Advice My shelter(s) are recieving Guinea Pigs like crazy! Want to adopt! - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**IluvePiggies** · #1 10-11-09, 01:47 pm

As since I've learned A LOT about pet stores, my parents don't trust Craigslist for pets. So I went to look at my Local Humane Society's Adoptable Pet photos and they have like 5 Guinea Pigs. I saw a Calico Guinea Pig(Her name was GLAMOUROUS) I liked but I can't get it now. The shelter isn't far from us and they are very reputable since our state has the worst Puppy Mills.

But anyway, I'm looking for advice on adopting from a shelter. What kind of questions should I ask?

The adoption fee is $10 and I think they come with a cardboard box and Cardboard tunnel(Sandy's favorite).

I really want to ADOPT and not buy unlike my parents who want to buy. I would rather support a Humane that rescues animals from mills and breeders then buy.

I know many of you have adopted from shelters. What is it like? Should I ask anything about the female?

**MileyPiggyMom** · #2 10-11-09, 01:59 pm

My Fiance and I have adopted 3 pigs from the Lexington Humane Society. They did not know much about the pigs' past. We did get a free vet visit that included the only exotic vet here. I think the humane society is a great place to adopt a new piggy baby!

**IluvePiggies** · #3 10-11-09, 02:03 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileyPiggyMom

My Fiance and I have adopted 3 pigs from the Lexington Humane Society. They did not know much about the pigs' past. We did get a free vet visit that included the only exotic vet here. I think the humane society is a great place to adopt a new piggy baby!

If I was to get the piggie, this is all it said about her:
GLAMOROUS - ID#A473238

I am an unaltered female, calico Guinea pig.

My age is unknown.

I have been at the shelter since Sep 27, 2009.

This information is 1 hour old.

So they don't know her age, she's unaltered and she's a calico. I feel bad that she's been in there for nearly two weeks. But I can't adopt her. YET.
The drive is pretty far for us as in the vet. We don't take my pigs to the vet often but I would take the new pig to the vet if they gave me a free vet visit.
I am keeping my options open but I am looking for a Tri-color female and my Mom wants a brown one but there's no way my Mom would push for 4. I think we'll have to wait for an all brown one till Sandy passes.

But anyway, thanks for the advice! You were so helpful and yes, I do agree that the Humane Society is the best way to go

**vicky2** · #4 10-11-09, 02:54 pm

Actually, you shouldn't be asking the shelter anything. The new girl would ultimately be your parents responsibility so they should be the ones asking the shelter anything.

**IluvePiggies** · #5 10-11-09, 02:59 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicky2

Actually, you shouldn't be asking the shelter anything. The new girl would ultimately be your parents responsibility so they should be the ones asking the shelter anything.

My parents leave my pets up to my responsibilty but sometimes they'll ask for me

What's amazing is that they have 5 Guinea Pigs, 2 mice and 6 rabbits there

And they usually never have that number so that;s a good thing

**Tessa Bea** · #6 10-11-09, 03:04 pm

Ask if she's been housed with males. A guinea pig is a big responsibility, and an even bigger one if they are pregnant, and the heard a pregnant female could create is even more! Think carefully about if you could provide for a pregnant female and her babies, or easily find them loving homes.

**IluvePiggies** · #7 10-11-09, 03:06 pm

She will be my third piggie. I will make sure she's not pregnant. My mom would well....scream if I came home with a pregnant piggie

**vicky2** · #8 10-11-09, 03:12 pm

If they're you responsibility, do you pay for their food, vet bills, and supplies? Did you order the coroplast or buy the grids? Do you take them to the vet on your own? If you did all those things, they are totally your pets; but from your previous posts, you didn't do all that on your own.

**IluvePiggies** · #9 10-11-09, 03:15 pm

Well no but the pet stuff such as adopting a new pet and asking questions is up to me. Not them. The food, the cage, etc is up to them. Not me.

**vicky2** · #10 10-11-09, 03:25 pm

Where are you adopting from? Do you have a link to her listing?

**Tessa Bea** · #11 10-11-09, 03:28 pm

Oh, and I meant *herd, not *heard. It's a good thing you're asking questions before adopting, very responsible of you.

**IluvePiggies** · #12 10-11-09, 03:30 pm

GLAMOROUS - ID#A473238

I am an unaltered female, calico Guinea pig.

My age is unknown.

I have been at the shelter since Sep 27, 2009.

This information is 1 hour old.

That's her information ^

Its a local Humane Society which has 3 locations but only two collect Small pets like Guinea Pigs.
Our state has to be the worst with Puppy mills. I've seen so many stories about Puppy Mills on their website.

**vicky2** · #13 10-11-09, 03:33 pm

I know her information, but can you give me the link?

**IluvePiggies** · #14 10-11-09, 03:44 pm

My parents really don't want me to do that type of stuff here. I might get banned(not from the mods but by my parents).

**vicky2** · #15 10-11-09, 03:46 pm

I don't know what you mean by stuff on here but that's not what I wanted to see about the site.

**IluvePiggies** · #16 10-11-09, 03:51 pm

My parents DON'T want me sharing that stuff as it gives away my location.

**Tessa Bea** · #17 10-11-09, 03:52 pm

vicky- I think that by "stuff" they mean about giving away something close to their location, assuming the OP is a minor.

EDIT- typed this about a millisecond before the OP posted their response, it wasn't there when I was typing in my post.

**Ly&Pigs** · #18 10-11-09, 04:08 pm

You are not to copy/paste from other sites and post it here without a link going to that site. It has to do with copyrights.

Here are some questions I have for you and would very much appreciate an answer.

Are you still feeding your guinea pigs that same pellet food that we told you wasn't good? If no, then what brand are you now feeding.

Are you giving a variety of fresh veggies daily? Are you changing water daily? Are you remembering to feed your pigs veggies at least twice a day? Are you giving unlimited grass hay?

You should not even think about adopting another pig until you can properly provide for it.

**JD In Van** · #19 10-11-09, 04:28 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by IluvePiggies

Well no but the pet stuff such as adopting a new pet and asking questions is up to me. Not them. The food, the cage, etc is up to them. Not me.

This here is a HUGE issue in my books. As a parent and a pet owner. Personally until you're financially able to suport your pets and be legitimately responsible for them (I know you say you are but until you're completely in control you're not you're just playing at being responsible), I don't think you should get any more.

**NicholsS10** · #20 10-11-09, 04:37 pm

Here is my advice: DO NOT adopt. Some people can handle more than 2 pigs, and some people can't. If you have a hard time taking care of the 2 pigs you have now, then do NOT get another pig. Also, legally you CANNOT adopt from a humane society, your PARENTS would have to adopt the guinea pig and if they say it's a pet for you, and you are taking care of it, they may not adopt out to you anyway since you are not of age. I think you really need to consider the needs of the pigs you have now.

I, myself, have been tempted to adopt another sow (right now I have 4 girls and 1 fixed boy). I have a 2 by 10 C&C cage, so I don't have a space issue, and could even create a 2 by 3 out of the 2 by 10 to have a 2 by 3 and a 2 by 7 side by side in case they don't get along. But then I think about it, how will adding another pig AFFECT the pigs I currently have in my care? Will I still be able to provide the same level of excellent care that my pigs are currently receiving right now if I add another? I have been able to honestly admit to myself, no. No I cannot provide all of them with the same level of care they are receiving now if I add another. Because of that, I have decided to NOT add another. You are not the only one who looks at places like petfinder.com or humane society webpages, see those adorable pig faces, and want to take care of it! But THINK realistically! It will affect the care your current pigs receive in a negative way, and THEY don't deserve that. You always have to think about the well-being of the animals that you currently have in your care first.

You have started many threads on adding another pig. Many of us objected to you adding another pig then, and many of us will do the same now. Here's a link to the most recent thread, just in case you forgot: http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...ing-third.html

"Thank you, vicky2, for this useful post," says:
NicholsS10 (10-11-09)

"Thank you, Tessa Bea, for this useful post," says:
IluvePiggies (10-11-09)

"Thank you, Ly&Pigs, for this useful post," say these 11 members:
1frankie7 (10-11-09), blackarrow (10-11-09), fieryone (10-11-09), Ibbet (10-11-09), JD In Van (10-11-09), LauraBean (10-11-09), MapleSyrup (10-11-09), NicholsS10 (10-11-09), rabbitsncavyluv (10-11-09), vicky2 (10-11-09), xERICx (10-11-09)

"Thank you, JD In Van, for this useful post," say these 2 members:
angiekay (10-11-09), vicky2 (10-11-09)

"Thank you, NicholsS10, for this useful post," say these 11 members:
angiekay (10-11-09), blackarrow (10-11-09), fieryone (10-11-09), Ibbet (10-11-09), JD In Van (10-12-09), LauraBean (10-11-09), MapleSyrup (10-11-09), rabbitsncavyluv (10-11-09), TwilightStar (10-11-09), vicky2 (10-11-09), xERICx (10-11-09)