DO I COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT I REGARD AS NEGLECT...OR NOT?

[whispywhisp]

My neighbour has two guinea pigs living in a hutch in her garden. I am a guinea pig owner myself and hate to see any animal, especially guineas, being neglected. These two pigs are only about 6mths old. They're in a hutch which is, imo, too small. They rarely see the light of day due to a very soaked duvet cover being draped over their hutch - presumably to keep them warm/dry but considering the fact its soaked I hardly think it helps. About every 4 days the cover is lifted and then put back down again. Yesterday it was lifted and I noticed the pigs were both hanging off their water bottle and both hungrily eating from their bowl. I know that if the cover isn't lifted those pigs do not see a human hand. The neighbour rarely goes out into the garden unless it is to put her bin out and even then they get ignored.

I had to try and find an excuse to go into her garden today because I could see both the pigs were sat beside their empty bowl so I decided to put her wheelie bin back into her garden. I was horrified at what I saw...their hutch is a good two inches deep in soaked newspaper and absolutely littered with their waste. Their backsides are soaked and they looked so unhappy.

I gave the neighbour a bin liner full of lovely lush meadow hay only a couple of weeks ago and a big bag of food...she's a single Mum so I thought it'd help.

I went to her opened shed and found some hay which was wet thru (her shed roof leaks) but I put some in anyway and they demolished it. My DH re-felted her other shed roof so why on earth she leaves their food in a shed that leaks is beyond me. The garden is full with dog poo - she only picks the poo up when she cuts the grass - the grass is knee high and hasn't been cut since the Summer. The garden stinks. We have to sleep with our bedroom windows shut because it smells so bad.

So going back to the guineas...do I complain to the RSPCA or not? I don't want to fall out with her but surely this is neglect? She's just got two new kittens - to add to the two cats she already has - so I really don't think she gives a toss about the pigs. I'd gladly take them off her hands....but she'll probably say no....my DH has just said I shouldn't get involved but why doesn't she feed them? Laziness? Out of sight, out of mind? Makes me soooo angry.

Mine (I have 5) live indoors, they're cleaned out every other day, get given fresh hay and greens every day....these people should not have animals.

Vent over.

FAB...I have two pigs in the cage that measures just over a metre long - about 120cm..its quite a substantial cage and made by Ferplast. My other pigs (3 of them) live on their own in separate cages which measure about 100cm long. The bigger cage - the 120cm long one - is quite big but ideal for 2 pigs - it came with a platform which their feeding bowl sat on top of but they chewed the platform so much it broke off! They now have igloos each in the cage which they jump up onto instead.

You got the cage! Cool!

Hope the boys are still doing well, the story about them running away from the bell was so funny!

havwe you asked on freecycle?

earthstar...yes I bought a new one off ebay in the end. I found one that was in a half-price sale (so they say!) - it measures about 82cm long which, I think, is plenty big enough for them for the Winter because I plan to get them out into their..hopefully clean and dry hutch, into my garden for the warmer months. I hope to receive it by the end of this week...but in the meantime I've swapped them out with Fred, my smaller of the boys that I have who was in a cage on his own which is big so Bingo and Bob have more room to run around cos I felt they were getting on each other's nerves last night - I sat and watched them last night...they needed more room! They're also now up in DD2's bedroom (the largest bedroom we have which doubles up as a playroom!) so they'll get to see the kids a lot more and it means I'm not over-run with cages in the kitchen! Even DH admitted last night (and he's not exactly a lover of guineas) they'd have died by now if left out in that filthy hutch.

My next task is to persuade the neighbour's daughter to allow us to keep them...which is why I'm putting them up in DD2's room cos she can always come round and see the pigs and play with my kids too...which she quite often does...and with a top-up for her mobile as a bit of bribery I'm pretty sure I'll win her over. If not, like I've said before, she'll have to break in my house to get them back!

FAB - I got your CAT. Is it the cage that's priced at £39.99? Are you looking at buying one just for the Winter?

slarty - I looked through Freecycle and my local Freeads when I was looking...most cages it seems are being sold with the pets too - there are loads of pigs and rabbits being sold 'with cage'...classic case of kids getting bored/losing interest plus, perhaps, lack of money.

...and thanks again to earthstar and silver for helping me pay for their new cage! Once it arrives I am sure they will absolutely love it.

Oh and sorry..update on the boys I guess is due!....

Well, they're a lot more handleable, especially the white one (Bob) - he loves his nose being rubbed and sits quite happily in my arms. He has just started to come to the bars of the cage to get his food from my and last night I actually heard a little squeak!!! Bingo, on the other hand, is still extremely timid. I did notice they were squabbling over their food bowl last night - DH wondered if it was because they got so little food when they were next door that perhaps they had to fight for what food they had? So I'm going to dig out a second food bowl for them and they can have a bowl each.

I chopped up some apple last night...all my other pigs squeak as soon as the first cut is made in an apple....and I'm pretty sure Bingo and Bob joined in, albeit quietly!

So yes they're doing very well I'm glad to say. They're still pretty grubby. Their coats are quite grubby to the touch, iykwim...bit like having greasy hair! Their eyes are bright, their noses are clean...the ears on the white one (Bob) are still dirty but not as bad as they were when I first got them and their claws are getting better...they were full of poo. They absolutely adore their hay and love a fresh hand of hay given to them. I'm sure they think its Christmas come early for them.

FAB - yes, I would definitely get that cage you've just emailed me on....if its only for the Winter it would be absolutely fine....it may look small on the website but I'm pretty sure its fine for 2 pigs...ignore the reviews on it...everyone has their own opinion on what is right for pigs but I wouldn't hesitate in getting one if it means keeping them safe and warm over this awful cold weather. If you were to order one today, online, you'd have it by Wednesday/Thursday.

Bugger. I am snowed in. I think DH will have to get it on the way home from work. Thanks.

FAB - the cage also comes with the platform which is a brilliant idea...means they can hide away and they love jumping up on the top....means also you can put their food in the bowl on top (it slots into the platform) which gives them more room in the base of the cage to run around.

FAB - ring the store and get them to put one by for you....

I am trying to ring dh to tell him to get it. He will the cat case is fine but I don't know that it is, though they aren't moving a lot.

Hi Whispy

Sorry not been on MN for a couple of days - so glad you've ordered the cage. It was completely my pleasure. I was so worried about those little pigs and now I can relax knowing they are being given the love and attention that all piggies deserve. Your post about looking out at them at 2 am and them looking miserable still haunts me.

I wish we could all save the little animals that are forgotten in gardens over the winter but at least two little ones have been saved. Your DH is right - they would be dead by now.

There should be an RSPCA campaign - don't forget your garden guinea...

FAB - I hope you manage to get the cage ok. I hope to get the new one for the boys by Thursday but I know I can cope with Fred being in the smaller cage for the time being. I'll make sure he gets loads of attention in the meantime to make up for being in such a small cage!

Silver...did you see my post re keeping the pigs too? Just got to convince the daughter that they're better off with me. I've managed to get past the Mother....thought she'd really kick off about it but considering the fact she's not even asked me how they are since Friday I don't think she's at all interested.

Bingo and Bob are now in the bigger cage sat behind me in DD2's room....my cat (George) is showing a great deal of interest in them! Fortunately she can't get her paw through the bars! I've got to go out and buy some more food but judging by the weather out there I think I might order it online from PAH - we've got rain coming down and its freezing on the ice/snow we still have. Oh dear.

And yes, Silver, I'm glad to not be looking out my bedroom window anymore...its a pleasure not to I can tell you!

Funny story tho...I had my pigs outside, in their hutches, in our heated shed up until about 2yrs ago....I woke up during one very VERY bitterly cold night at about 3am and worried so much about them...they were in hutches FULL of hay, covered over and with a heater on but I still worried...so off I went...downstairs, out into that cold, and each got brought indoors...one by one...and I had about 7 at the time...in various containers, baskets, boxes etc etc...and each one got put, side by side, onto our kitchen table...for the rest of the night and off I went, back up to bed, contented but freezing cold and went back to sleep, happy.

DH got up for work at about half 5 and I forgot to mention to him what I'd done a couple of hours prior before he went into the kitchen and I heard him shout out 'BLOODY HELL!!!!'....He was shocked that I'd go out there...during the night, up a very slippery path to go and get them all...and ever since then I'm sure he thinks I'm a bit crazy when it comes to guineas and their welfare!

Having said that I'm sure I've converted him into a bit of a softy...every night he checks our pigs have water, have hay and food..even tho they live indoors...before he goes to bed!

DH has agreed to get the cage .

Fab...that is fab!!!

I've just been outside to feed the birds...I must've had about a dozen doves/pigeons! The robin we have came down and had a good feed and Mr and Mrs Blackbird have been down too...I don't have a birdtable so I put a load of food on the patio table and put a big brollie up for them so the food stays dry and so do the birds! I have a pigeon that comes down with a broken leg - he's a huge pigeon so must be able to cope...he has a good feed too.

The cat is still interested in Bingo and Bob. I've just fed her so hopefully that'll put her off being so interested!

Now the kids need feeding! Got to get my priorities right...feed the pigs, cat, dog and birds and then the kids!

I have just looked at my 2 and they look sad and bored .

Can you line an area with a blanket with some newspaper underneath and get them out? Barricade them in with some cushions/books/boxes and let them have a run around? Give them something to walk over/play with like an empty box of tea-bags or a tube of some description that they can run through....I regularly let mine out for a walk around the kitchen....if they wee I just soak it up with a wipe.

They won't be in the box for much longer...they'll be in their new cage tonight!!!

All being well.... if dh can get to the shop.

I will get them out for a cuddle soon. I am so tired I would worry I would fall asleep holding them.

Fab - u ok?

The snow has got really bad here now....DH is just going to Bristol then Cardiff and tomorrow he's going down to Devon....rather him than me! He'll go armed with a shovel, flask, blankets etc etc....!!

I am so tired I just want to sleep but I have the kids here.

The less I do the less I want to do and I feel cold too.

Thanks for asking.

Oh dear.

Mum's can be poorly/tired can they?

Must admit tho if I feel like that I can go curl up somewhere and my eldest DD (she's almost 11) is quite sensible and can keep an eye on my younger DD.

Right..I still haven't fed the kids so best go and produce something!

MIL just phoned to say we have a new baby in the family and suggested I let the kids watch tv. They are now watching It's a bugs life while I potter in my bedroom.

Dh rang and he got the cage .

Fab...who has had the new baby?

Well done Mr Fab for getting the cage! Relief eh?!!!

Here it is soooo cold..the snow is coming down very heavy and has been for the last couple of hours. Supposed to be minus 4 here tonight. So glad the kids are off school. Would hate to drive the 10 miles to get them to school otherwise.

My pigs are snug and warm. Bingo and Bob have just eaten their way through half an apple. The others are vegging out. I've just put an order in for guinea pig food from PAH - I buy it by the sack - works out slightly cheaper. The pigs love their nugget food - although I do treat them to the occasional bit of pig muesli if I have it.

Hubby's cousin had the baby.

Can't wait to put the piggies in their new home. Just have to decide which room they will live in...

It is snowing heavily now and dh won't come home yet

Yea its exciting isn't it!!! New home for your pigs! Bet they'll love it. I hope to get my new cage tomorrow or Wednesday...

My DH is still at work - he drives up and down the South....he's not too far from home today (Berkshire) but he has just driven from Reading to Newbury and said the roads are horrendous. He's been to Bristol and Cardiff today and it wasn't too bad up that way although I think they're due for snow tonight/tomorrow. DH is in Torbay tomorrow (Devon) - but with any luck the weather won't allow it!