Now, I'm not trying to justify buying guinea pigs from pet stores as good, or better than adopting from a shelter. What I would like to say though is that I can't help but notice peoples hostility on this site, and others, when it comes to people who have bought their piggies from a store. Your snobbery is childish and very inconsiderate. People need to take into account that not all of us live with a guinea pig shelter in our areas, or even in our towns. For instance, my nearest animal shelter...

Usually I have nothing against pet stores. I bought Picasso and Houdini from Pets Paradise and even though they were infested with mites, I didn't mind horribly. I can understand that the staff may be inexperienced with something like mange mites, but you have to be an idiot not to notice an animal in writhing in obvious pain, covered in bloody scrabs with half its hair missing.

Once upon a time I used to love going into Pets Paradise (what an ironic name!), and a month ago I even...