SusieW
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi guys,
I didn't know which area to post this in so I hope it's okay here.
I posted a while ago about feeling unable to cope with my guinea pigs.
Sorry for the sort of repeat thread but I'm desperately struggling and have no one to talk to about this so thought I'd return here.
After my first post, I didn't think i would be able to cope with rehoming any of my boys so thought I'd try to get things together but things aren't really getting better. I'd like to have them in boarding for a bit, but it would be so expensive to board 8 guinea pigs even for short term and I feel it wouldn't be fair on them moving them about, I don't think we have boarding locally anyway.
I desperately love all 8 of my boys and feel devastated at the thought of rehoming them but I don't feel I'm giving them the standard of care they deserve.
I'm constantly going back and forth in my mind about rehoming them but I am beyond worried about their future which is why i always fall on the side of not rehoming.
If I could guarantee they'd get at least the same size enclosures they have now, loads of enrichment, proper care, decent vet care, living indoors, going outdoors in the summer in the daytime but back in at night, preferably on fleece type bedding as this is what they are used to, someone who would love them and protect them and ensure they had happy lives until death I would likely rehome them, or at least probably my younger ones but I don't know how to guarantee that. I'm terrified someone would split them up from their bonded pairs or treat them badly or give them to a snake or forget about them. I don't know if you can tell but I have zero trust in people! If I could see they were okay and happy, maybe keep in touch occasionally it wouldn't be so bad, but that probably wouldn't be the case.
One of my issues is very severe OCD and I obsess constantly about people being okay and get really intrusive thoughts about people not being okay to the extent I can't function. I don't know if I rehomed them how I wouldn't obsess about them not being okay but their needs come above mine. I don't know if anyone can give me any reassurance about the future of adopted guinea pigs? I know the best option is taking them to a rescue but how do rescues ensure they get the best people? Is it even possible to know if they are okay after you give them up? I just want them to be happy and have the best of everything. They really deserve it.
I feel like the worst person in the world but I just don't see things getting better for me and by extension for them. I'm 28 and have had severe mental illness issues, hospitalisations etc for the last 15 years. The more time passes the more I struggle with the illnesses and it is unrealistic to believe that things are going to get better for me. I adore the guinea pigs but often they contribute to me feeling even worse- i love them to bits but I am not the best home anymore which is hard to admit because the only thing I've ever been good at is caring for my animals, but not anymore. I'm still on top of looking after my dog, but the guinea pigs are drowning me. I can't cope with the mess, the hay, and the stress and pressure of them, and 6 out of 8 are long haired which is stressful too. But I love them, which is why this is so hard. They have taken over almost the entirety of my living space, have tonnes of enrichment, haylofts etc but the day to day care is overwhelming me.
The issue I have is knowing that they could end up in a worse situation than they are now, and would anyone even want them anyway? Two of them are quite 'boring' looking and when there's so many guinea pigs looking for homes, why would anyone want mine?
Some have come from horrible situations and I feel terrible about thinking about moving them again because I have always believed and do believe pets are for life, but life isn't turning out how things were 'meant' to. I wish I had friends who could take them on but I don't.
I can't believe I'm in a position where I'm even considering this... I've always adopted animals and have really looked down on people who give up pets so I'm a huge hypocrite here, but they deserve better. If I rehomed the two younger pairs, then I'd maybe be able to cope better with the two older pairs. Or maybe I should rehome them all, but my two oldest are older than 5 and I've had one of those his entire life and am so attached to him in particular.
I also have a dog who I'd never ever rehome, but I don't know if i feel differently about the guinea pigs as I always feel like as long as they've got their friend and everything they need, whoever their person is doesn't matter so much to them. I obsess all the time about my dog and something happening to me before him, but I live with my parents who help me care for him, but asking them to take on the guinea pigs too isn't fair.
I feel so trapped by many things, but by the guinea pigs too which probably isn't the feeling you should have about your pets.
I should never have got 8 guinea pigs... I was down to the last one but he was unhappy when his friend died and it was mid covid lockdown so couldn't go the rescue route to get him a friend. Had some issues with bonding, hence 8! All in happy pairs now.
Anyone who has experience of adopting a guinea pig, giving up guinea pigs or running a rescue or being involved in a rescue I'd really appreciate your thoughts.
I'm sorry for such a long post and a repeat post, but things are really messy in my head and I could really do with hearing some voices of reason!
Thank you!
I didn't know which area to post this in so I hope it's okay here.
I posted a while ago about feeling unable to cope with my guinea pigs.
Sorry for the sort of repeat thread but I'm desperately struggling and have no one to talk to about this so thought I'd return here.
After my first post, I didn't think i would be able to cope with rehoming any of my boys so thought I'd try to get things together but things aren't really getting better. I'd like to have them in boarding for a bit, but it would be so expensive to board 8 guinea pigs even for short term and I feel it wouldn't be fair on them moving them about, I don't think we have boarding locally anyway.
I desperately love all 8 of my boys and feel devastated at the thought of rehoming them but I don't feel I'm giving them the standard of care they deserve.
I'm constantly going back and forth in my mind about rehoming them but I am beyond worried about their future which is why i always fall on the side of not rehoming.
If I could guarantee they'd get at least the same size enclosures they have now, loads of enrichment, proper care, decent vet care, living indoors, going outdoors in the summer in the daytime but back in at night, preferably on fleece type bedding as this is what they are used to, someone who would love them and protect them and ensure they had happy lives until death I would likely rehome them, or at least probably my younger ones but I don't know how to guarantee that. I'm terrified someone would split them up from their bonded pairs or treat them badly or give them to a snake or forget about them. I don't know if you can tell but I have zero trust in people! If I could see they were okay and happy, maybe keep in touch occasionally it wouldn't be so bad, but that probably wouldn't be the case.
One of my issues is very severe OCD and I obsess constantly about people being okay and get really intrusive thoughts about people not being okay to the extent I can't function. I don't know if I rehomed them how I wouldn't obsess about them not being okay but their needs come above mine. I don't know if anyone can give me any reassurance about the future of adopted guinea pigs? I know the best option is taking them to a rescue but how do rescues ensure they get the best people? Is it even possible to know if they are okay after you give them up? I just want them to be happy and have the best of everything. They really deserve it.
I feel like the worst person in the world but I just don't see things getting better for me and by extension for them. I'm 28 and have had severe mental illness issues, hospitalisations etc for the last 15 years. The more time passes the more I struggle with the illnesses and it is unrealistic to believe that things are going to get better for me. I adore the guinea pigs but often they contribute to me feeling even worse- i love them to bits but I am not the best home anymore which is hard to admit because the only thing I've ever been good at is caring for my animals, but not anymore. I'm still on top of looking after my dog, but the guinea pigs are drowning me. I can't cope with the mess, the hay, and the stress and pressure of them, and 6 out of 8 are long haired which is stressful too. But I love them, which is why this is so hard. They have taken over almost the entirety of my living space, have tonnes of enrichment, haylofts etc but the day to day care is overwhelming me.
The issue I have is knowing that they could end up in a worse situation than they are now, and would anyone even want them anyway? Two of them are quite 'boring' looking and when there's so many guinea pigs looking for homes, why would anyone want mine?
Some have come from horrible situations and I feel terrible about thinking about moving them again because I have always believed and do believe pets are for life, but life isn't turning out how things were 'meant' to. I wish I had friends who could take them on but I don't.
I can't believe I'm in a position where I'm even considering this... I've always adopted animals and have really looked down on people who give up pets so I'm a huge hypocrite here, but they deserve better. If I rehomed the two younger pairs, then I'd maybe be able to cope better with the two older pairs. Or maybe I should rehome them all, but my two oldest are older than 5 and I've had one of those his entire life and am so attached to him in particular.
I also have a dog who I'd never ever rehome, but I don't know if i feel differently about the guinea pigs as I always feel like as long as they've got their friend and everything they need, whoever their person is doesn't matter so much to them. I obsess all the time about my dog and something happening to me before him, but I live with my parents who help me care for him, but asking them to take on the guinea pigs too isn't fair.
I feel so trapped by many things, but by the guinea pigs too which probably isn't the feeling you should have about your pets.
I should never have got 8 guinea pigs... I was down to the last one but he was unhappy when his friend died and it was mid covid lockdown so couldn't go the rescue route to get him a friend. Had some issues with bonding, hence 8! All in happy pairs now.
Anyone who has experience of adopting a guinea pig, giving up guinea pigs or running a rescue or being involved in a rescue I'd really appreciate your thoughts.
I'm sorry for such a long post and a repeat post, but things are really messy in my head and I could really do with hearing some voices of reason!
Thank you!
