8th April 2014

It’s the school holidays again, so plenty of people about and loads of pens full of guinea pigs and rabbits. The first 11 cages had big guinea pigs in, a couple had two. I figured most would be boars and they were indeed. There were about 30 pens of pigs in total, some from the usual dealer. None were badly under age or ill looking so things were good in that department! I ended up getting an older boar with a mullet, a rex type with 'come get me' eyes, two small boys, one looks to have a touch of fungal on his crest, a pink eyed rex type sow and a grey agouti/white girl. As usual there will be a risk of these two being pregnant as their history is unknown. Good business for the auction today, with only a couple of pens with big reserves on unsold. I would hope that most of the pigs that ended up as family pets today would have a good chance as they were strong, bright eyed and healthy looking. So a good day from a rescue's point of view!

1st April 2014

Well the auction pens are back round in their normal spot but there was nothing else normal today! A different auctioneer who not only insists on moving in ££'s instead of 50p's on the low animals, but he also insists on selling the pens in groups. Sometimes you are after the 3rd in the run and you find unless you win the bid on the boar three pens above you haven't got a hope as he gives the original buyer an option on them all. It doesn't matter so much to me as I just pick up what no one else wants, which today was a big fat zero. Even the dealer pens were fetching serious money. There were a lot of new people bidding, not one of the regular buyers, and the car park was packed too. On the plus side, although the dealer pens had some guinea pigs with small patches of fungal in their fur, they were generally in good condition. So luckily, there were no guinea pigs today that needed to head to Avalon.

25th March 2014

There were 13 cages of guinea pigs at the auction today; the first 6 lots were single boars. No one was interested so I got 5 out of the 6 at minimum bids. I’m glad I went really, what would have happened to them otherwise? They all look related, Swiss types. I also got a cage of boys, again at minimum bid, and then heart ruled head and I bought two pairs because I didn't want the wrong person to obtain them. Two were Dutch type and are really gentle. The other two are a long haired dark lad and a satin 'rex' type. All are in reasonable health; one or two have scabby patches but nothing appalling, which makes a nice change. No one wanted the piggies today. This is why it’s so important for someone to be there every week to give the mistreated pigs some respite at Avalon, before being adopted into their ‘forever homes’.

18th March 2014

Arrived very late due to other commitments thinking the sale would be in full swing.... only to find it was nowhere near starting. There were not many pens in today, about 12 pens of guinea pigs and around 20 pens of rabbits. The first line up were guinea pigs, presumably from the same unknown seller, with plenty of weight on but with skin issues across the board and the older ones had horrific nails.

I think they were all boars, I'd suggest they have been kicked out from someone using them for breeding. I bought three of them for Avalon; the others received bids from known good homes. Next were 4 pens of extremely dodgy looking pigs. One pen was withdrawn from the auction due to its condition; the others went to known reliable buyers thankfully. I pestered the auctioneer and they agreed to sell the withdrawn pen to me on the understanding that the guinea in it had ringworm and needed treatment. Sale was agreed and I had a look. She is a white crested sow, a very pretty one. Or rather she would be if she wasn't ripping at her flesh and causing huge sores. It appears to be mites, no signs of ringworm. She is terrified and spends the whole time when picked up squealing in a very high pitch. She should have never been accepted in the auction, but well done to the staff for refusing to offer her to the public. If we pester to get these auctions closed down, these pigs will never get a chance in life. We need to educate and prosecute those who feel it is acceptable to have animals suffering in this way, not close down the outlet. There are a lot of healthy pigs sold each week; they have as much chance of finding good homes as they would if sold on an internet site, or pet shops!
I also brought back three other pigs for Avalon.

18th March 2014

Arrived very late due to other commitments thinking the sale would be in full swing.... only to find it was nowhere near starting. There were not many pens in today, about 12 of pigs and around 20 rabbits. The first line up were pigs, presumably from the same unknown seller, with plenty of weight on but with skin issues across the board and the older ones had horrific nails. I think they were all boars, I'd suggest they have been kicked out from someone using them for breeding. I bought three of them for Avalon, the others received bids from known good homes. Then came 4 pens of extremely dodgy looking pigs. One was withdrawn due to its condition, the others went to Mr Shiny Shoes and another reliable buyer thankfully. I pestered the auctioneer and they agreed to sell the withdrawn pen to me on the understanding it had ringworm and needed treatment. Sale was agreed and I had a look. She is a white crested sow, a very pretty one. Or rather she would be if she wasn't ripping at her flesh and causing huge sores. It appears to be mites, no signs of ringworm. She is terrified and spends the whole time when picked up squealing in a very high pitch She should have never been accepted in the auction, but well done to the staff for refusing to offer her to the public. If we pester to get these auctions closed down these pigs will never get a chance in life. We need to educate and persecute those who feel it is acceptable to have animals suffering in this way, not close down the outlet. There are a lot of healthy pigs sold each week, they have as much chance of finding good homes as they would if sold on an internet site. Or Pets at home!

I also brought back three others for Avalon, although unfortunately one big boar decided to cause trouble immediately and somehow I was forced to put him back in my boxes and he's here with me
Please look at the picture of the little white sow. She will take more money to get right than she will ever be worth, but she will have everything she needs from now on. If you feel we are doing the right thing by helping her and the others found suffering please consider Donating. 

Just £1 will help enormously if we all chip in. Help us to help them, they don't have many options.

11th March 2014

Not many lots in today, equal amounts of pigs and rabbits. During the auction two lots from one dealer were withdrawn by the auctioneer due to 'illness'. One of these lots was subsequently re-offered, probably rightly so. The other lot was a young rex type boar and he was huddled at the front and covered in fungal. We had already decided to bring him home with us. I bought him after the auction. I do begrudge having to pay for ill pigs that will need medication, but these are the pigs that desperately need help. I've had a skin infection recently. I know how painful and irritating it is. And fungal is so easy to treat. There was another pig covered in fungal, but she was lively and they tried to sell her anyway. I bought her afterwards for the same reasons. £10 for two pigs is probably more than they are worth, but they would not have been treated if they had returned home with the seller.
I bought a cage of young Himalayans. Not because they were unwanted, but because I have a soft spot for them and I didn't like the other bidder! This isn't what the rescue are here to do, this was my heart ruling my head. They can stay here is Shaz prefers, sometimes I make rash judgements and I apologise.
Some of the dealer lots didn't sell, some went for reasonable amounts. All looked healthy enough. There was a run further along of pigs, I bought three out of the four lots, two whiteish boys, two satins and two aby types. All look healthy, the two mainly white boys are very scared but in good condition.

4th March 2014

About 25 lots in today, all sold including those with reserves. There was a bottom cage right in the corner that it was difficult to see in, I got the torch app on my photo into action and found a brown sow and three young grey babies in. I checked it was ok to bid more than usual as I was worried the sow was either in pig again to the sire of these babies, or one of the babies was a boar
She's safe now though. The babies are sows (at a quick glance!!) and about 4 weeks old ish. The mum looks rather tubby, but I couldn't feel another pregnancy from the quick cuddle I had. She and her babies are, as you can understand, rather stressed. I also brought back the past pig sold as interest had waned by then. He's a himalayan rex boy, about 12 weeks old I'd say. Very sweet So only one box was needed, the others just go for the trip these days! There was one piggie that caught my eye but not until after he had been bought as he was buried in straw.... a chocolate coloured long hair that has gone to a good home now and will no doubt get the bath he needed....pooh!