Want to Adopt Should I adopt from this shelter? I feel torn. - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**couchon** · #1 05-19-09, 08:31 pm

I have been looking for a friend for my female piggie, and I found a little baby girl. After looking at her pigture

and finding out more about her, I started getting pretty attached (imagining bringing her home).

Originally, I saw her on pet finder, and I didn't look at the shelter website too carefully. It looks like they keep rabbits and guinea pigs together (if you look at the shelter pictures), and the gerbils seem cramped. Should I not adopt from there? I am just not sure... I really appreciate any thoughts. I think that the people who run the shelter have good intentions, but they may not have enough information.

**Seonta** · #2 05-19-09, 08:33 pm

It might help if you post a link to the shelter you're talking about.

That way we can all see.

**couchon** · #3 05-19-09, 08:37 pm

Sorry, I meant to. You have to look around a bit to see the pictures.

Untitled

**Paula** · #4 05-19-09, 08:44 pm

Where are you seeing pictures of rabbits and guinea pigs housed together? I don't see it but I might just be missing it. As for space, I'd venture to guess that considering that they are in a shelter situation which is meant to be temporary, the shelter is housing them in the best cages/environments that they can on what is probably very limited funds.

It might be better to call and talk to them and/or ask to visit the facility and meet with the staff rather than speculate here.

**MCR_Rox** · #5 05-19-09, 08:48 pm

If you do adopt her, she'll be bunny-free, and she'll have a home. Then, you can also talk to the shelter manager/whoever is in charge about them keeping rabbits with their guinea pigs. Be sure to know exactly what you'll say about the rabbits living with the guinea pigs before adopting her.

**couchon** · #6 05-19-09, 08:54 pm

Here's a picture:

http://katiescritterssmallanimalresc...ta1_type=large

**Seonta** · #7 05-19-09, 08:54 pm

They are a little short on the cage specs that they'd want people to have...
They also say to use chicken wire for outside play time and I read on this forum that it could cut their feet.
They also recommend Vitamin C drops in the water.
It promotes feeding fruits without warning of limiting them.
The site promoted giving them fruit tree branches without warning not to use pitted fruit.
I found a picture that might have been a guinea pig and a rabbit or two rabbits because one was drinking and the poor quality of the picture made it hard to tell. Sometimes they just push their ears back when they drink from those water bottles. (or is it all the time?)
They offer advice but I think they could do a little research themselves. I'm looking to see if they take their animals to a vet prior to adopting them out. If they do and that's the only shelter you can find I guess it would be better than a pet store or breeder... or maybe not. you might consider going there and checking the cleanliness level too, make sure they are not living in crap.

**Skeetersmom** · #8 05-19-09, 08:56 pm

The link that is posted for the picture has a white rabbit near the water bottle. If you look in the back in the igloo, it is a guinea pig. Definately has the rabbits and guinea pigs together.

**Paula** · #9 05-19-09, 09:15 pm

Ah, I see. I only looked in the "adoptables" section. I think the best thing would be for you to ask the shelter and talk to them about it. Like MCR said, at the very least you'd be getting one pig out of the situation and possibly giving the lady running the shelter some info she might not already have.

**Slave to the Wheek** · #10 05-20-09, 01:25 am

As far as the bunny goes, it's a dwarf bunny, or baby so it's not like they are in with full sized rabbit who could kill them with one good whack. I think this is person is doing an amazing job! We are all on our rescue journeys and not all of us have the same experience and knowledge. Personally, I would join the rescue and help out as often as possible. I'd share what knowledge I've learned from folks here and at GL. That bunny and pig are in a wonderful environment. Lots of water bottles...lots of space to run places to hide..considering the alternatives out there this person is putting a HUGE effort into saving guinea pigs from the chopping block.

I didn't read the site, but if you use chicken wire to keep the pigs in while they are on floor time that's really not an issue. The problems with chicken wire are when they are standing on it. Rescues are just people like you and me, they are busy people doing something nobody else does, that's rescue GUINEA pigs! It's easy to sit at our computers and be critical of the details, but we do have to remember that most of us gleaned our knowledge from lots of hours of internet research, while these folks are out there running around rescuing and adopting out these little disposable creatures.

Give them a break and don't get too worried. Any rescue that goes to that much work in building up website and keep it up deserves support. If it were me? I'd volunteer to work with them.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #11 05-20-09, 01:37 am

Even a baby or small breed rabbit can do damage. Smaller breed rabbits tend to be more temperamental and territorial than larger breed rabbits who were bred to be docile.

And that white bunny is not a dwarf.

**4piggers** · #12 05-20-09, 07:07 am

Not every rescue is going to the standard of care this board expects. This rescue is going above and beyond most rescues. You go to the SPCA and they are in the minimal cage size required by law. And no one says much about that. This rescue has large cages they can run in, hides, water, and out door time?

I do however agree, you should mention something about mixing rabbits and pigs together. But if she is out of space? What can she do. I know being a home rescue space gets tight. And its hard to turn your back on someone thats saying they are going to set free, or put down an animal if I dont come pick it up. Maybe offer to *foster* for them. Offer her a website to direct the new adopters to.

[edited to add---as far as the bunny goes, it looks like a mini rex to me]

**ferndalezoo** · #13 05-20-09, 09:43 am

I would personally want to go there myself, and have a conversation with the director. On the face, they seem to give out-dated information, and it seems that they co-house different species. If those things are true, I would personally have reservations about adopting from there. If I did, I'd see that the piggie got straight to the vet and would be extra vigilant about quarantining. Rescues run on limited resources, but the "facts" and care advice they offer should still be sound, and from what I could see on that website, hers could use some work. I wonder if she'd be open to suggestions on improving the website?

"Thank you, Skeetersmom, for this useful post," says:
Seonta (05-19-09)

"Thank you, Slave to the Wheek, for this useful post," says:
PiggieMamaKelly (05-21-09)