[Gpdd] MISC-Yucky Cavy Show

[Penny Charlesworth]

Hi Lisa,

I'm not the competitive type so have never been interested in showing my 
piggies but a few years ago a friend, who wanted to buy a couple of pedigree 
pigs with a view to breeding a few, asked me if I would like to accompany 
her to a show. I thought that it might be interesting so I went along. The 
show had been organised by the Southern Cavy Club ( England ) and was held 
in a little village hall.
There were carrying boxes stacked up which looked as if the piggies would 
not have had room to turn round in them.

I was surprised at the way the piggies were housed, in tiny little cages, 
until it was their turn to be judged. Some cages had no food or hay in them 
and I would not have put any of my piggies into that situation. There were 
some lovely Peruvians being shown and they had to sit still on a board, all 
combed out, for the judging. I suppose that they were used to it but I 
couldn't imagine any of mine enjoying this.

The piggies must have been in good condition or they would not have won 
prizes.

My friend looked at the piggies for sale and I thought that the show people 
were not particularly helpful to someone who was not "one of them" and 
looked down on any pig that was not perfect. To me, they are all wonderful 
and I could not accept this attitude but, unusually for me, I kept this to 
myself.

She eventually bought two piggies and I brought home a little boar who was 
"free to a good home" as he only had one ear flap. I'm glad that I went as 
my Little Treasure was a wonderful piggy and I'm pleased to have been able 
to give him that "good home" but I never went to another show. I think that 
the showing fraternity ( in England anyway ) is a completely alien world to 
me.

Chris at Cavies Castle says that most show people don't love their piggies 
like we all do and don't even name them. They are just numbers. A less than 
show quality pig will be given away, which is how I got my Teazel, through a 
fellow rescuer. I don't care that her colouring is not up to show standards. 
She is my precious piggy and that's all that matters to me.

It will be interesting to read other digester's comments. I expect that all 
shows are different but I know that it is not for me.

Penny and the Piggyfriends.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Folly Farm" <lfolly at sbcglobal.net>
To: <gpdd at gpdd.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 10:13 AM
Subject: [Gpdd] MISC-Yucky Cavy Show


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My husband and I went to our very first cavy show on Saturday (Dec 2) in our 
hometown of Santee, California.  We had been looking forward to it for 
months.  We were planning on either adopting a retired show sow or a baby 
sow that wasn't 'show quality'.  Wow.  We'd never been to a cavy show before 
and were shocked at how 'pretentious' and  callous most of the vendors were. 
We were really upset.   When we weren't being trampled for the cages and 
pens on sale, we noticed most of the poor pigs were treated as 'product' and 
were sort of man-handled and those that were for adoption were REALLY filthy 
and or obviously rarely, if ever,  been handled.  Plus, at least 25% (for 
adoption) were pregnant, including tiny (pregnant) baby sows!  One lady that 
was showing was actually laughing and saying that 20 of her 'show' pigs had 
been eaten by 'coons' before the previous show (I know, maybe you should 
keep them inside, you IDIOT).  We just left, with me in tears and my husband 
disgusted.  Please tell me this was just a bad show,and that most people 
actually do love and respect their pigs.  Or is it just us?

No more shows for us,

Lisa Stanley & the San Diego Herd


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