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Post by eppingstrider on Feb 11, 2008 20:25:08 GMT
Hi everyone
I'd be interested to hear what you do with your pigs when (if!) you have a holiday. Do you get someone to come in for you, or board them somewhere else?
I'd rather like to take mine with me - either to a cottage or I was wondering about a camper-van. But I'd like some guidance as to how much travelling a pig can cope with - and on suitable cages, because I wouldnt want to keep them in the carrier I take them to the vets in for more than a few (tens of) minutes.
I'm not actually planning a holiday at present - just dreaming!
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Post by PigPog on Feb 11, 2008 22:46:21 GMT
I have a 28 pigs, 4 tortoises and 1 chinchilla so it's impossible to take mine to board somewhere else! I have a lady do my pet sitting for me. She's the head of the pet department at the local garden centre and she was once a veterinary nurse. She's an amazing person and I always know my animals are in safe hands with her. One of my sows developed cancer just as I had gone away for a few days, and my friend collected her from the vet for me after an operation to establish how bad the cancer was (and it was really bad sadly). She kept my sow at home with her and she and her husband played with her each night, and she even took my sow to work with her at the garden centre so she could keep a close eye on her. My friend is unwell at the moment though so I'm worrying a bit about who I can get to sit my animals for me while I'm in America next month.
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Post by Hugs-Cavies (Doris) on Feb 12, 2008 21:10:57 GMT
We either get mine or Doris's parents to come in and look after them, although when we went away in September last year, we got Naomi to come and look after them. We may ask her again if we go away this year. Jamie-Lee wanted to get all of the piggies out of their cages at one point
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Post by eppingstrider on Feb 14, 2008 21:53:26 GMT
Thanks for those replies. I suppose I'd better ask the people that do a lot of rescuing or showing how long they spend travelling and what they think is reasonable for a pig to put up with.
Reason for Editing: deleted spelling comment
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Post by PigPog on Feb 14, 2008 23:15:58 GMT
It takes me 15-20 minutes to drive to my veterinary hospital. Then I've had up to a 45 minute wait, and then the 15-20 minute drive back home again. The pig is in the carry case during that time with a break in the middle for the consultation.
I think it's largely up to the individual pig - some prefer to stay put while I have one boar who is so slovenly I have to literally hold his bum and walk him into the case!!!
It also depends on the weather - when it's hot I think time in the case should be at a minimum.
I have two sows who regularly went on holiday to France with their pervious owner on the ferry (we live on the island of Jersey so we have a short ferry trip to France from here).
Obviously the less time spent in a carry case the better, but I do believe guinea pigs can become quite at home when used to being moved around in a carry case. I think if the pigs are tame they'll trust you and maybe even become lazy about it like my boar with the bum I have to walk in!
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Post by eppingstrider on Feb 15, 2008 15:58:43 GMT
Good point about them getting to feel at home with whatever happens to them. Maybe I should start taking them on outings to the seaside (3/4 hour away) to see what they think of it.
And take some of their home grass so that they like the treat when they get there!
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Post by PigPog on Feb 18, 2008 2:57:11 GMT
Trips to the beach... I want to be your guinea pig. I could live in a cage in your kitchen...
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Post by eppingstrider on Feb 18, 2008 19:23:15 GMT
The sofa next to it is a sofa bed ..... so, any time! ;D
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Post by Hugs-Cavies (Doris) on Feb 25, 2008 21:33:46 GMT
We took Figgy to the park once (I think we were on our way back from somewhere) Here he is on the swing for photographic evidence!
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Post by PigPog on Feb 25, 2008 21:34:49 GMT
!!
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Post by meggiepiggy on Feb 25, 2008 22:19:07 GMT
There must be some good material here for another limerick, but I'm a bit too tired to think straight at the moment.
Anyone else feel inclined - Snaily perhaps ;D
Bob and Doris - you any good at limericks?
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Post by snailspace on Feb 26, 2008 17:25:03 GMT
Good call meggie! Thanks I'll have a think I do remember when Hairy came over here, he had to stay in his carry case in the car on the car deck and Harlequin had to have special permission to keep going down to check on him throughout the trip home, so if you want to travel on a ferry, best keep that in mind.
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Post by eppingstrider on Feb 27, 2008 19:42:35 GMT
That's interesting - the ferry I usually take is only 3/4 hour, but yes, it would be good to check. The Calmac ferry guys are usually very friendly though, so I'm sure they'd be nice to my piggies.
I think this year's holidays will just be local, though.
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Post by PigPog on Mar 3, 2008 15:17:16 GMT
I just called my usual pet sitter, and as you guys know she's been quite seriously ill just before Christmas and we thought she was on the mend, but she just told me she's only gone and broken her ankle now!! I've got some other ideas up my sleeve and I'll be asking the next person on the list tomorrow.
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