Prolonged time alone after bereavement?

[Freela]

I'm gutted... we lost our elder pig, Hadley, tonight. She was 6 years and 8 months. I'm not sure what happened... she was fine for the majority of the day and then I found her lethargic and already cool to touch when I was on my way to bed... the kids and I sat with her for a couple of hours until she passed. She was elderly, so I guess it could have been a lot of things... at least it was peaceful for her.

This leaves our younger pig, 4.5-year-old Leela. We plan on continuing to keep pigs and we definitely want to get her a friend. The problem is, everything is on COVID lockdown now in our province. There is no guinea pig rescue in our vicinity and I scoured the local Humane Society pages because I can't sleep and could only find one bonded pair of sisters for adoption, and we do not have the room for three pigs. So our only option is, again, the pet store (our others have been pet store pigs for the same reason), but they won't open to customers for at least two more weeks.

So... this means Leela is stuck on her own until at least mid-June. And I worry that's too long a time period for her. We let her see Hadley after she passed and she was obviously a little upset... it took her some time to settle when we put her back in the cage alone. I just worry she won't be okay on her own for two weeks but I don't see any other option. I just am already really upset about Hadley and I feel awful for Leela and am getting myself even more worked up about everything.

For what it's worth, Leela is typically a really happy, bouncy, laid back piggie. I'm hoping she'll bounce back. But she has literally NEVER been alone, she went right from siblings to living with Hadley, and I'm not sure how she'll do without another piggie there, even for a short time.

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry you lost Hadley, I would monitor how she gets along. Leela may be fine for a couple of weeks. Give her lots of cuddle if she like it and a few of her favourite treats and watch her eat and weigh her regularly till you find her a friend

 

[Siikibam]

I’m so sorry for your loss. That Leela may be okay for some few weeks. If it gets to the stage that you think she’s really suffering then her welfare is the most important. So although not ideal, a pet shop piggy is fine.

I hope she can hold out until rescues/humane society are back to working order. Take care of yourselves and Leela

 

[Freela]

Thanks everyone... so far she seems to be doing okay. She is eating well and spending lots of time with the humans, but she seems skittish in the cage by herself. But she seems to be holding her own... one of our previous pigs, Sundae, would literally squeak for us to come back every time we put her in the cage alone after her companion died and it was heartbreaking... she is much calmer than that, thankfully! That would have broken my heart over a period of weeks! There is some chatter that our province may reopen nonessential services before mid-June, so I am crossing my fingers that we can find her a friend sooner rather than later. But in the meantime, she is coping okay.