[Gpdd] ANNOUNCEMENT new piggies at Piggyfriends

[Penny Charlesworth]

Didn't get the chance to try out my piggies' stair climbing skills today as I had a call to go and collect two unwanted piggies some distance away.

In January, a lady from whom I had previously rehomed a neglected cockatiel, called me to say that her family had two guineas, presumed to have been sows, who now had three babies. They couldn't cope with them all and would I take three of them.

I brought home mum, dad and one son and was heartbroken to leave the other two boys, but could not talk them into letting me take them all. The three that came home with me had dreadful coats and were very thin and I was relieved to get them out of there. They had all been living together in a cramped cage but, amazingly, the poor mum was not pregnant again. I persuaded the granny to take the remaining two to the vet for treatment and was very pleased when she called me to say that this had been done. I asked her to call me if the family couldn't manage those boys.

Never a day went by when I didn't think of those little boys in a dirty cage in a draughty garage  as I watched the rescued ones grow sleek and fat. So I was delighted to get that call this morning.

I was nervous of visiting that strange family again as the granny told me that the father was off his meds and acting peculiarly. I have met some odd people when rescuing pigs and am very small and not very brave so I was delighted to find that the piggies had been delivered in a box to the granny's house and were ready to come home.

They were terrified, very thin and with poor skin and coats. After a good shampoo, ivomec and wormer I have put them in a pen next to their dad and brother. The poor poppets are half the size of their brother but are eating everything in sight. They sneak out of their box when they think I am not looking and grab some food. I am just leaving them to settle in. Their family were the same when they came home. Mum, Sapphire, was put into a big pen with a jolly group and soon became friendly but the dad and son, Barley and Rye, took a long time before they felt that they were safe.

Sorry that this post is so long!! I am just so delighted to have this little piggy family back  together again and to share this little story with people who love piggies. I only wish that it had happened sooner.

They haven't been named yet. I always find it hard to name boys and am running out of ideas after all these years.

Birdie, I will email the update to the Roll Call when I have named them.

Regards to all from Penny and the Piggyfriends.