I had to bring Baby back. - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**IHeartMickey** · #1 08-31-06, 03:48 pm

First off, I'd like to say that I'm not quite sure I'm going to get another guinea pig again. I had Piggie for 5 years, and had to put him to sleep due to age related problems, the vet said it was the most humane decision I could make with him. Putting him to sleep KILLED me emotionally. He was my little boy.

I bought Baby from the same place I got him from because he was a great, healthy pig. I got her 8 days ago, five days after I lost Piggie just because I couldn't take the silence in the house.

This morning she was starting to act funny. I came home from work and she was almost lifeless. I'm not going to get into the drama that started with both me and my mother hysterical crying, trying to figure out who was going to put her in the carrier so I could bring her back. Both my mom and I watched so many family members die slowly, we just can't take losing any more people or 'things' although I consider animals people too.

I brought her back, they give a health guarentee.. On the way I think she was having seizures. But what I was very happy about was while I was there they called up the vets office to see if they could bring her in because it was an emergency and one of the workers was going to walk her to the office because she didn't have a car. The office is pretty far. And a while after I left I saw her leave with Baby, so it wasn't just a ploy to make me feel better, etc.

They also said I could call tomorrow to see how she was. I was refunded my money, however it wasn't about the money at all. I can't go through this again. I can't watch one more thing suffer. This is breaking my heart.

Thank you all, for all your help with the questions I had regarding her care. I really do appreciate it.

**janetangel** · #2 08-31-06, 05:11 pm

First of all, sorry for your loss. I really know how painful it can be to lose a pet as well as family. It hurts.
2nd concern I have is why did you decide to purchase from a pet store?
If you are familiar with this site, there are many issues addressed on here why we prefer to adopt rather than purchase from a pet store. One is the overpopulation issue with piggies just like there is with cats and dogs. The other is something you have already experienced. Poor health with piggies in pet stores. Piggies in pet stores are purchased by the store from breeders. These breeders are breeding the piggies to make money, just like puppy mills do. It is so easy for them to make a buck off of selling the piggies to the pet stores. Because of this most breeders do not see it as cost effective to have these piggies checked by the vet or have their sow carefully watched by the vet. They are not even too concerned about what the sow goes through to reproduce. They just see their sow as a baby maker. This is very dangerous for the sow and also feeds into the over population of the piggies. In addition since health is not an issue with the breeders, the health is often over looked by them and the pet stores receive many with health issues. Since piggies hide their illnesses well, it is not always noticed before they are either sold or in contact with other piggies to be sold.
When someone needs to rehome their piggie or if they are in a shelter, it is a lot more likely they are better taken care of. I adopted my two piggies from a local shelter for 5.00 each with a free vet visit. They did have mites, but I was able to get that quickly resolved with the vet visit. They are healthy and happy now and I have a great vet. My other two I got from a friend who really needed to rehome. They were healthy, one still is and the other got an URI that I am treating her for right now. The two I got from the shelter, I saved their lives. They would have been put down if I did not adopt them. I cannot imagine that happening to them, since they are such wonderful little girls.
Adopting them not only saved their lives, I saved a ton of money on adoption and the vet visit. I have a lot more satisfaction with that than if I went to the pet store and purchased a piggy for 30.00. If people keep buying from pet stores, it creates a demand for the stores to buy from the breeders and the breeders continue the sick cycle of breeding.
Please if you consider getting another piggie, go adoption. There are a whole lot of resources on this site that will help you find a place to adopt from.

**IHeartMickey** · #3 08-31-06, 05:15 pm

Before I came here, I had no idea you could adopt guinea pigs. I thought shelters were only for cats and dogs. Now, I do know better. However, I know it sounds bad but right now because of loss, if I was to eventually get another GP I would want one I know is young this way, essentially I wouldn't have to deal with imminent death.

I'm not so sure I'm going to get another. We'll see after I come back from vacation next month.

**janetangel** · #4 08-31-06, 05:22 pm

Glad you are aware of adoption now. If you do decide to get another, I would not support going through a petstore just to get a young one. There are many babies born all the time from accidental pregnancies of mis-sexing. Many people come to this site for help when this happens to them. Waiting until you are feeling better emotionally is probably a good idea, that way your decision will be more sound and right for you. Good luck.

**piggly wiggly** · #5 08-31-06, 05:24 pm

Sorry for your loss. But
if the money was not an issue, what was the reason you brought her back to the store instead of to a vet. Even if you did not want to see her ill, you could have brought her to the vet and seen if he could save her, and either he could have or he would put her down. I am sure he would allow you to leave her there and not be present while he was treating her or putting her down. That way you would know what really happened to her.

**Susan9608** · #6 08-31-06, 05:38 pm

I'm sorry you lost your guinea pig; however, this is a classic example of why buying from pet stores is a bad idea. Pet stores sell sick animals. Even buying a young animal from a pet store is no guarantee that he will necessarily be healthy; death can be just as imminent with a young animal as with an older animal, especially if treatment was withheld or delayed at a pet store.

If you want a young animal, shelters and rescues frequently get the offspring of accidental pregnancies or the unwanted offspring from backyard breeders. Shelters/rescues often have pregnant sows within the rescue, and then put the babies up for adoption once they are weaned.

You'd most likely get a healtier animal from a shelter or rescue because, unlike a pet store, all animals in rescues/shelters get the examinations and/or treatment that they need. They are quarantined until they are assured the animal is not carrying any disease.

On this forum there is NO excuse for buying an animal from a pet store, not even wanting to get an animal that is young. It's just not acceptable.

**janetangel** · #7 08-31-06, 06:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan9608

On this forum there is NO excuse for buying an animal from a pet store, not even wanting to get an animal that is young. It's just not acceptable.

Just like Susan's quote above and all the information we have provided you on this thread and on this site if you read it...you should clearly understand WHY purchasing from petstores is not tolerated here.
We are saying this because it is truly bad for the guinea pig species to be bred just for sales just like it is for dogs and cats. Purchasing from a petstore, no matter how you justify it, is promoting killing another piggie in a shelter.
If you still consider buying from a pet store just because they have what "you want" than your decison will NOT be supported on this site. Not even a little bit. People from this forum are for the animals and support people who are helping animals. We are the voice for animals and we do speak and listen here.
I do not want to leave this thread with any doubt that you do know how serious the petstore issue really is. Even if you decide not to get another piggie right away, you may down the road or get any other animal. I for one cannot live without animals no matter how many I see to the end of their lives. Animals make a positive difference in my life, like I do in theirs.
People in my life do too. That is why I am so close to my family. I know we will all pass on someday, but I cannot change that and I am a lot happier sharing my life with them while we are both here in life.

**VoodooJoint** · #8 08-31-06, 06:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by IHeartMickey

However, I know it sounds bad but right now because of loss, if I was to eventually get another GP I would want one I know is young this way, essentially I wouldn't have to deal with imminent death.

Baby was young right? So, you got the young GP you wanted but she came with a handful of health problems that will most likely result in her death.

Your other GP that died from "age related problems" was only 5. That is not that old for a GP. You can thank the bad breeder and the petstore that buys from them for causing your first GP to become sickly at 5 and die.

So far by buying "healthy" animals form a petstore you are batting 0 for 2. Please don't go back to another petstore and try for a 3rd strike.

**WEAVER** · #9 08-31-06, 08:10 pm

I also want to add, that many pigs that are desperately waiting for homes, even though they may not be "babies", they are still full of life and energy. It is sad that you are limiting offering your home and heart to a pig so much in need and one that you could make a difference in their life between them having a life or being put to death. You are closing the door, and missing out on the opportunity to save a life, . . .all because you are afriad of loss??? . . .really a pig is losing their life everytime you purchase a pig from a petstore. I am sorry, but your rationalization makes no sense to me.

**PiggieMamaKelly** · #10 08-31-06, 09:32 pm

Your experience was the exact way that I learned my lesson about buying from petstores. It is unbelievably heartbreaking to loose a pig that you have had for only a short period of time. Because of the pain I dealt with after losing my brand new baby pet store pig I will NEVER put myself in jeopardy of feeling that again by getting a pig from a petstore. Those animals are just plain not healthy too often, no matter how great you think the store is. I am so sorry about your experience. And I am sorry you lost your older pig as well.

**IHeartMickey** · #11 09-01-06, 04:41 am

If I was to get another GP, it would not be from a pet store. And I didn't bring her myself to the vet because.. money is an issue. Had they not made the decision to rush her over there, I probably would have decided to just take her myself and try to work at some sort of payment plan with the vet. The first instinct was to take her back where I got her from. Please note I really thought she was gone. Her legs would twitch every once in a while but other than that she didn't move. It's only when I got to the petstore and heard claws moving like she was running (she wasn't) that I realized she still had fight left in her.

I'm going to call today to see how she is. I have a feeling she didn't make it, but if she did and the vet nurses her back to health.. Would it be wrong to want to take her back? I really did care about her.

**Susan9608** · #12 09-01-06, 10:05 am

I'd be interested to know if that pig is still alive. I have a suspicion that if the pet store took the animal to the vet, it was for euthanasia, not treatment.

**Percy's Mom** · #13 09-01-06, 10:13 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by IHeartMickey

I'm going to call today to see how she is. I have a feeling she didn't make it, but if she did and the vet nurses her back to health.. Would it be wrong to want to take her back? I really did care about her.

I have a feeling she didn't make it either. I also have a feeling that she never went to the vet. I'd be VERY surprised if a petstore got an obviously sick/probably dying pig to the vet. You said you saw the store associate leave with Baby. Did you see her go into the vet's office? Go back into the store and ask to see what happens to the animals that die in the store. You'll probably be disgusted.

Would it be wrong to want to take her back? Absolutely. You abandoned your pig. She was your responsibility, but you took the easy way out and gave her back to the store because they have a "health guarantee", and you couldn't "take losing any more people or 'things". That "health guarantee" is really no more to them than a return policy for defective merchandise, and they gave you your money back for your return.

**cavypaulita** · #14 09-01-06, 10:23 am

Quote:

That "health guarantee" is really no more to them than a return policy for defective merchandise, and they gave you your money back for your return.

this is just so sad it made me cry.
I can't understand how a sweet adorable guinea pig can be treated as merchandise...

Just to think about what they might have done with her brings tears to my eyes.

I'd like to know if you found out if she's still alive ...

Pauli

**janetangel** · #15 09-01-06, 10:40 am

Everyone of these posts in reaction to the petstore practices is absolutely true how pet stores operate. It is more about the money than it is about the animal. Animals are disposable, money is not to them. They can always get more animals from the breeders, but they need the money to stay in business. See the cycle? It sucks for the animals involved. That is why we are so passionately against pet stores. Animals must come first, not the pet store's budget.

**wpgcavylovers** · #16 09-01-06, 11:18 am

It does break my heard hearing of someone's pet being sick. I really do think that everyone who has posted a reaction to IHeartMickey's post does have the best intentions on adoption. IHeartMickey has experienced a loss of 2 piggies now and ganging up on someone about adoption doesn't help. I do know that there are places that don't have shelters that accept "Small Animals" or "Pocket Pets" and the only place you can get a cavy is from a pet store. I do believe in adoption of a pet rather than purchasing from a store, but that option may not always option. Please don't beat me up about for my opinions on this issue. IHeartMickey, I am sorry to hear of your loss and the hard time you have been having lately.

**IHeartMickey** · #17 09-01-06, 11:30 am

I just called. She didn't make it. I will absolutely never buy a guinea pig from a petstore again. Although, I understand your urge to be nasty to me, etc because I bought her from a store I did not KNOW any of this. I'm pretty familiar with all the people in my Petco, they have a rescue group called Bobby and the Strays come every Saturday to adopt out rescued cats and dogs. They have free/low cost immunization for cats/dogs. And when I first got Piggie I was scared to cut his nails myself so I brought him in there and said I would pay for someone to do it and they did it at no cost. So, I've had a pretty positive image of this store in my mind it made sense to buy one from there.

**Jennicat** · #18 09-01-06, 11:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by IHeartMickey

I just called. She didn't make it. I will absolutely never buy a guinea pig from a petstore again. Although, I understand your urge to be nasty to me, etc because I bought her from a store I did not KNOW any of this. I'm pretty familiar with all the people in my Petco, they have a rescue group called Bobby and the Strays come every Saturday to adopt out rescued cats and dogs. They have free/low cost immunization for cats/dogs. And when I first got Piggie I was scared to cut his nails myself so I brought him in there and said I would pay for someone to do it and they did it at no cost. So, I've had a pretty positive image of this store in my mind it made sense to buy one from there.

Sadly, Petco relies on this image to continue to make people buy from it's stores. I'm very sorry that your lost your pig.

**Percy's Mom** · #19 09-01-06, 11:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpgcavylovers

I do believe in adoption of a pet rather than purchasing from a store, but that option may not always option.

Then your option is NOT to have whatever kind of pet you are looking for until one comes up for adoption some way. Once you know that adoption is possible, buying an animal is inexcusable. Yes, Baby was purchased before IHeartMickey knew about adoption, but they had been here for a while before taking Baby back and abandoning her back to the pet store.

**janetangel** · #20 09-01-06, 01:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by IHeartMickey

I just called. She didn't make it. I will absolutely never buy a guinea pig from a petstore again. Although, I understand your urge to be nasty to me, etc because I bought her from a store I did not KNOW any of this. I'm pretty familiar with all the people in my Petco, they have a rescue group called Bobby and the Strays come every Saturday to adopt out rescued cats and dogs. They have free/low cost immunization for cats/dogs. And when I first got Piggie I was scared to cut his nails myself so I brought him in there and said I would pay for someone to do it and they did it at no cost. So, I've had a pretty positive image of this store in my mind it made sense to buy one from there.

Hey IHeartMickey...I am sad for your experiences, and I am glad you understand how petstores work now. I think your heart is in the right place with animals as far as your love for them, but some of your choices were a little off choice, like bringing the baby back to the petstore for your money back. I seriously hope and I think you did learn from this experience and will go on a bit wiser now.
wpgcavylovers...I completely disagree that adopting a pet from a shelter of any kind is an impossibility no matter where you live. Where there is a will there is a way. I originally had planned on traveling two hours to another city to adopt from a shelter, but another member was able to locate a couple at our local shelter and was gracious enough to notify me. We develop cavy trains across the country. There are people everywhere who need to rehome for one reason or another.
When I get a rat again, I guarantee you it will be from a shelter, even if I have to travel. There are a few pet stores near me that are closer, but that would be just pure selfish and stupid on my part to support breeders and pet stores. I know the bigger picture of those actions and my morals and heart could not do it. I love animals too much to kill one just because of convenience.

"Thank you, janetangel, for this useful post," say these 2 members:
GadgetGirl (08-31-06), piggly wiggly (08-31-06)

"Thank you, Percy's Mom, for this useful post," says:
janetangel (09-01-06)