Misadventures of Max (and others)
- JudiL-MetroGPRescue
- Poop Obsessed
I'm so sorry, RS. It has been a hard, hard year for you. I know how you feel. It is so difficult on our hearts, and so many times I forged ahead and took in more sanctuary piggies. No more. I am down to 2 and 1 rabbit (poor Millie). I'm just burnt out.
- RavenShade
- Thanks for the Memories
A New Beginning
I had grown frustrated with people asking me to take pigs where the situation was workable, or where they got in over their heads, or where they took in a sick pig and I didn't want to end up with the vet bills. I don't like bailing people out of their own stupidity. Further, I'd been only working PT for several years and didn't feel like I had the finances to properly care for them.
So forward to this November. I'm in a stable decent-paying job. I've paid off a few debs from my PT days. Junior is now nine, and taking much better care of the cats than she used to. We'd lost our dear Bad Cat a few years ago and provided a home to a new cat who has settled in nicely. I thought it was time to reconsider being pigless. Shortly before Thanksgiving, a friend posted a plea to find a trio of boars a new home. I had ignored it once, but when it came back up in my feed again, I took it under serious consideration.
They were obviously well-loved. The daughter (owner) had given them a huge C&C cage and they came with it, all accessories, Oxbow hay and pellets, etc. Other than the fact that they were all pet store pigs at one point, they were obviously well taken care of and well loved. All were healthy. I couldn't see splitting up a working herd so we took all three. They were in need of a home because after some effort in getting the mother's allergies/asthma under control, it was just no longer workable for her. They were housed on fleece, so we've been continuing that, and I find I rather like it. They are spoiled.
Junior is delighted with her boars. Well, we kind of share them. My favorite is the one that looks like Gopher. He's the smallest one, but he's the friendliest. He'll wait for you to stroke his nose before he runs off to eat hay or veg. He'll sit with you quite happily for hours. He's a good boy. His buddies are a cream/white/black smooth haired boar (who is the fattest) and a black and white Abyssinian. Their names are Reggie, Flame, and Wendell and they are about a year and change old. It took them a few days to find their voices but now they know exactly who to wheek at. Good thing they are cute. They are also so confident! Many times we'll find them lounging outside their pigloos, just chill. They were well socialized before we got them. And I have never seen pigs popcorn so much! A clean fleece will send Flame into major popcorning and zooming. Just the other day I thought Reggie was going to popcorn sideways into a pigloo.
The cats are very very curious about our "pig room" but we keep them out.
So...many years on, we have pigs again. Mr. RS was very clear that he was only going to hold them/pet them. None of this cage cleaning business. I said that was very reasonable.
Onward, to a new chapter.
I had grown frustrated with people asking me to take pigs where the situation was workable, or where they got in over their heads, or where they took in a sick pig and I didn't want to end up with the vet bills. I don't like bailing people out of their own stupidity. Further, I'd been only working PT for several years and didn't feel like I had the finances to properly care for them.
So forward to this November. I'm in a stable decent-paying job. I've paid off a few debs from my PT days. Junior is now nine, and taking much better care of the cats than she used to. We'd lost our dear Bad Cat a few years ago and provided a home to a new cat who has settled in nicely. I thought it was time to reconsider being pigless. Shortly before Thanksgiving, a friend posted a plea to find a trio of boars a new home. I had ignored it once, but when it came back up in my feed again, I took it under serious consideration.
They were obviously well-loved. The daughter (owner) had given them a huge C&C cage and they came with it, all accessories, Oxbow hay and pellets, etc. Other than the fact that they were all pet store pigs at one point, they were obviously well taken care of and well loved. All were healthy. I couldn't see splitting up a working herd so we took all three. They were in need of a home because after some effort in getting the mother's allergies/asthma under control, it was just no longer workable for her. They were housed on fleece, so we've been continuing that, and I find I rather like it. They are spoiled.
Junior is delighted with her boars. Well, we kind of share them. My favorite is the one that looks like Gopher. He's the smallest one, but he's the friendliest. He'll wait for you to stroke his nose before he runs off to eat hay or veg. He'll sit with you quite happily for hours. He's a good boy. His buddies are a cream/white/black smooth haired boar (who is the fattest) and a black and white Abyssinian. Their names are Reggie, Flame, and Wendell and they are about a year and change old. It took them a few days to find their voices but now they know exactly who to wheek at. Good thing they are cute. They are also so confident! Many times we'll find them lounging outside their pigloos, just chill. They were well socialized before we got them. And I have never seen pigs popcorn so much! A clean fleece will send Flame into major popcorning and zooming. Just the other day I thought Reggie was going to popcorn sideways into a pigloo.
The cats are very very curious about our "pig room" but we keep them out.
So...many years on, we have pigs again. Mr. RS was very clear that he was only going to hold them/pet them. None of this cage cleaning business. I said that was very reasonable.
Onward, to a new chapter.
- GrannyJu1
- Supporter in '21
I'm so happy for you! For the new cat and the new guinea pigs. I can't wait to hear more about them.
After some serious thought, I, too, gave in and am adopting a new baby. She'll be ready for pickup on Sunday. I have been visiting her and she seems to be socializing well and easily. I can't wait to add her in with Peek and Fuzzbutt after quarantine.
After some serious thought, I, too, gave in and am adopting a new baby. She'll be ready for pickup on Sunday. I have been visiting her and she seems to be socializing well and easily. I can't wait to add her in with Peek and Fuzzbutt after quarantine.
- RavenShade
- Thanks for the Memories
I put in the double wide pigloo but it seems the max occupancy is still just one pig, usually the smallest one. Go figure.
When I ordered more hay, I also got Junior a new cavy care record book and a digital scale (could not find the old one). I taught her how to weigh them and record their weights, and why.
Originally Junior wanted just sows and I didn't care much either way. We got the boars because they came up as available and after I showed her the pictures, she stopped caring about their gender. She loves smooth coated pigs and I love the crazy ones. However, it seems that I am mildly allergic (contact allergy) to the Abyssinian so I don't hold him as much as I was hoping to. Additionally, Elmyra is allergic to timmy hay, but she no longer lives here, so hay for everyone. ;)
When I ordered more hay, I also got Junior a new cavy care record book and a digital scale (could not find the old one). I taught her how to weigh them and record their weights, and why.
Originally Junior wanted just sows and I didn't care much either way. We got the boars because they came up as available and after I showed her the pictures, she stopped caring about their gender. She loves smooth coated pigs and I love the crazy ones. However, it seems that I am mildly allergic (contact allergy) to the Abyssinian so I don't hold him as much as I was hoping to. Additionally, Elmyra is allergic to timmy hay, but she no longer lives here, so hay for everyone. ;)
- PooksiedAnimals
- Supporting my GL Habit
Wow! Back with pigs - it sounds like a happy situation all around. Huzzah!
- RavenShade
- Thanks for the Memories
We just need to move the big box of hay out of cat reach because Fizzy eats it and pukes it back up all over the house. For Mr. to find...with his feet...Other than that, everyone is fine. The pigs have been played with by several of Junior's friends and nobody bit anybody. Junior is good about feeding and watering but I'm stuck with the sweeping of the fleece. Oh well.