Guinea Pig Home

minjaresk · 09-27-2007, 05:41 PM

Are there any local shows coming up in California? If so please let me know

Foggycreek · 09-27-2007, 06:10 PM

???

Are you referring to guinea pig shows? They are for breeders, you know. I went to one once, and most of the breeders had tubs underneath their tables full of babies with signs saying $5 each.

Since breeding and showing seem to go hand in hand, most rescuers frown upon showing. Even 4H stresses importance on good breeding practices, and promotes breeding, so 4H showing isn't much better than the breed shows.

minjaresk · 09-27-2007, 10:39 PM

It seems that just about anything i post seems to get people looking down upon me. But i have just another question in mind, rescues and shelters- i have nothing against them but where do you get your guinea pigs from? If youre so against Petco getting animals from radom people whats the difference between shelters and rescues?

Cavylvr · 09-27-2007, 11:39 PM

Really the issue there is that if you buy from a pet store or breeder then you are encouraging them to continue breeding and carrying them in the stores. With the deplorable conditions that the pet stores keep them in (and sometimes the breeders) it fosters illness and parasites.
When you buy from them they use the money from the purchase to continue breeding/selling. This in turn contributes to the overpopulation and early death rates for the piggies unfortunate to be born in that situation.
If nobody buys the piggies then the stores stop selling them and the breeders stop breeding. In both situations they will be in it for the money. The money stops then so do they. Thus the encouragement to not buy anything from a pet store that carries live animals.

I don't think anyone is intending to be mean. They are just passionate about piggies and the sad situations so many of them end up in. One of the main purposes of this blog is information and adoption. Thus the encouragement to avoid any places or events that support breeding and selling.

BUSHPIGS · 09-28-2007, 07:18 PM

I am at a loss where to start so maybe I can start with 66 piggies without a home and more on the way.

WHY you may ask?

Well apart from the 52 females I already had I had to go and pick up another 14 females the other day from some idiot who was "breeding for pet shops" and guess what? It wasn't the money making exercise they had hoped for as the pet shops cannot sell the GP's so guess what they do? DUMP THEM on rescue/shelters.

I have also been to one GP show, years ago and saw the same thing. The not so perfect ones eg. show quality, correct colour were "for sale" and did well, what with the impulse buying that was going on.

You know, if you are a fair dinkum show breeder, just like dogs, cats, chooks, birds, guineapigs are no exception, you get rid of the not so perfect ones and that means you kill them as you haven't a hope in hell of getting rid of them any other way!

What people like me are asking is please give an unwanted GP a home.

Usually people who run rescues know what they are doing. When you get your pig it is healthy, if it does have problems you are advised re the care, you do not get pregnant females and we sex piggies before you get them and in US you seem to have access to desexing by qualified vets - how lucky are you!

I am truly not being mean but I can't help getting upset and sad.

sus4rabbitsnpigs · 09-29-2007, 09:11 PM

Petco doesn't buy their animals from random people. They buy them from pet mills/ backyard breeders. Big diff. Google puppy mills.

An animal shelter is a state run holding facility for unwanted animals. They are euthanized if not adopted - mostly dogs and cats are killed but often it is rabbits, guinea pigs and even hamsters - which surprise Petco sells.

An animal rescue saves animals from death row, treats them for any illnesses then cares for them until they are adopted into loving homes. They usually have limited foster space so they cannot take in any pigs until they have a free foster spot.

Since people run to the pet stores, the ones in shelters are getting killed instead of adopted.

If you adopt a pair from a rescue, you give a loving home to one pair and enable the rescue to save another pair.

Mutty · 09-30-2007, 07:23 AM

I wondered how it worked, sus4rabbitsnpigs. How dose Rescues manage to pay vet bills? I think you are all marvelous people spending all your time saving these precious little souls.

You help thousands with your advice also.

VoodooJoint · 09-30-2007, 09:03 AM

Minja - If it seems to you that anything you post gets questioned then maybe you should make certain you read the rules Forum Rules - Please Read Before Posting

The very first line of the rules reads

This forum is run by a guinea pig rescue and is a rescue-friendly board. Intentional breeding and/or showing "how-to" discussions and/or links are not welcome in this forum.

You are questioning the difference between buying and rescuing/adopting. Maybe this link (located in the same forum s the rules) will help you understand What is Rescuing and Adopting?

Guinea Pig shows are the hotbed of all the evil that gps suffer. Mass breeding, culling, selfishness, animal stress and neglect. I know it all looks like fun and harmless on the surface but you aren't seeing what goes on behind the scenes. You don't see the horrid conditions most of these animals are kept in, the homemade gas chambers for culling (if the animal is lucky to get gassed and not slammed into a brick wall), the back room deals these "responsible" breeders make with petstores and animal research labs to dump all of their unwanted animals. It's not fun for the animals at all and promotes neglect. Stay away from shows unless you are carrying a sign protesting them.

sus4rabbitsnpigs · 09-30-2007, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mutty

I wondered how it worked, sus4rabbitsnpigs. How dose Rescues manage to pay vet bills? I think you are all marvelous people spending all your time saving these precious little souls.

You help thousands with your advice also.

Adoption fees and donations usually but since they barely cover cost of feed, bedding, etc. most of us are constantly fundraising to stay afloat. Even then you are pouring a lot of time and money, heartache and sweat into it. You can read more here Guinea Lynx :: Topic - Adopt, Support or Start a Rescue, Report Abuse, Petfinder

minjaresk · 09-30-2007, 11:22 PM

SO, shows all sell guinea pigs? I thought there were shows that show off the beauty of these animals PERIOD. And i know that i dont mean to offend anyone but then at the same time, my words are being completley misunderstood. I dont feel that i am a threat nor am i advocating such harm. Its a bit overwhelming to keep on trying to explain myself.