Case Stories
Is the unfortunate reason, as to why Guinea Pig Rescues, needs to be in place. This is the most heart breaking part of running a shelter, the animals we see, the conditions they are living in, starvation, extreme injuries etc. But for the minority of the shelter animals, there are probably thousands, that have no voice....no one fighting on their behalf - that are still living in appalling conditions, that are still being neglected...that are still dying from medical denial and injuries! (Some of our case stories are updated below).
Our Shelter Animals, are the ones who were lucky enough to be rescued...
Stories and Images may offend....
2011
Palm View Shelter regularly receives guinea pigs that have been sold from Market Places. These animals are always in poor condition, malnourished, often pregnant or babies that are weaned far too early. A large majority of my shelter pigs are in fact, market stock from back yard breeders.
In the past week, I have received 6 different pigs all from the same markets, from different owners and all in very poor health. They were purchased without preperation andunknowingly, took on sickly animals which in turn have grown into sickly, mange and fungal infested adults.
I urge people to reconsider, spare of the moment purchasing of market stock, this only encourages the breeders to continue breeding these sick animals for a few bucks.
- Four Guinea Pigs were brought into a Vet Clinic after a person had found that they had been dumped in a park near by. There was a mother pig and her three babies, the mother looked to have a back leg issue.
After recieving the phone call from the clinic, we were able to go and collect the Four pigs but unfortunately upon a closer inspection - realised that the mother sow had actually sustained a broken spine. The injury inflicted on the mother pig and the results of her being discarded in the park with her young babies is absolutely appalling. Due to the severity of the spinal damage, we were forced to have the sow put to sleep - there was absolutely nothing medical that could have been done for her.
Pics below are of the sow with her broken back - you can see pictured below that she has lost all movement and feeling in her legs - the top pic shows her trying to prop herself up.
The little baby boar is currently in quarantine undergoing full mite, mange and worming treatment and in desperate need of some conditioning - his name is Parker and he will be available in a few weeks time (depending on his progress), with his soon to be new buddy, 'Whellan', who was recently re surrendered back to the shelter. The other two little sow babies will be adopted out together when they are also healthy enough.
The pic below is the little baby texel boy bub, aprox 3 weeks old. 'PARKER' (Parker has been adopted and is in beautiful condition)
Four Guinea Pigs Dumped in a Box!
In May 2010 a local Vet Clinic phoned up Palm View Shelter, to surrender Four Guinea pigs that had been dumped there by an unknown person.
They were brought along in an Australia Post Parcel Container and consisted of two males and two females. Upon inspection, one boar was in a terrible state - it appeared that he had trauma to his hip area and massive swelling, his leg appeared broken. His other friend 'Graphite', who has his own story under 'Guinea Grooming' didnt appear to be too unhealthy, apart from extreme matting.
The sows were put straight into foster care, as we are a rescue based shelter - all suspect pregnant sows will remain at the shelter or in foster care until we are 100% sure they are not pregnant or until they litter and wean their babies.The two girls are still currently on foster care with Heidi from Pigalicious - their story and journey can also be viewed on her Pigalicious website. www.pigaliciouspigs.com (have since been adopted)
As I have my own Shelter Vet, I took the poor little boy with the hip and leg injury, straight to my own vet Michelle Barton. I looked at him and was confident that he was another case I would easily be able to nurture back to health.
this sweet little guy - abandoned.
Unfortunately, I was wrong..... the damage that had been done to this boy was extreme, it appeared that he had been run over - probably with a child's bike or scooter. His leg was crushed and so were his muscles, the area was dying off and there was not much we could do to help him. (This is his hip/ back area with the hair ripped out).
This Beautiful Pig is one of the very few, who come into our lives for a very brief moment - his touching story of neglect, cruelty, denial of any responsibility or medical assistance on his original owner's behalf - an owner that couldnt be bothered to do the right thing. Another animal that is put to sleep by a shelter who can't do any more for them. It is an absolute gut wrenching feeling when this decision is made and never by choice.
This photo below, shows how swollen his entire hip region is, he is unable to move his leg and the bruising continues over his entire stomach area. The wetness all over his fur is due to urine, from being left in a plastic box. Such a waste of a beautiful little animal.
PET STORE NEGLECT CASE
Meet 'Whellan', The only surviving guinea pig from a Pet Store Neglect Case, April 2010. Whellan was purchased along side 6 other guinea pigs - at full price ($20 each), in order to rescue them from their current situation.
Unfortunately, this is a very common occurance, but all it does is teach, offending pet stores that they can sell animals in ANY condition and someone out there will still be willing to pay full price. In cases where someone sees an animal for sale who is very distressed, injured or dying, by noting all of the information and then reporting them to the RSPCA, will prompt some form of investigation.In this particular case, the Girl did in fact, purchase the guinea pigs but took the 'evidence' off the pet store premises. This case was reported to the RSPCA but due to not having the guinea pigs at the store upon inspection, the owner then claimed they were healthy when they left, which basically throws the case out of the window and the pigs die for nothing.
Four of these guinea pigs were gravely ill and only three made the trip to my shelter.
All three arrived in appalling condition and in the later/final stages of Coccidiosis disease. As I regularly deal with cases such as these, I am able to make the diagnosis on the spot and immediately treat them accordingly.
Unfortunately, the sow who also came in with them was too far gone, she was incredibly weak, bleeding from her back end, gasping for breath - was unable to make it.
Whellan and his buddy were taken straight in to see Michelle and under went full quarantining procedures and medical to hopefully bring them back to health.Three weeks later and thinking we are all in the 'clear', Whellan's friend passed away. In his three weeks at the shelter, he went from being a miserable, hunched up piggy in the corner and terrified, to standing up on his hutch bars, wheeking his almost soundless voice at me for attention.... an absolute beautiful little boy and such an unfair shame that he had to waste away like that.
Whellan was able to continue trecking on and has made a full recovery. He is currently one of the adoptables of the Month with his new Best Friend 'Dexter'. The pair get along great and Whellan is becoming really outgoing - comes up to me for food and is a real sweet heart. He is also gaining beautiful condition and body weight... completely healed and ready for what ever life is going to throw his way....hopefully unconditional love and cuddles!!!
WHELLAN (adopted to a lovely family who was finding a friend for their current boar)
Unfortunately, Whellan's new buddy has passed away so he is now back in the shelter - he will be buddied up with the bub in the previous mistreatment case 'Parker'
Whellan and Parker have been adopted and both boys are in incredible condition now.
This Little Boy came in with Whellan in the final stages of Coccidiosis disease, malnutrition, Vitamin C deficiency, mange infestation, Swollen Faecal Impacted, Skeletal - I have my fingers either side of his spine just above his hips. He should at least weigh around 600grams for his size but was lucky to be around 300grams. He passed away 3 weeks later.
