[Gpdd] Misc: Pet Store Piggies

[Lori Albee]

Hello.  I have been waiting for the "perfect" time to get another 
guinea pig.
  Now is the time.  I had two years ago and they passed on.  Our 
daughter is
older now, we moved out of our apartment into a house, and I've been 
waiting
for 3+ years for that evasive "perfect" time.
I thought first of adopting rescue, but there aren't any close enough 
to me.
Driving far isn't an option with my daughter.  I checked out one pet 
store
and was appalled.  The store was a huge vaulted-ceiling area, and the 
minute I
stepped through the doors, I smelled rodents.  I found the GPs and was 
appalled
for the second time.  There were nine piggies in a maybe 2-1/2 feet x 
1-1/2
foot plastic cage.  There were very young females and at least one male 
all
together.  One of the young females was obviously pregnant.  They had 
an adult GP
in a 1-foot x 2-foot cage.  My heart went out, but I have to build my 
C&C
cage yet (still trying to find the cubes).
I need some advice.  I will ultimately make my own decision, but just 
want
some opinions here to weigh.  Should I purchase one of these GPs?  I 
want to
help them, but I don't want my precious piggy to die before her time 
either.  I
know it's not guaranteed to die, but I'm afraid, I guess.  Another 
store sells
just females, the cages are so clean, and the store smells fresh.  What 
do
y'all think?

Julie - piggy lover / future piggy owner



Hi Julie-

Sorry this is so late getting to you, but I'm behind on my GPDDs!  I'm 
lucky not to have your dilemma- I live within an hour of 2 shelters and 
they always have plenty of rescue piggies!

Here's my two cents:  I would not buy a pig at the store with the 
filthy conditions.  It must have been heartbreaking to walk in there 
and see those poor piggies having to live like that.  Unfortunately, if 
people buy their pigs, it gives them encouragement to continue breeding 
and selling cavies.  Believe me, I'd save them all if I could (we have 
12 rabbits, 6 cavies, and 3 foster rabbits, all rescues, and I'd have 
more except my husband is already over the edge about it!) but we can 
only do our own little part.

Suggestions of things you could try if you really want to help those 
poor piggies:
      -Report the store to the local humane society or animal control.  
They may not be able to do anything, but they will start a file about 
this store and will add to it if they get more complaints.  A visit 
from a humane officer may wake the store owners up a bit too, and 
encourage them to do better for their animals.
      -If you really have a big heart, and lots of time and money, you 
could volunteer to take care of those piggies for the store.  You could 
set them up with better housing, separate the boys and girls, take the 
sick ones to the vet, clean the cages, make sure they have grass hay, 
fresh food and water, etc.  Very few people have that much time and 
money to spend on animals that aren't their responsibility in the first 
place, but it would make a difference for the piggies.

Best wishes, and let us know what you decide!

Lori