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Small pets

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Original poster

How to get rid of guinea pig and two rabbits without putting them down?

21 replies

weepingwillows · 06/03/2017 12:25

I am asking for a friend who after a divorce has moved from a house to a flat where she can't have them. Her ex refuses to care for them so she has to get rid. She has tried pet shops who don't want them.She does bot want to resort to putting them to sleep but what other options does she have?

OP posts:
Bunniesncats · 06/03/2017 12:27

She could try a local rescue in her area. What county are you in?

Gizlotsmum · 06/03/2017 12:33

Def try a local rescue but they are quite likely to be full... can any friends/family take them short term?

Original poster
weepingwillows · 06/03/2017 12:43

We are in North London. Found a Guinea pig shelter but they are full. The pet shops have said so many people try to return rabbits so they won't. Has to be a permanent solution as she is now in flat. Her two daughter live with her but attached to the animals and will obviously be devastated which is why we are looking to avoid having to put them down. For the animals sake of course but also reduce trauma for the girls.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 06/03/2017 12:44

FFS PTS?!
You contact every rescue you can. Surely a friend can foster for a bit if needed.

KittiesInsane · 06/03/2017 12:46

Can she definitely not keep them in the flat, at least temporarily? Is it against the terms of the let?

steppinstone · 06/03/2017 12:46

Put on Facebook

KittiesInsane · 06/03/2017 12:49

Has she tried Wood Green? They have several branches, and if she could drive to one of the more distant ones, she might find they have room.

Wolfiefan · 06/03/2017 12:49

Don't put it on FB. They could end up as bait for dog fighting. Friend or shelter.

KittiesInsane · 06/03/2017 12:54

Actually, scrub that: here's a list of all the guinea pig shelters in England.

I can quite see that she'll have other concerns uppermost in her mind, but maybe you could help her out by ringing a few?

throughgrittedteeth · 06/03/2017 13:07

I sold mine as I was advised that giving them away for free might attract time wasters or dodgy people.

I had two guinea pigs and sold them for £40 (including hutch and a big run), I basically vetted anyone who asked and once I found someone I was happy with, I had a long chat over the phone and double checked they knew what they were doing. The family I sold them to had had guinea pigs before and were very sweet so I felt secure in them taking them.

It might sound like a bit much but rescue centres are so full and I couldn't live with myself not knowing where they had gone.

Frazzled2207 · 06/03/2017 13:17

Also agree to advertising on facebook.
She will be able to vet people that come along to some extent.
Less likely, what about a local school? I know some locally that have guinea pigs and rabbits, presumably looked after by nominated members of staff

Original poster
weepingwillows · 06/03/2017 14:48

thanks will try to get her to try some of the options of rehoming. she has a lot on her plate which is why we thought the only solution was put them to sleep although of course best to avoid that hence asking here.

I think trying to sell and vet might be a bit too much. She has to go to the house and remove the pets when the ex is not there so will need to know where they are going as she can't have in flat. He has previously let animals starve to death out of stubbornness hence the urgency.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/03/2017 17:59

As a last resort she could put them into small animal boarding (SAB) as a temporary measure and explain they need to go onto Rescue.
Lots of SAB will have links with rescues because people do dump animals with no intention of returning (this was how I got GP6)

They'll be safe, they can look round for a full time Rescue or (hopefully) the SAB might filter them into Rescue.
I got GP1/GP2 by phoning up a SAB and asking if they had pigs surrendered.

I wouldn't go down the Gumtree route (for reasons outlined above)

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/03/2017 20:23

as a guide the place I send my guineas to board charges £5/day single £7.50/pair

Our vet charged £25 to PTS our GP5 after she;d been unwell and was under treatment (don't know if this was reduced because it was an End of Care )
But 5 days boarding for the price of a PTS would 'buy' a few days.

If you think her ex would just dump/release/starve then they need rescued. Sad, I think most Rescues would phone round their team of helpers /fosterers , she'd most likely need to give a donation too.

rightsaidfrederickII · 06/03/2017 21:48

Not an ideal solution, as I doubt they vet new owners, but Pets at Home do rehome some small furries, including rabbits and GPs, via their Support Adoption for Pets scheme - essentially mini in-store rescue centres.

throughgrittedteeth · 07/03/2017 14:43

Where are you based op?

throughgrittedteeth · 07/03/2017 14:44

Sorry just seen north London...

throughgrittedteeth · 07/03/2017 14:55

I've sent you a message op

Hiddeninplainsight · 08/03/2017 09:24

The rspca in Middlesex have rabbits and guinea pigs. If you explain the urgency they would surely help.

NoNamesLeft86 · 09/03/2017 22:44

Im in north west london. I have 2 male guinea pigs already. Hadnt planned to get more but if you think they will get on then we could possibly take the guinea pig if it is a male? Maybe able to help temporarily with the rabbits too until you sort something else out? We are animal people here, and you are welcome to check my home etc. We have passed home checks through rescues x

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