Possible new addition - need advice first!

[blackrose]

Some of you may remember me, some of you may not. I joined here in my quest to give the best possible care to my current cavy, Lucy. Things have been going well with her. I've finally figured out what veggies she likes and doesn't like and she gets a salad each evening. She scolds me when I fail to deliver and has developed quite a personality. She'll also come when called, which I find amusing. I'll walk into my room and say, "Piggy!!" and she'll start wheeking and come running from wherever she was.

One thing I haven't done to enrich her life was to purchase another piggy for company. I didn't have the time or the space for it, but now I do and I would like your advice before I make a decision.

I was browsing craigslist the other day and stumbled upon an ad that was selling three peruvian baby piggies - two male, one female. Inquired about the female and everything is ready to go - I just need to give the breeder my comfirmation.

But before I do that, I have two questions that have been nagging at the back of my mind that I'd like some input on:

1. Lucy is, to my best guestimate, around four years old. She's getting to the end of her life span. She has also been an only pig for her entire life. Would adding a second pig now be a bad idea? Do you think she'd take to a new one after being single for so long?
Once I add another pig, I will always have two...that means once Lucy passes on I will be getting another one to keep the little girl company.

2. The piggy in question is a Peruvian piggy. When I inquired about it I thought it was an Aby. The breeder said that her long coat as an adult can easily be kept trimmed short for care, but I want to confirm this. Is there anything else I should know about the Peruvian breed?

Here is the little girl in question. She's from CH. lines and has been handled regularly. Don't care much about the CH part, but at least I know she's of good quality!:

[Gemiinii]

To me it sounds like you'd be buying her from a breeder.

I think it might be better if you found a rescue near you. I'm sure they would help with a lot of the concerns you have about adopting a new piggie. I personally think it would be nice for her to have a same species friend, especially now that you have the space.

[blackrose]

Originally Posted by Gemiinii

To me it sounds like you'd be buying her from a breeder.

I think it might be better if you found a rescue near you. I'm sure they would help with a lot of the concerns you have about adopting a new piggie. I personally think it would be nice for her to have a same species friend, especially now that you have the space.

I realized after I posted my thread that this place is very pro rescue....I'm pro rescue as well (most of my animals are rescues!), but I'm also pro breeder, if they are responsible. And the breeder that has this little girl is, in my book, a responsible breeder which I have no problems buying from. I'd rather go to a responsible breeder than a petstore anyday, anyways.

There is one rescue "near" me (EARPS Exotic Animal Rescue - about 45 mins away) and I do like two of the girls they have there ( This one: Adopt a Guinea Pig: Crazy Haired Girl: Petfinder and this one: Adopt a Guinea Pig: Mom and 2 Babies: Petfinder), but I'm not going to NOT get this piggy just because she is from a responsible breeder and not a rescue.

But, okay, you got me. I am going to inquire about the piggies that I like at the rescue. *sigh* Makes my life so much more difficult...

That being said, my questions still stand.

[ittybitty98577]

she said it was coming from a breeder, I bought a pig from a breeder once before I knew better. Luckily the pig was healthy but what I heard shocked me. She told us that she once had over 40 pigs in one time! before she would ship them to canada! And you can never really trust people on CL. I think its a toss up on weather your getting a healthy pig. At least if you adopt you know its been checked out by a vet or the shelter wouldnt be adopting it out yet. Have you looked at local shelters? Or are you set on this one?

Longhair piggies need to be groomed daily I would use a comb, my girls hair gets tangly! And trims near the rear are always good, and if it starts to get nasty in that area (pee stained hair) time to give a butt bath! They are alot more work then short hair pigs.

[frashy]

It's against the policy rules of craigslist to SELL animals. Breeders are not allowed there. Not to mention, that IS an Abby guinea pig, as you can tell by the random colics all around her body. A responsible breeder is someone how has an understanding of the genetics. And trust me, she doesn't even know the name of the breed of her own pig. She is probably an abyruvian pig, who is an abby and peruvian mix. She is really adorable though! I am happy you want your piggy to have a buddy, but even if you are going to support the whole breeding thing, trust me she aint no breeder like you think she is. She is just a background breeder. Not to mention, what "responsible" breeder breeds while there are thousands of homeless piggies out there? Just some thoughts for you to think about. I don't want to tell you what you can and can't do, thats not what I am trying to do. I am trying to inform you and give you a few thoughts, and you can do what you want with them.

Quick question, what's the difference if its from a backyard breeder or a petstore? A petstore just has a technical legal business out of what they do. How do you define the difference, that makes one okay from the other?

TRUST ME you will feel wayy good about your decision with going to the rescue instead! It may be a little less convienent, but that's only more of a reason to feel good about what you did. Yay, I am happy. Perhaps keep us updated later, on when it's time to introduce them! See how it goes and all.

[blackrose]

I just inquired about the two girls that I posted earlier. I really do like the first one. LOL I'm partial to crazy hair.

I do think that the Piggy from the breeder is indeed a Peruvian...I googled to see some Peruvian pups and before their coat came in it seemed like they all had crazy hair too. However, I am in no way an expert.

I need to hear back from the breeder as well as the rescue before I make any final decisions and I'll be sure to keep you all posted.

Quick question, what's the difference if its from a backyard breeder or a petstore?

IMO, I view it like with dogs....petstores = mills, BYBs = stupidity, but without the mass quantities and sub level care. Both are wrong, but BYBs are generally the lesser of the two evils. Not by much, but still less. And talking about pocket pets, they are generally better handled and socialized when at a breeders house (even if they are BYB) than coming from a mill or petstore.

[Ly&Pigs]

A responsible breeder is not going to sell guinea pigs on craigslist. A responsible breeder does not breed pigs that are from ch. bloodlines. A responsible breeder breeds to better the health of the species and doesn't breed for show looks.

This person is far from a responsible breeder. The pig looks like an Aby or an Abyruvian. The breeder is lying to you if she's saying it's a peruvian.

We aren't making your life more difficult. Being pro-rescue and pro-breeding is an oxymoron.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Absolutely not true. How can a breeder handle all the guinea pigs if they have hundreds?

Backyard breeders are the cause of the pet overpopulation issue. No reputable breeder sells their animals online.. they have waiting lists and people coming to them. They don't need to seek out buyers.

Originally Posted by blackrose

IMO, I view it like with dogs....petstores = mills, BYBs = stupidity, but without the mass quantities and sub level care. Both are wrong, but BYBs are generally the lesser of the two evils. Not by much, but still less. And talking about pocket pets, they are generally better handled and socialized when at a breeders house (even if they are BYB) than coming from a mill or petstore.

[blackrose]

Originally Posted by rabbitsncavyluv

Absolutely not true. How can a breeder handle all the guinea pigs if they have hundreds?

IMO, that makes them a mill.

Backyard breeders are the cause of the pet overpopulation issue.

Agree with you there.

We aren't making your life more difficult.

I was being sarcastic..thus the wink. But I know that sarcasm is difficult to pull of in the written word.

Being pro-rescue and pro-breeding is an oxymoron.

No it isn't, with the difference being pro-responsible breeding and pro-rescue...but I really don't feel like arguing.

Anyways!

As I have already said, I did contact the rescue. It turns out that the lady who fosters almost all of the Guinea pigs is actually in my town. The Crazy Haired Girl has an adoption pending...a family is trying to decide between her and another pig. If they don't choose her, I'm next in line and she'll probably be who I get.

The momma Abby has already been adopted, but her two little girls are still up for adoption. The foster mom would prefer them to go together, and I'm trying to decide if I want two more pigs instead of just one. Any pros and cons for that? Would it be harder to introduce two babies to Lucy and have them all get along? The only reason I'm really considering getting two is that Lucy is up in her years (well, four), and getting two would save me from having to get another one when Lucy passes on.
If Crazy Haired Girl is adopted, I may consider getting these two, but I'm not sure if I'm up to two more.

I've also told the foster mom what I'd like in a potential piggy and if she had any reccomendations concerning the pigs in her foster care.

I emailed the breeder and told him that there were some piggies closer to home that I was interested in and that I wanted to check them out first before I made a final decision. I told him that I'd contact him no matter what I decide and if his baby pig gets scooped up before I get back to him to let me know.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

That breeder isn't a responsible one.

[blackrose]

I think I've decided to not go with the breeder. Gas is just too high right now to merit spending almost half a tank of gas to adopt a Guinea Pig, sorry to say.

We're headed out of town for a mini vaction the end of this week, so I won't be getting a piggy this week. But next week I'm hopefully going to be able to meet all of the piggies from the EARPS rescue and base my decision from there (They can be seen at this link: Guinea Pig, Indianapolis, IN: Adoptable Pets: Petfinder <---- They are from the EARPS Exotic Animal Rescue)

The Peruvian Piggy has an adoption pending, as does Sweet Pea (it is between her and the Crazy Haired one that the one family is trying to decide on). The Calico Abby momma has been adopted, but besides that they are all availible.

Anybody see any that they like? Miss Crazy Hair is my first choice if the family chooses Sweet Pea, but after that I have no idea which to consider...the foster mom said that the males can be nuetered if they are going to live with a female, so picking a male is open.

I've read up on introducing piggies to each other, but any first hand advice/tips/tricks would be appriciated.