Impossible Guinea Pig Rescue Expectations

Eviolus- said:
I've been looking into adopting another pig in a couple months, hope the shelters around me aren't like that...
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It seems to be more North America. There are very few guinea pig specific rescues where I live... most are just through the Humane Society, who are REALLY stringent about adoption protocols, with home visits, interviews with the whole family, etc. It's unfortunate because I think a lot of people purchase animals instead of adopting because they are either denied for adoption or do not want to go through a procedure that is pretty invasive.
 
Freela said:
The rescues in our area have similar, really restrictive rules... it is really counterproductive to not let good homes raise animals who need homes because they don't meet some arbitrary restriction. A friend was recently turned down to adopt a shelter dog because she and her spouse both had full-time jobs and a commute... apparently they only adopted out dogs if someone was there to be a stay-at-home parent to the dog. How is a shelter better than a loving home with two people who happen to work? Crazy!
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I think that might be because puppy’s in particular can’t really be left for longer than 3 hours. If someone works full time and commutes they are away from the house for longer than that generally.
 
Freela said:
It seems to be more North America. There are very few guinea pig specific rescues where I live... most are just through the Humane Society, who are REALLY stringent about adoption protocols, with home visits, interviews with the whole family, etc. It's unfortunate because I think a lot of people purchase animals instead of adopting because they are either denied for adoption or do not want to go through a procedure that is pretty invasive.
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At least where guinea pigs are concerned, I wonder if at least part of the whole problem is that pet snakes can legally be fed live food in NA? It's illegal in the UK although I doubt that stops everyone, but if you've got a situation where the animals you adopt out could even possibly be used as food you're going to double down on your adoption restrictions.
I don't think that's the case with the original post but it could explain the culture of over-zealousness in general.
 
G&C said:
I think that might be because puppy’s in particular can’t really be left for longer than 3 hours. If someone works full time and commutes they are away from the house for longer than that generally.
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That makes sense, but there are definitely ways around it. My cousin recently got a puppy, he would come home on his lunch to let the puppy out. I think there are better ways to find homes for puppies than a blanket declaration that two working adults cannot adopt.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

None of the UK rescues is like that - they can't afford to be too choosy in the first place.

If you follow the forum welfare recommendations re. housing, safety and care and are accepting of any requests for changes by the rescue (which is always made with good cause and is never unreasonable), you will be generally accepted with flying colours. It is often worth waiting with buying a cage or hutch and rather ask the rescue for their recommendations in that respect; their recommendations are not unreasonable and in line with welfare recommendations; they are there to ensure safety and enough space to allow room for exercise and stability for any boar bond (which need a bit extra space).

What no good rescue in this country will condone, is to rehome guinea pigs as singles unless it is as a bonded companion for guinea pigs of yours. Guinea pigs are a group species; the right to companionship of their own kind and to live as they are wired to is one of the five animal welfare freedoms. True singles are in fact extremely rare, and are usually the result of being failed by humans tending to their social needs.

I would strongly recommend to contact East Peckham Guinea Rescue. They also offer rescue dating with any piggies of yours to make sure that you come home only with a stably bonded new friend of their liking. They are the best bonding rescue in your area, so for a little extra effort you'll get total peace of mind!
If you haven't any guinea pigs, then please always adopt a bonded pair.

You can find more recommended and vetted rescues via this link here: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
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Obviously I can only speak for our rescue, but saying UK rescues can't afford to be too choosy is totally wrong, or certainly as far as TEAS is concerned. We are very choosy, but about the right things. I would rather a piggy stayed here, for the whole of it's lifetime, if it wasn't going to get the perfect home, for them. However, our criteria is totally different to the criteria the OP has encountered. We also look at matching the correct home to the particular guinea pig/s who are up for adoption. It's not a one size fits all!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Obviously I can only speak for our rescue, but saying UK rescues can't afford to be too choosy is totally wrong, or certainly as far as TEAS is concerned. We are very choosy, but about the right things. I would rather a piggy stayed here, for the whole of it's lifetime, if it wasn't going to get the perfect home, for them. However, our criteria is totally different to the criteria the OP has encountered. We also look at matching the correct home to the particular guinea pig/s who are up for adoption. It's not a one size fits all!
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I have made that remark only in respect of the criteria cited; not in view of ignoring welfare recommendations in this or any other country, or quuestioning the suitability of a particular home re. small children/existing other pets/safe housing/particular needs for care or experience of the owner etc.

My remark was especially made in view of euthanising pets rather than letting them go to a home that complies with welfare recommendations for that particular country and where safe housing is guaranteed.

There needs to be a happy medium between just restricting homing to the very few super-duper homes at the cost of hapless pets' lives and respecting animal welfare and particular requirements. You can't find homes for the thousands of rescues piggies just in the UK every year by putting up the ladder sky high, but you can do that in compliance with welfare considerations.
Unflexible and unrealistic rehoming criteria are however just as deadly as a bad home. :(
 
I feel your pain.
I have tried so hard to adopt both guinea pigs and rabbits here, and have so far failed to meet the criteria every time.

My most recent rejection was becasue I couldn't meet the guinea pig cage size minimum - a whopping 6 x 4 C&C for a PAIR!
The guinea pig I wanted to adopt is 4 years old, has been in rescue for months, and bites people, hence his long rescue stay.
On the plus side at least animals here are never put to sleep, as there aren't that many to adopt in the first place.

What frustrates me the most is that none of the rescues are able to review things on a case by case basis - the rules are the rules and they simply won't consider your application if you fail to meet them.
I am trying so hard to show my children that adoption is the right path, but so far it's a bit of an uphill struggle in Switzerland.
 
Threads keep going too into detail. The rescue whrre
Swissgreys said:
I feel your pain.
I have tried so hard to adopt both guinea pigs and rabbits here, and have so far failed to meet the criteria every time.

My most recent rejection was becasue I couldn't meet the guinea pig cage size minimum - a whopping 6 x 4 C&C for a PAIR!
The guinea pig I wanted to adopt is 4 years old, has been in rescue for months, and bites people, hence his long rescue stay.
On the plus side at least animals here are never put to sleep, as there aren't that many to adopt in the first place.

What frustrates me the most is that none of the rescues are able to review things on a case by case basis - the rules are the rules and they simply won't consider your application if you fail to meet them.
I am trying so hard to show my children that adoption is the right path, but so far it's a bit of an uphill struggle in Switzerland.
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how big are you meant to have the cage then? If that doesnt meet the minimum area? Ridiculous aswell. Are you supposed to keep them on a farm😐.

My boar and sow are in a 120x60 with floor time when possible. I do think the 120 x 60 to be totally honest is really really pushing the minimum size. But it passes the rules.
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Threads keep going too into detail. The rescue whrre

how big are you meant to have the cage then? If that doesnt meet the minimum area? Ridiculous aswell. Are you supposed to keep them on a farm😐.

My boar and sow are in a 120x60 with floor time when possible. I do think the 120 x 60 to be totally honest is really really pushing the minimum size. But it passes the rules.
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300cm x 100cm is the minimum for a guinea pig pair. Oh and it has to be inside, so no outdoor set ups allowed.
Our pair are in a 7 x 2 C&C which works our around 70cm x 240cm and it is a great size for a pair, but we really couldn't go larger.
 
Swissgreys said:
300cm x 100cm is the minimum for a guinea pig pair. Oh and it has to be inside, so no outdoor set ups allowed.
Our pair are in a 7 x 2 C&C which works our around 70cm x 240cm and it is a great size for a pair, but we really couldn't go larger.
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Just to clarify one point: outdoors temperatures in Switzerland can stay well over 30 C and soar up to 40 C for weeks in summer but can fall even in cities down to -20 C in winter. Like homes in the US or Canada, which experience a similarly wide range of temperatures in many parts, keeping guinea pig outdoors is generally strongly discouraged. ;)
 
We just found out my piggie carried the satin gene as observed by her bone density, white blood cell count, and other underlying issues. She's 8 months old. She tried dying on us a week ago. Her quality of life has suffered immensely and we had to explain to our 3 year old why her favorite piggie will have to be put down.

I highly suggest against seeking this kind of pain out.
 
I don’t understand rescues who would euthanise an animal simply because it isn’t getting adopted fast enough, it’s not really rescuing then is it?

I can’t comprehend how they would end an animals life even after somebody has come along willing to offer them a loving home, for such silly reasons

I scincerely hope they didn’t euthanise those sows, it is so unfair to just end their lives because it’s a “inconvenience” to have them stay longer. That’s actually terrible

Even though they are elderly doesn’t mean they don’t have a good few years left in them, and even if they don’t if the rescues hadn’t given up on them they would still be given the opportunity to have a nice home for the end of their lives

I don’t feel “elderly” animals should be treated any different to babies, they are still animals, and if anything would probably be a lot calmer, and easier for some people to handle than an energetic baby

My heart sank when I read that last part and I really, really hope it didn’t happen...

Rant over. I’m fuming 😤
 
Lynith said:
We just found out my piggie carried the satin gene as observed by her bone density, white blood cell count, and other underlying issues. She's 8 months old. She tried dying on us a week ago. Her quality of life has suffered immensely and we had to explain to our 3 year old why her favorite piggie will have to be put down.

I highly suggest against seeking this kind of pain out.
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BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry for this; satin disease usually hits around 18 months but there seem to more and more very young onset cases, which are truly devastating. You are welcome to start your own thread for moral support during this heart-breaking time.
 
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