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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be concerned about my neighbours pets

14 replies

Kitttykins · 31/08/2019 23:55

Long story short, my neighbour has had 6 guinea pigs die in the space of 2 weeks.

She got her first 2 guinea pigs about 4 months ago and I always saw her out in the garden cleaning their hutch, giving them food and water and taking them inside to play. I was shocked when she told me the first two died 2 weeks ago but didn't think anything of it.

Fastforward to Saturday and she had 2 new guinea pigs. Unfortunatley they died on Tuesday, I was concerned both for my neighbour and the guinea pigs that had died and did some research but saw they are quite fragile so put it down to stress or something. I did speak to my neighbour and she told me she holds them too tight sometimes. My neighbour has learning difficulties and so I told her care worker so they could keep an eye on things.

Wednesday she came home with 2 new piggies, they died last night.

My neighbour doesn't seem too upset about the last 4 guinea pigs that died and tells me very detailed accounts of how they all died. I am concerned that she may be accidentally hurting them and thus the piggies are dying. I raised my concerns with their care worker again today and asked if she was getting any more to which they said no, but she will be getting a rabbit. I later spoke to another of her care workers who had the same worries as myself and told me lots of the staff were suspicious that the deaths weren't natural. Why buy her more animals then!!!

I considered calling the RSPCA but the animals were well looked after from what I could see and other than my neighbour saying she holds them too tight I havent seen/heard of any abuse. Plus the guinea pigs have been disposed of so they can't investigate what happened.

AIBU to be worried about the safety of the soon to be new pet?

OP posts:
Crunchymum · 31/08/2019 23:58

Why does your neighbour have a careworker?

BoopBoopedooBoo · 31/08/2019 23:59

I would be concerned, yes.

It could be, and this is my first thought, that something she keeps them in or is using, might be infected with something fatal to pigs.

My second thought was, is she smothering them by mistake. But the fact they seem to be popping off in pairs is also a worry because that really doesn't seem to be normal.

Ring the RSPCA. Please. It might be something fixable, or they might have to ban her from keeping animals, which is sad for her as she sounds vulnerable and maybe lonely, but it's animal welfare.

Kitttykins · 01/09/2019 00:00

I don't know her full background, but she has mental health issues, learning difficulties and various other medical problems. She has a care worker come by twice a day to make sure she is ok and encourage her to eat/shower/go out etc.

OP posts:
Sayhellotothethings · 01/09/2019 00:00

I would be worried too, that one will probably die as well. How did she say they had died? Guinea pigs can often show no signs of illness etc so if they get something like a respiratory infection, which is contagious, if you notice it too late it's normally game over...

But several pairs dying so quickly is a bit suspicious & if she has said she holds them too tight. Of Mice and Men comes to mind. Why are they buying her a rabbit?

Blamangeme · 01/09/2019 00:05

I'd be concerned-it doesn't sound like she can care for herself independently let alone any pets.

HugsAreMyDrugs · 01/09/2019 00:05

Do you know where she is getting them from? Pet shop?

MitziK · 01/09/2019 00:06

This sounds like something the RSPCA should deal with.

Kitttykins · 01/09/2019 00:06

@BoopBoopedooBoo I read online about infections but she was given a special cleaning solution from the vet to steralise the cages after the 3rd and 4th pigs died Sad

@Crunchymum I think the reason behind the rabbit is to help with her mental health. I saw her out and about alot more when she got the first set of guinea pigs. Apparently they all just flopped on their sides and started twitching and were dead within minutes Sad

OP posts:
HugsAreMyDrugs · 01/09/2019 00:08

Just seen your update. Is she definitely feeding them? Guinea pigs do die pretty fast without food.

Kitttykins · 01/09/2019 00:08

@HugsAreMyDrugs I'm assuming pets at home, they are the only pet shop that I know of in the area

OP posts:
Kitttykins · 01/09/2019 00:10

@HugsAreMyDrugs She cleans them out daily, so I'm sure she is feeding them

OP posts:
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 01/09/2019 00:12

Is she feeding them something toxic? Quite a few things humans eat are toxic to animals eg chocolate and onions

5zeds · 01/09/2019 00:19

Why are they buying her a rabbit?
She’s probably buying it herself. Having LD and care workers doesn’t mean she can’t buy things like anyone else. Her carers should NOT be gossiping about her to her neighbour. Shock. She has a right to privacy as we all do though as a disabled person I think the law is a little more robust (to cover exactly this sort of gossip).

dollydaydream114 · 01/09/2019 00:19

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