Where to buy a piggy?

[Amethyst]

Now that my cage is done I am finally searching for piggies to buy.
I have contacted a piggy lover in Utah and she said there are no cavy specific rescues here. My research online also hasn't found anything.
I've read all the stickies and many other threads on the forum and I know that pet stores are a big no-no...and I most certainly won't be buying from a pet store.
My Mom joined a breeders website and was trying to find a breeder to buy from, I tried to explain the things that I've learned here, but I didn't get very far. She said she was looking for a nice family home that happened to breed piggies in nice conditions, and what am I supposed to say to that? My sister and Mom want two young piggies that are nice and affectionate, and they've gotten in their heads that shelter piggies are mean.

So a couple days ago to my relief they started searching on Craigslist and some local classified adds...but now the question is how do we know which piggies are best? What exactly are we looking for? How do we know what kind of conditions the piggies have been kept in? Are there better places to look? I'm rather cunfuzzzled right now.

[Jitterbug]

Obviously you know this already, but DON'T let them buy from a breeder! They're as bad or worse than buying from a petstore. It's like buying your weed from someone who grows it rather than going to a drug dealer. Doesn't mean you're not buying weed.

When choosing a pig to adopt, unless you're willing to spend extra money on vet bills, make sure the pig is healthy. Look closely at ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and anal area for anything unusual like crusties or discharge. These parts should look clean and dry. Make sure the teeth meet right and the piggy can eat properly. Also check the feet for overgrown toenails and odd growths or lameness. Look through the hair to make sure the skin looks healthy as well and isn't flaky or has mites or fungus. Then again, taking in a sick pig and nursing it back to health can be very rewarding as long as you have the time, patience, and can foot the vet bills, and could save the pig's life. Also be aware that piggies are very good at hiding illness and a pig that looks healthy when you adopt him/her may develop symptoms after you've brought him/her home. A lot of times there's simply no way of knowing and you have to be prepared for that as well. Also be aware if you get a female that she could be pregnant. It's hard to tell if a pig is pregnant or not, especially early in the pregnancy. I've never handled a pregnant pig so I don't really know what to look for; maybe another member could help you out there. Other than that, the choice is really up to you. Long-haired piggies are more work as they need to be groomed daily and bathed regularly and get haircuts as needed. Guinea pigs are also much happier around other pigs, so I would strongly recommend getting at least two. All I can say is, you'll know the right one when you see it.

For the record, breeder's piggies are just as likely if not more likely to be sick or pregnant than shelter pigs. Also, shelter pigs aren't "mean". Or at least 99.9% of them aren't. They're just as sweet as any other piggy. The only thing that would make a pig "mean" is some serious abuse, which the shelter should know about and be able to warn you of. Some are shier and more skittish than others, some may have a tendency to nibble (but not aggresively bite) fingers, some may be more dominant and pushy with other piggies, but that's just the personality of the piggy. And a pig who was housed in poor conditions may turn into a completely different pig when placed in a proper setting, becoming livelier, happier, and friendlier.

Some other places you can look are petfinder.com, including the local classifieds, Guinea Pig Home - Home, and Guinea Pig Adoption Network. I found my Banana on petfinder, although I had to drive 300 miles to get him. If you live in an area like me where there are literally no shelters for hundreds of miles that take in piggies, you either have to be patient and keep watching the classified listings or drive the long distance to the nearest shelter. Another option is to notify your local shelters that you are looking to adopt a piggy so if they find any abandoned pigs they can give you a call.

Good luck!

[Ly&Pigs]

You should not buy a pig anywhere. You should adopt. Paying an adoption fee is different than buying.

Breeders are another bad place to get pigs from. They don't breed for bettering the health, they just create more of an overpopulation problem. Often pigs from breeders aren't taken care of properly. They are housed in too small cages with crappy pellets, little to no hay and usually no veggies are ever given. Pigs that get sick often do not get vet treatment. Many times sows are just backbred over and over with no breaks in between until they die.

Have you tried petfinder.com, Guinea Pig Home - Home (our sister site) or Guinea Lynx :: * * * * *?

You will need to ask a lot of questions such as what kind of cage do the people currently keep them in, what brand of pellets are they being fed, do they have males and females together or separate, do they get unlimited good quality hay, do they get veggies daily? Do they breed? You can then kind of learn to weed out the breeders from the others.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Did you check Pet adoption: Want a dog or cat? Adopt a pet on Petfinder and your local animal shelters?

[Amethyst]

Thanks everyone, now that I read over my questions they seem stupid...I suppose I was having a panic moment.
Now I've got some more questions...should I get males or females? I've read that they're pretty much the same, if I get two males would it be best to neuter them or not? I am planning to get two of the same gender.
Are there certain breeds that I want to stay away from? I've heard that silkies and teddies are bred for looks and often have health problems, is this true?

Thanks!

[starshine123102]

If you get two males there is absolutely no need to neuter. If they don't get along neutering will NOT change their temperment like it does a dog.