In Rescue/Shelter Advice - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**snistopher** · #1 03-14-09, 07:34 am

I sent an E-mail to one of the local shelters inquiring if they had any young male cavies for adoption, and they sent me this:

Quote:

Hello Chris,
Well in our expieriance, Male Guinea Cavy's prefer to be alone. If you put another male in with yours they will more than likely fight. It is really only the females that really need the company of another cavy.. except of course, you get your male neutered and then adopt a female companion for him.
Anyway, I do not have any young ones anyway. The males that we have here have been here with us for a year now. We are not sure of their ages, because they were brought out to us by the Nassau County SPCA from a home seizure in Syosset.
I hope this info helps. If you are still interested, keep in touch. Take care!

I know this information is wrong...I wonder if I should write them back and correct them.

**pigsmakemesmile** · #2 03-14-09, 08:26 am

I understand what the issue is. Me myself would probably send an email back. It seems a little constructive education in a positive manner would help them in the future when they aquire more pigs, is one way to look at it.

I would be cautious though in how you would use your wording, always, always start by praise then move on from there. I myself always reference this site and guinea lynx when I know it would help. It's really important when you address these issues to have all your references and resources to back you up or you may not be taken seriously.

If you come across sounding intimidating, then you wouldn't be helping. After all they are a shelter and are trying to help a cause, doesn't imply that they're right as there are a lot of individuals who work in shelters and don't have the right or enough information. What you encountered is just one example.

**snistopher** · #3 03-14-09, 01:37 pm

Thanks for that advice! I did write back and tried to be as kind as possible:

Quote:

Hey Wendy!
Thank you for your quick reply, I appreciate it. And it's great to know that there are shelters such as yours that do the right thing by abandoned or lost animals

My understanding is that all guinea pigs are happier with a companion:

http://cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm

Being that the guinea pigs you have are older (than mine), I'll need to keep searching. However, if you should come across some young male cavies in the near future, please keep me in mind and let me know. Thanks again, and best wishes!

Chris

**pigsmakemesmile** · #4 03-14-09, 02:32 pm

You did excellent!

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #5 03-14-09, 11:18 pm

Older males are sometimes easier to match since they are laid back. Regardless that rescue has it wrong.

**Barb1222** · #6 03-14-09, 11:27 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabbitsncavyluv

Older males are sometimes easier to match since they are laid back. Regardless that rescue has it wrong.

I agree. When one of my females had babies, one turned out to be male and so I put him with my other two older males - one was the father (over 6 months old) and the other I got from a shelter I used to volunteer at so I'm not really sure of his age, but I know that he is definitely over 2 years old (since I've had him for over two year :P). They all get along great...when I first put the baby in with the males, he started mounting and showing dominance. I haven't had any problems with the three yet.

You shouldn't pass up a piggie just because he is older...but that's just coming from my experience.

I'm glad you wrote the shelter back, with a link too...I think that helps provide proof to anyone who may not think you know what you are talking about.

Good luck finding another piggie!