I live in the UK and have two pairs of
GP's. My set up for them is based outside.
In the winter (or cold) they live in stacked 5ft x 2ft hutches. In an insulated & padlocked shed in my garden. In there they have a 5 x 2 C&C cage for play time, a cuddle chair and they are really happy. I have bottle snugs for their bottle to keep them from not (although it never gets that cold) freezing. And they get a warm thing to lie on.
In the summer they live in 4ft x 2ft fox-proof padlocked hutches. The hutches are sheltered by two walls to protect them from the occasional wind. And it is shady there constantly. I put them out in fox proof runs with a water bottle, houses and some hay, dry food and veggies.
I AND they prefer living outside in the summer because of many things. In my house it gets quite stuffy (even with windows open) whereas in the garden it is fresh and cool. In the summer the temperature doesn't drop a lot at night. It is still warm. Even if it isn't they always have plenty of hay to snuggle up with. We have no insects of really any sort in the garden. We have bees but thats really it. We don't often get storms here but when we do I house them in the shed or I bring them indoors for a few hours. My hutches, shed and everything are always padlocked. I can't do anything to prevent somebody coming to do harm to my animals apart from that. People break into locked houses as well as sheds. I am always out with my
GP's and they go in the run for long periods of time relaxing and they get at least 1 hour of cuddles each.
I personally find it offensive for you to say:
Quote:
|
locked in a cage, outside, all day and night. Someone comes to bring you food, play with you and check on you once or twice a day, but when the weather is bad and it has been raining for several days straight, and you are at your most scared and miserable you are lucky if your caregiver comes out to check on you once every 24 hours
|
. If an animal is outside it doesn't necesarily mean that they are neglected in bad weather. Mine are normally in the shed when it is bad weather and I go out there and give them lots of hugs and everything. As I have electric I have a TV and often I am out there for 2-3 hours. If you keep your animals in the shade then they won't overheat unless it's REALLY hot, which in England it never is. When I bring my
GP's inside they like it for about an hour but after that they become panicky because of all the loud noises. If I were there size I don't think it would be nice to be surrounded by really loud noises, big people and strange smells.
I have a few questions about living inside. Being inside they are used to central heating, air conditioning and everything similar to that. My animals are happiest when they are eating grass in the run and relaxing, often in the summer they will be out there every day. When you take them outside the weather conditions have to be PERFECT otherwise there is a chance your
GP might catch an illness seeing as they are used to 'conditioned' surroundings. Also,
GP's are naturally shy, scared animals and they prefer the quiet and peaceful. So, unless they are inside from a baby they will find it hard to adjust to the noise.
I personally prefer my animals being outside though some may have different views. I think that if properly cared for the animal outside will have a healthier life as they have a hardier immune system. Either way I think that nobody can judge someone and be offensive to them because of their choice. Every
GP is different and my animals prefer it outside whereas others may prefer it inside.