Responsibility Issue Regarding Guinea Pigs I Rehomed to Someone Else - ???

almost seems like a scam since she forced you to take 50 bucks. I'd tell her that you will mail her the money back and that you are sorry the piggie became ill.

You don't have any responsibility. You gave them away to her, she insisted on giving you money for them but even if you had sold them to her you're still free of any obligation. I would sincerely apologize and state that you had no idea the piggie was sick or you would have not re-homed them. Period.

You did not say exactly how long the GPs have been in her care but they do get urinary tract infections, which could explain the blood in the urine and could be treated easily with a course of antibiotics. And this could have developed well after she adopted them so they weren't necessarily sick when she adopted them. Thing is, she is the new owner now - it's her responsibility, not yours. It's not like you sold her a car and then something went wrong with it within a certain time frame and therefore it's on you (which sometimes is the case in some states, depending on the law). She insisted on giving you money for them and the supplies - you didn't ask for it. If she can't afford some basic vet care for them, then she shouldn't have gotten them in the first place. Personally, I would wonder if she isn't trying to just scam you for money by claiming they are sick and hoping you will just fork over money without asking more questions. Or maybe she hasn't been taking proper care of them and that's why they are sick now. I don't mean to sound that cynical, but I wouldn't put it past some people. She assumed responsibility for their care when she assumed ownership - if you had no prior knowledge of any health issues (and there might have been none!) it's not your problem. You can give her back the $50 but that is about all you should do.

Seriously, there is no way that I would start paying expensive vet bills for a guinea pig that I no longer owned. I might just give her the $50 back and call it good.

I would ask her to quit contacting you. It almost sounds like a scam to me. If they were perfectly healthy, and now suddenly they're sick, and before even asking if you want to see the vet's reports, she's asking you for money...that's not right.

Please do not give her help with vet bills. If you want to take the piggies back, that is one thing. But no help with vet bills.

If the piggie is sick, the vet really won't be able to help. The best thing she can do is ask the vet to put the piggie to sleep.

It sounds like the piggie was injured, to be honest. That's on her.

I'm so sorry - I love guinea pigs and have had many of them. One of mine died within a week of buying it. It is what it is. They are hardy little animals. But when they get sick, that's pretty much it.

Dawn

You don't have any responsibility to pay for vet care but I'm sure she would appreciate if you gave her the $50 back.

We adopted two pigs. We were told they were in excellent health. One pig ended up dying, despite two trips to the vet, less than a week after we got him.

Guinea pigs can get sick very quickly and, just like people, they can become ill even if they were fine the day before.

I would say, I'll give you the 50 back that you can then put towards the vet bills.

Then leave it alone. Who knows if they are really sick or not. When we adopted our dog from a rescue, we paid 250. He ended up getting a bacterial infection, had kennel cough, and developed mange. We never even dreamed of going back to the rescue and getting money for the vet bills. That's what pet ownership is about.

Legal responsibilities? I can't imagine someone suing for vet bills in this situation. If you want to cover your bases, offer her the $50 back.

She assumed responsibility of the pigs, when SHE brought them to her home, as her pets. I would not give her anything, to be honest. I would cut ties with her. I wouldn't give the $50 back, because in a way, that suggests you are assuming some sort of responsibility. I would not do that, because she might be trying to hook you. Something is very fishy about this situation. You have no responsibility here, they are hers.

She adopted the animals. They are up to her to take care of now. You don't owe her anything... it's not like these are AKC certified pure breed dogs that had vet work and papers or anything.

you don't have any legal responsibilities. and since you didn't know the piggy was sick, and it almost certainly developed the illness after you gave it away, you don't have any ethical ones either.
if you want to give her back the $50 you could. but you don't have to. and i certainly wouldn't do any more than that.
little animals get sick and die. suddenly and without warning. they just do.
khairete
S.

They are hers to do with as she pleases, they are no longer your responsibility. They were purchased "as is". I would tell her this. Good luck.

she took them in with out requesting you to prove health via vet check. its not your responsibility anymore. i would tell her that to me its pretty cut and dry and to the point...

Sounds like stones, which can sneak up very quickly. I had a pig act fine one day and start peeing blood another and required surgery. If she adopted them fair and square and you truly had no idea that the pig had a problem, then the onus is on her to get the pig vet care - it is hers now. I would likely return the $50 but I would not pay the vet bills. At the end of the day, while she might be angry, the pigs are hers. Like if you pick one up at a shelter and find out it has mites (like I did) or adopt from a private party and find out the dog has heartworms (been there, too).

Her choices are treatment (for URI or stones) or euthanasia based on her own willingness and finances. On the flip side, if you do not take the pig back and she chooses to put the pig to sleep, you have no control over that, either. Because it's now her choice.

This is one of the reasons I tell people that guinea pigs are NOT starter pets or pets for kids. They are pets for involved FAMILIES because care can be urgent and expensive and if the kid loses interest then what? Pigs can easily live more than 5 years with proper care. But they are exotics and vet care is priced accordingly.

So reiterate that you did not know they were sick and while you are sorry to hear this, they are no longer your pets so you do not assume responsibility for their care or the choices she makes for them (wording being yours).

You have no legal responsibilities in this. She took them in and sounds like she is running a scam to me---I would tell her no that you are sorry that it is having problems but you can't help any more. They are her pets now and she needs to deal with their care. Its unfortunate if its true, but not your problem anymore.

I don't think you are responsible for the guinea pig(s)... BUT, I WILL say that this happened to my friend a couple months ago (the blood in her guinea pig's urine). It was a urinary tract infection. NOW, hold on to your seats on this one... in total, to cure her guinea pig, it took $650.00! NO JOKE. I don't know if there were extras involved with that price or not, but that's what they had to pay.

JUST with that knowledge and to be nice, I'd give the $50.00 back, but I don't think it is a requirement to do that NOR pay anymore... just to be nice.

You don't have any responsibility to them at this point legally or financially. You have to decide if you feel emotionally responsible and will take them back but DO NOT SEND MONEY for a vet bill. If you do decide to do that get the vets name and call them directly and have the new names for the guine pigs and the owners info and make sure that they were seen. Then send a check directly to the vet. Then take the animals back and rehome tem again. It could be new owner neglect or mishandling that caused the trouble. If your paying then you should own them.

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If she doesn't want to pay for them to be taken care of then she has the same responsibility as you did....pay for the vet or don't. Personally, I think its a guinea pig and taking them to the vet for pretty much anything is just silly; but that's me. They don't live a long time as it is. But, to answer your question, you have no responsibility or liability for them. You gave/sold them to her and now they are hers to take care. It is the same as a car or anything else you buy or sell. Google says the life span of a well taken care of and very healthy pig is 5-7 years, so...good luck. If you are pressured to, then take it back and put it to rest.

Sounds like extortion to me. Why not tell her to just "put the poor pig down"?
You have no responsibility at this point.

'Grams'
from the Pocono Mts. of PA

It is unfortunate that one of the guinea pigs is unhealthy but you are under no obligation to do anything. While it would be "nice" for you to give back the $50.00, I would advise against doing that because it could open you up to a lawsuit where you would look like you were guilty of giving her an animal that was unhealthy. They are now her problem unless you really want to help out from your heart.

You sold her the animals they are now her responsibility not yours. Don't offer any money unless you plan on paying for the entire sum because it could end up that way through the courts. Ask a lawyer or just let it go.