I was also caring for fish, dogs, a cat, and several reptiles at the time. (!) Though I am grateful to my parents for providing the funding for my small childhood zoo.
 
Black piggies said:
Aw that's so cool. Lovely to see the effort pay off and have creature's live a long life.
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It was really awesome. The last pair of budgies passed away peacefully at the vets office not too many years ago actually. I still miss those little guys singing their morning song. The guinea pigs chirping for their morning vitamin c biscuits always reminds me of them. 💛
 
Glad the bonding has been successful.
Sorry the landlord is giving you a hard time.
Hope you can get it resolved without too much extra stress.
Holding you in my thoughts
 
The texels say hello to the camera! Not gonna lie, they sort of look like tiny werewolves from most angles. I wonder if they'll get any softer or glossier over time with extra good nutrition or if that's just how they be. 🤔😂

No visible change to Sassafras' condition. She seems in decent spirits. We'll see what the vet says tomorrow.
 

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Sorry about your landlord. Thats my biggest fear of moving out. Not sure I can take five piggies with me and I refuse to leave them behind.

Fantastic news with the bonding. Parsley is a gorgeous lady :wub:

where abouts in az are you? I’ve been to Tucson before to visit my best friend who lives there :)
 
Julesie said:
Sorry about your landlord. Thats my biggest fear of moving out. Not sure I can take five piggies with me and I refuse to leave them behind.

Fantastic news with the bonding. Parsley is a gorgeous lady :wub:

where abouts in az are you? I’ve been to Tucson before to visit my best friend who lives there :)
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I'm in Chandler, which is basically a suburb of the greater Phoenix area. Tuscon is a neat place, haven't been down there in a few years now but I almost moved there at one point.
 
Featheryfriend said:
I'm in Chandler, which is basically a suburb of the greater Phoenix area. Tuscon is a neat place, haven't been down there in a few years now but I almost moved there at one point.
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Oh nice! I haven’t been to chandler but we went to Phoenix :)
Tucson seemed pretty nice and quite quiet where I visited.
 
Well, things are looking murky. My nurse practitioner was sympathetic but only prescribes cats and dogs. And Xanax.

Going to have to find someplace else to live, it seems. Business hours are over now but tomorrow I'm going to start calling places and asking about their small animal policy.

In the meantime, I guess I'm probably going to have to pack up the pigs and head over to my friend's place pretty soon. Thank goodness for her.

Shame, I really liked this place.
 
Featheryfriend said:
Well, things are looking murky. My nurse practitioner was sympathetic but only prescribes cats and dogs. And Xanax.

Going to have to find someplace else to live, it seems. Business hours are over now but tomorrow I'm going to start calling places and asking about their small animal policy.

In the meantime, I guess I'm probably going to have to pack up the pigs and head over to my friend's place pretty soon. Thank goodness for her.

Shame, I really liked this place.
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I'm very sorry to hear they are making you move because of the piggies. 😖 I find that totally ridiculous, like you said it's completely different from multiple dogs or cats roaming around the house. Like do these people not understand how guinea pigs are kept? As long as you keep them clean in a proper enclosure there should be literally no issue or damage to the living space. Here in Germany I believe you don't even actually have to inform your landlord of any small caged pets, only larger animals. I really love the current house I'm renting as well, but if my landlord suddenly asked me to get rid of my two guinea pigs, I'd do the same as you.

It's really amazing what you are doing for those piggies and I've enjoyed reading your updates. Good luck on your new home search! 🙂 I'm sure you'll find a place just as lovely for you and your piggies!
 
h.h.lovecraft said:
I'm very sorry to hear they are making you move because of the piggies. 😖 I find that totally ridiculous, like you said it's completely different from multiple dogs or cats roaming around the house. Like do these people not understand how guinea pigs are kept? As long as you keep them clean in a proper enclosure there should be literally no issue or damage to the living space. Here in Germany I believe you don't even actually have to inform your landlord of any small caged pets, only larger animals. I really love the current house I'm renting as well, but if my landlord suddenly asked me to get rid of my two guinea pigs, I'd do the same as you.

It's really amazing what you are doing for those piggies and I've enjoyed reading your updates. Good luck on your new home search! 🙂 I'm sure you'll find a place just as lovely for you and your piggies!
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I know right? Two cats would be allowed, and they would pose far more of a hazard to the integrity of the apartment than any number of properly enclosed guinea pigs.

Thank you, I'm going to need that luck, the rental market is tough around here right now!
 
Sorry to hear you're going to have to move. So annoying and unfair. Is it too late to offer an extra deposit to cover any pet damage, (which we know won't happen)? So your friend is probably about to have the joys of a piggy herd. Bit jealous 😊 Good luck with it all.
 
Just got back from the vet with Sassafras. I was correct, she does indeed have some large ovarian cysts, and a slightly elevated temperature. It's going to be a complicated spay so they estimate $800 for it 😵 but they take Care Credit so I'm going to apply for that to spread the cost out a little. She was so well-behaved for the vet though, such a cuddle bug. They think she should do well with the spay as she is otherwise strong.

I suspect the mother (Pepper) may also need a spay sometime in the near future, as the vet pointed out thinning hair as a sign of the cysts, and Pepper's coat is looking a bit thin in places as well. I wasn't sure if that was normal for a texel but now I know it's not. So she's next on the docket for a vet visit.

So, perhaps all is not lost yet on the housing situation.

My partner has come up with one more avenue to pursue (an online service that connects you specifically with mental health professionals that prescribe ESAs, including legal exotic animals) so I have made a virtual appointment with them. It's apparently hard sell that guinea pigs are a valid ESA species to people who are not familiar with them and think they are just large hamsters (not that hamsters couldn't be valid too if one was very attached to them, why not) so hopefully this fellow has some familiarity with prescribing them. I'm rehearsing on everything I do with them in a given day that helps provide me with comfort and structure.

And on a totally unrelated note, my mother has offered to take me shopping for some curtains that let in light but block prying eyes, how nice of her.
 
Featheryfriend said:
Just got back from the vet with Sassafras. I was correct, she does indeed have some large ovarian cysts, and a slightly elevated temperature. It's going to be a complicated spay so they estimate $800 for it 😵 but they take Care Credit so I'm going to apply for that to spread the cost out a little. She was so well-behaved for the vet though, such a cuddle bug. They think she should do well with the spay as she is otherwise strong.

I suspect the mother (Pepper) may also need a spay sometime in the near future, as the vet pointed out thinning hair as a sign of the cysts, and Pepper's coat is looking a bit thin in places as well. I wasn't sure if that was normal for a texel but now I know it's not. So she's next on the docket for a vet visit.

So, perhaps all is not lost yet on the housing situation.

My partner has come up with one more avenue to pursue (an online service that connects you specifically with mental health professionals that prescribe ESAs, including legal exotic animals) so I have made a virtual appointment with them. It's apparently hard sell that guinea pigs are a valid ESA species to people who are not familiar with them and think they are just large hamsters (not that hamsters couldn't be valid too if one was very attached to them, why not) so hopefully this fellow has some familiarity with prescribing them. I'm rehearsing on everything I do with them in a given day that helps provide me with comfort and structure.

And on a totally unrelated note, my mother has offered to take me shopping for some curtains that let in light but block prying eyes, how nice of her.
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Sounds a bit more hopeful.
Hope the spay goes well.
I also hope the meeting with the ESA person goes well.
A lot of people don’t know anything about ESAs at all, whatever the species.
 
caseybishop said:
wow! that’s my dream to have that many! i have 3 at the moment
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There is certainly a neverending supply of pigs that need homes if you've got the time and inclination! And money.... I'll have to run this show for a month or two and see what my average weekly costs are coming to for hay, veggies, vet visits, housing materials, other assorted pig accessories, etc.... it's good that I don't have human children or many other outstanding expenses competing for my wallet.

This does feel like some kind of childhood dream come true. 😇 How many people get to have a small pig ranch? 😂
 
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