AIBU?
AIBU to worry about next doors guinea pigs
LittleGreenFr0g · 11/04/2011 09:16
This may be more of a WWYD. The lady next door has gone away with her children. She told me that she was going away and that her DH would be at home as he has to work. She is the one that normally looks after the guinea pigs.
They have been out in their run in the same spot since she went away. They have shelter but I don't think they have had food or water since saturday when I saw him out in the garden. He was out all day saturday and all day yesterday although did come home late last night. Their food bowl is empty, and I suspect that their water bottle is empty too (although can't tell). There is hardly any grass left. She normally moves the run around the garden. His car is not there this morning, so he must have gone to work.
Now I am a bit of an animal lover and this is upsetting me (easily done). Would I be unreasonable to knock on his door when he gets home and tell him to feed and water the guinea pigs? We get on ok as neighbours.
CheerfulYank · 11/04/2011 09:23
You could knock on the door and say that since his wife has gone you'd be happy to help out with the guinea pigs til she gets back. Ask if he needs you to feed them or something while he's at work. Maybe he'll take you up on it and then they'll be fed, or maybe he honestly didn't think of it and your asking will remind him.
PiggyMad · 11/04/2011 09:23
I would have to say something - or actually I'd probably be a bit naughty and sneak in (assuming you could nip over the fence or something?) and fill the water up myself today - it has been so sunny and warm here that the pigs could be very dehydrated.
Have they got an indoor sheltered place in the run - I wouldn't leave them out in a run overnight, either.
MissVerinder · 11/04/2011 09:24
I would knock on the door if I were you. Alternatively, you could move the run, chuck some GP food in and fill their bottle up. I'm sure he wouldn't be funny about it, because imagine the world of troublr he'd be in when Lady gets back! He might even be grateful (anything's possible!)
herbietea · 11/04/2011 09:25
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn
Vallhala · 11/04/2011 09:32
What skin said. I'd have no problem with climbing over the fence if I thought that there were animals on the other side who were suffering without food and water, particularly given the weather we've been enjoying recently.
If the owner complains, remind them that trespass is a civil offence, a breach of the animal welfare act is a criminal offence.
LittleGreenFr0g · 11/04/2011 09:33
They have these little plastic box things for shelter. I have seen one this morning, and I hope the other one is ok in its box. I will knock on their door and if no one answers I will plead ignornace, and pretend I didn't notice him home last night. I don't think I can make it over the fence but my DD might be able to get ober with my help. Do they eat carrots?
IloveJudgeJudy · 11/04/2011 09:36
They eat carrots, but not too much. Don't give them potatoes or lettuce. Mostly they like greens/sweetcorn, apple cores, hay. You are very kind to think of them. They should also be in their hutch at night, especially as it still gets cold at night at the moment.
Pterosaur · 11/04/2011 09:38
What everybody has said. They need water urgently, and at the very least they need to be moved to fresh grass. They'll probably survive being out in the short term unless there's a frost or it gets very wet, but they will be cold, damp and miserable overnight if they have no proper shelter.
CY's tactful approach is most likely to be successful, though the man deserves a bollocking. If he says he's going to feed them, keep an eye out to make sure it happens.
If you can't get through to him and the wife isn't going to be away long, get your DS to grab the water bottle and refill that, and give him some picked (not mown) grass from your garden, and some bits of veg from your kitchen - carrot, cucumber, lettuce, apple, etc. to keep them going. Have a talk with the wife when she gets back and offer to look after them in future when she's away? Not your responsibility of course, but poor little pigs... 
Goblinchild · 11/04/2011 09:47
You have children and want to keep good relationships with your neighbours?
Go around with one of your children and ask if he'd mind you looking after the piggies whilst his family are away because your child would love the chance to feed them and play with them.
Make it seem as if he's doing you the favour.
Talk to the woman when she comes back.
lljkk · 11/04/2011 10:34
I am thinking same as Goblin, but if you can sneak over & check their water & hay sooner, I'd do that, too. If they've no hay you can substitute long grass from a pesticide-free source. tbh, I have had mine out occasionally with no water all day, even on warm days, and they weren't even interested when water was offered again (can't tell if that's because they are too stupid to know what's good for them, though). They really don't need much water, though.
Dandelions (pesticide free source) are a good source of Vitamin C (GPs need that and hay daily). They can usually get along quite well without any other types of food for short spells. Even If your neighbour left "lots of food" they will have scoffed the lot already, ime.
takethisonehereforastart · 11/04/2011 10:43
I'd be the same, I'd go over the fence now (or can you get to their back garden from their front one?) and feed and water them and move the run.
They like fresh veg, ours was fond of carrots, apples, green beans, broccoli, cabbage leaves and even the odd grape.
They also like lots of hay and a bag of food is less than a couple of pounds at the pet shop.
But what's worrying me most is the water. Ours would empty her waterbottle at least once a day and in hot weather we would have to refill it three of four times a day easily.
If you are worried about what he will say then you could just keep an eye out for him and say "DD wanted to feed the guinea pigs a carrot, I hope you don't mind. She really enjoyed coming over and we are thinking about getting one, do you mind if we pop over and feed them every day while your wife is away just to get her used to taking care of them?"
needafootmassage · 11/04/2011 10:48
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
zukiecat · 11/04/2011 10:52
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.