[Sylvia]

A friend of my daughter-in-law is going to ring me at 4-30pm to ask me if I will have her "micro pigs" Apparently she drove a 300 mile round trip to buy 2 sweet tiny piglets last April.Tiny piglets grew..and grew..and GREW and she is now at her wit's end with them in her tiny garden.
DIL has told her that if I take them they will go for sausages and she doesn't seem to mind that but my question is this..
Should I ask her to get piggies delivered to me/charge her for picking up. Charge her for feed until they "go" and ask her to pay slaughter fees, bearing in mind that I don't really need or want more pork/sausages and will give the sausages etc. away to family and friends.
Also, I would like her to take responsibility for her irresponsibility, if you see what I mean.
I know I will get sensible answers soon

[deepinthewoods]

i would definitely charge for picking them up, and for feed and slaughter costs too. offer her some sausages in return...

[Sylvia]

Dave, you are cruel

[HappyHippy]

I was going to offer advice, but reckon you'll be mid-call, so maybe no point 

But yes, I think a charge for picking them up would be acceptable 

[Rosemary]

I don't see why you should be out of pocket, especially if you can't claw anything back on the sausages.

[deepinthewoods]

if you look at it realisticly, whats the alternative? i bet she hasnt a clue how to sort out the movement forms, she would have to hire a trailer to move these pigs to the abbatoir and pay their fees as well, plus, shes not gonna get them in any where near to xmas... so shes still going to have to feed them until into the new year.
 
charge her for all of it. she should be grateful!!

[Mrs Snoodles]

I'd go with what DITW said. Charge her for it all, offer her sausages.  Why should you lose out because of someone else's silly mistake. You are solving her problem after all.

[Sylvia]

Well, she's now in two minds about letting me have them, she was rather hoping I would keep them as pets. She keeps them in her sitting room with access to a tiny back yard   What was she thinking about, especially as my son had told her it would all end in tears.
Now, I have nothing against people having pet pigs/sheep/goats etc. I have two Kune girls myself but they live as pigs should with a few acres to roam in and their own house, a lovely wallow in hot weather and all that pigs could desire.
I would offer to keep them if she paid for feed, straw, worming and any vet. fees and I think she might agree to this bit, for how long? I can see that this would end in tears for me eventually, or, at least a big headache. What to do for the sake of the poor old pigs?

[HappyHippy]

Have you seen the pigs Sylvia ?
If they are vastly overweight, miserable and confined to a house most of the day then slaughter is probably kindest option  (thinking back to the last couple that were discussed on TAS - the ones from the school)
But if they are in good condition and health and would adapt to a proper piggy life outside then it might be an option ?
You'll maybe find she's less resistant to the sausage idea once she's been without them for a wee while.

I think, if it was me (having been in this position before) it might be easier in the long run to say no - but then what would happen to them  (my heart always wins in these situations  )
Oh I don't envy you, nor can I say what you should do - only you know the answer to that one 

[Fowgill Farm]

She keeps them in her sitting room with access to a tiny back yard   What was she thinking about, ....... What to do for the sake of the poor old pigs?

You ring and report her to animal health, RSPCA, DEFRA, the local environmental health office anybody who will listen then its not your problem! IMHO She a silly bitch who needs a good slap!
Grrrrrr mandy

[Berkshire Boy]

Bad morning Mandy.

[Fowgill Farm]

Bad morning Mandy.

Not really just hate this MP carry on and its gonna get worse, come down on 'em heavy with authority, heavy fines and make it news and make people think twice about this crappy trade!
+ i am full of cold and just come in from doing pigs, checking horses after the previous nights visitors!
mandy  

[deepinthewoods]

whilst i dont condone violence, often. i do think a call to animal health would be reasonable.

[rispainfarm]

I think you ought to speak reasonably to her and explain the situation with pigs at the moment. Explain to her that it is very unlikely you or she will find anyone who wants them as pets and that the abbattoir is really the only solution. Explain to her that in fact the way she is keeping the pigs is in fact far more cruel that a quick trip to the abattoir and that she has got to face up to her responsiblities. Failing that you can report her.  If they are in a real state wouldn't they get taken away anyway?

[Rosemary]

I think you ought to speak reasonably to her and explain the situation with pigs at the moment. Explain to her that it is very unlikely you or she will find anyone who wants them as pets and that the abbattoir is really the only solution. Explain to her that in fact the way she is keeping the pigs is in fact far more cruel that a quick trip to the abattoir and that she has got to face up to her responsiblities. Failing that you can report her.  If they are in a real state wouldn't they get taken away anyway?

I agree with this but if the RSPCA take them, they'll no doubt go to a rescue centre for rehoming as pets.