I'm planning on getting some guinea pigs - I heard that you can't buy just one so it looks like I'll need to get two.

Anyway, the trouble is this - hubby and I are planning on going away for at least three weeks next year to visit my family back in Malaysia. We also travel back to France a few times a year - usually a weekend, at most ten days.

Does anyone have any idea where I can go for boarding or what I can do, eg find someone to drop in once a week or something?

Or should I not bother about getting them at all?

I'd read up on them first if I were you. They need cleaning out a lot more regularly than once a week! Pretty much every day or so because they're messy little critters. They also need fresh food and water and you have to let them out of their cage regularly for exercise. If you don't have friends or family to leave them with whilst you're away ask the supplier if there is someone locally who boards them - maybe a cattery?? If he doesn't know anybody then I would reconsider if you are away for extended periods. They stress really easily. I've "minded" one before. It's not exactly taxing but it's a living thing nonethless and needs regular basic care to keep 'em happy.

Yeah, I know...I used to have one when I was in Australia years ago. That's why I'm not getting them until I can find a boarder or someone to help look after them while I'm away.

Anyone know of any boarders in Neuchatel (apart from asking the supplier)?

Greetings from a Guinea-pig lover in Zurich. I'd be happy to look after your guinea-pigs for you anytime. My last guine-pig died in September and I havent got a new one as yet. I had guinea-pigs for 15 years, and they're adorable creatures. I would always leave mine with the vet. You can try calling a few vets in your area (if Zurich is too far for you). They normally charge CHF 10 a day per pet.

Ooooo....I ought to check them out! Thanks for the offer! I'll keep in mind. I don't have my piggies yet coz I don't want to get them without solving this vacation issue first. It just wouldn't be fair to the piggies.

So now I have a couple of choices - I didn't know you could leave them with a vet!

Have you tried googling? I tried just for the hell of it and came up with these folks who are on the opposite side of the lake from Neuchatel town. Anyway they say say they take cochon d'inde so if you google a bit more than I did you might come up with something nearer to you. Either way it looks like some places do take small animals so there's bound to be a solution out there:

http://www.lapins-ichtus.ch

Oh...trouble is my French is ultra crappy so I've been googling in English.

But thanks heaps!!!!

Here's another one in Lausanne:
http://www.pattesdevelours.ch/elevage.html

I got them from this website which is the Swiss guinea pig forum!
http://suissechon.forumactif.com/cho...pension-t2.htm

I would think if you post on the forum someone will know of somebody near you. If they can't help you, no-one can.

Okies...so after some discussion with the hubby, we've decided to get a pair of gerbils instead. They better fit our needs and desires...the only trouble now is to find if there's any available in Neuchatel. =.=

My kids are crying for a pet. So much so that I would consider driving that far to get one on a loaner that I did not have to look after year round. Especially somthing like a guinea pig, or even better two, so they can keep each other company. Let me know if you every need me to look after them.

Sadly, we had to leave our guinea pigs in the States, but ended up with some supplies in our shipment. (we miss them terribly!)

Anyway, a bag of FREE food bedding to anyone who wants to pick it up in Cham.