Want a Guinea Pig(s) pet stores/ shelters - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**leesha88** · #1 10-29-09, 04:45 pm

I have a question and i hope i don't get yelled at

. I was wondering since i recently saw the video about Petsmart and PetCo, and I wanted to know since we all want to save guinea pigs, is there like a petition or anything that can be signed and help the guinea pigs that are at those stores to be bought into loving homes. Because I dont think its fair to save the guinea pigs that are in the shelters and we can get the ones out of these stores, and take them to the right veternarian to be checked and make sure they are healthy and well. I was just wanting to know about this and see if there are any answers or and wise advice out there. I still havent got my pigs yet because of this.

Love, Alicia

**JD In Van** · #2 10-29-09, 04:50 pm

If you buy a pig from one of those stores you just give them the money to replace them. Period. Sadly the only way to stop having pigs in pet stores is if people 100% boycott them.

**Paula** · #3 10-29-09, 04:51 pm

A better route would be to first find a way to prevent those stores from selling the animals in the first place, and THEN take those that are already in stores and find them homes through a shelter or rescue organization in the area.

The problem with getting the pigs out of the situation they are in now is that it still opens up a slot for another pig or pigs to be put in their place and mistreated just the same, and as long as that's the case the cycle can't ever be broken.

**leesha88** · #4 10-29-09, 04:53 pm

Ok, I wish there was away I can get alot of people with me and we can just bumrush the stores and take those poor animals out. Because I went to PetsMart last week and one guinea pig looked so sad, and I couldn't get him home.

**princesspoppy** · #5 10-29-09, 04:57 pm

I have often wondered the same thing. Ireland is a very small country and there was only one Guinea pig rescue in the country but it closed down. I have contacted pretty much every animal rescue in the country looking for a guinea pig and haven't found one yet to rescue. But there are plenty of pigs in the pet stores around the country. So my question is this. Where are all the unwanted pigs ?

**crazywiggy** · #6 10-29-09, 05:06 pm

I agree with the answers so far. Buying a pet store pig only makes things worse - it doesn't matter to the store why you bought the pig, all they care about is having the space and money to get another one in to sell. The only reason that breeding mills, pet stores etc still exist is becuase people buy from them.

Eventually, if all the pigs don't sell, they will end up being given away or taken to shelters, where people can rehome them without perpetuating this cruel trade.

Princesspoppy - many animals don't make it to a rescue or shelter, especially when it comes to small pets. People tend to just sell them / give them away or sometimes dump them at the vets. I would suggest looking through all the free ads, online, in shop windows, in local newspapers etc for people trying to rehome pigs. You could also contact local vets and tell them you are looking for a guinea pig, so maybe they could call you if anyone took some pigs in they didn't want. Good luck in your search!

**leesha88** · #7 10-29-09, 05:08 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by princesspoppy

I have often wondered the same thing. Ireland is a very small country and there was only one Guinea pig rescue in the country but it closed down. I have contacted pretty much every animal rescue in the country looking for a guinea pig and haven't found one yet to rescue. But there are plenty of pigs in the pet stores around the country. So my question is this. Where are all the unwanted pigs ?

Hmm? Good question

**JD In Van** · #8 10-29-09, 05:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by princesspoppy

I have often wondered the same thing. Ireland is a very small country and there was only one Guinea pig rescue in the country but it closed down. I have contacted pretty much every animal rescue in the country looking for a guinea pig and haven't found one yet to rescue. But there are plenty of pigs in the pet stores around the country. So my question is this. Where are all the unwanted pigs ?

Running around in your fields until they get eatten by foxes, hawks, what have you.

We have 5 major small animal rescues in my city and STILL have huge (like 1000+) populations of urban rabbits, cavvies and other pet rodents in pockets all over the city that were 'released' by their owners.

**leesha88** · #9 10-29-09, 05:13 pm

I really do appreciate all of your answers.

**Ly&Pigs** · #10 10-29-09, 05:17 pm

Petstores purchase their "stock/merchandise" from breeders and breeding mills. It's not so much their fault if they get a shipment of sick pigs, but it is their fault how they choose to care for the pigs that they have for sale. It is their fault if they choose not to provide vet care for the ill pigs and it is their fault if they continue buying their merchandise from breeders/mills who supply ill stock. The majority of petstores keep pigs in tiny enclosures, only feed crappy low quality pellets, many don't provide daily hay or veggies.

When you choose not to purchase a pig in a petstore, you are cutting down on the demand from the breeders/mills. Cutting down on the supply is important because less pigs are bred and less pigs die. Yes, we all feel sorry for those petstore pigs that don't have a home, but purchasing that pig only furthers the cycle. It will also be replaced by at least 2 more.

**Katie_Kutthroat** · #11 10-29-09, 06:04 pm

This is why I'm thankful for the One Of a Kind rescue. It's a pet store that gets it's cat's and dogs that are on death row at the pound and some strays, and adopts them out. All the supplies they sell, the profit goes into vetting all the animals they take in. They also run a low cost spay clinic. I wish I could find a program like that in Akron for "exotics". We're just now getting some of the spring kittens out, but their are cats all over the store. Most of the don't live in cages they just run all about the store, the only ones that are in cages are mainly the kittens and dogs, very few of the cats are in cages. And the dogs are all walked a million times a day.

It makes me so sad to see people treat living things as objects. Last summer I saw someone push a elderly chihuahua out of a MOVING CAR on the highway. Luckily she only had minor road rash, but I'm so mad I didn't get the plate number. Oh my god and there was that incident of the woman at Petland (who has SO many issues as it is) drowning that poor rabbit and putting pictures of it on facebook. I don't think I can bring myself to ever buy from a pet store, even though I do feel bad for the creatures they sell too.

**PolkaDotPig** · #12 10-29-09, 06:52 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

The majority of petstores keep pigs in tiny enclosures, only feed crappy low quality pellets, many don't provide daily hay or veggies.

This is absolutely true! To be honest, another reason not to buy from pet stores is your asking for heartbreak. Your new companion is likely ill. It may seem like--in the spur of the moment--that buying an animal from a pet store is the right thing to do. Your heart screams for you to save the poor soul before your eyes. However, you must take a step back and look at the big picture. If you take that animal home, it will be replaced with cuter and younger "merchandise". You are ultimately condemning them to the same fate. So you have to ask yourself if you are really being part of the solution or supporting the problem?

Back in November of 2007 I purchased two 5 week old baby Guinea Pigs from a local and supposedly well respected pet store. When I took them to the vet for a health exam they were found to have a severe lice infestation along with malnutrition including Vitamin C deficiency. I had been concerned due to their lack of energy and unwillingness to try veggies. I had no idea they were hanging onto life by a string. Despite my own best efforts (along with the vet's) both babies ended up passing away from the neglect. It was such a horrible experience, never again.

**blackarrow** · #13 10-29-09, 07:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by princesspoppy

So my question is this. Where are all the unwanted pigs ?

Well, little Chet here, Oswego County Guinea Pig Rescue: Chet as you can see, was tossed alive in a trash can with his brother. He's lucky to have survived even with a broken leg. And this is in a place where shelters DO take in guinea pigs.

Many people just don't think a $30 guinea pig is even worth driving to a shelter to abandon, unfortunately.

**princesspoppy** · #14 10-29-09, 07:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackarrow

Well, little Chet here, Oswego County Guinea Pig Rescue: Chet as you can see, was tossed alive in a trash can with his brother. He's lucky to have survived even with a broken leg. And this is in a place where shelters DO take in guinea pigs.

Many people just don't think a $30 guinea pig is even worth driving to a shelter to abandon, unfortunately.

Well that just brought tears to my eyes. How the heck can someone do that to such cute little pigS. There are no words to describe what i would like to do to the past owners of the 2 pigs. Sick just sick and twisted.

**MissFormosa** · #15 10-31-09, 12:26 am

We live in a world where everything is disposable and convenient, that's why.

"Thank you, JD In Van, for this useful post," say these 3 members:
Heady (10-29-09), MissFormosa (10-31-09), rabbitsncavyluv (10-29-09)

"Thank you, Paula, for this useful post," say these 5 members:
Heady (10-29-09), leesha88 (10-29-09), MissFormosa (10-31-09), PolkaDotPig (10-29-09), rabbitsncavyluv (10-29-09)

"Thank you, crazywiggy, for this useful post," says:
Heady (10-29-09)

"Thank you, Ly&Pigs, for this useful post," say these 4 members:
MissFormosa (10-31-09), PolkaDotPig (10-29-09), princesspoppy (10-29-09), rabbitsncavyluv (10-29-09)