I've posted the following ad on my local Craigslist and thought I'd post the content here should any members want to cut & paste and repost in their area.
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So you’ve just seen the new G-Force movie and now you’ve come to the conclusion that a guinea pig is the right pet for your family. Fine, but there are some things you should consider before you run right out and buy a new pet for little Ralphie and Henrietta.
First of all, guinea pigs are really not ideal pets for children. They’re actually quite fragile and easily harmed by the rough handling of a toddler or small child. While they don’t usually bite, they also don’t usually like to be handled as much as a child would like. Guinea pigs are prey animals and quite shy by nature. They are not the outgoing dog or cat that likes to be held or handled. They can get used to this, but they are not going to necessarily seek out your attention like another animal might. They are also herd animals with a herd mindset and therefore much happier and healthier in pairs or groups rather than being stuffed in a cage in a child’s room and forgotten.
Caring for a guinea pig properly is a rather expensive endeavor. They need vet care, just as much – if not more, than a cat or dog. Believe it or not, they are considered “exotics” and most vets aren’t experienced in their care and special needs. If you do decide to take on the responsibility and commitment of ownership of these wonderful creatures, an excellent vet is insert name/number of your vet clinic here.
They also need a good variety of fresh vegetables like lettuce, cilantro, and other leafy greens daily, in addition to a neverending supply of grass hay and high quality pellet food. The majority of pellet food on the market today (available at places like Petsmart, Petco, or any chain/grocery store) are plain crap and are more likely to endanger your pets than anything else. It would more or less be the equivalent of eating Lays Potato Chips and nothing else as a food staple. Sounds delicious, yes, but for obvious reasons isn’t something any rational person would ever consider for themselves or their children.
They do NOT need any of the supplements or vitamins, certainly not a mineral/salt wheel, that a pet store will push on you. A well rounded veggie diet will provide all the nutrients they need to be healthy, happy pets that will share your life for years to come.
That’s another thing, guinea pigs, when cared for properly, can live 6, 8, even 10 years. So when you’re considering this animal as a pet for your family, please think about where you plan to be after several years. If those plans don’t necessarily include this animal, please reconsider acquiring one.
They also need a cage that’s more than a glorified litter box. Commercial pet cages, sold in pet stores, are too small for a single guinea pig, much less two or more. There’s a great DIY guide here: Guinea Pig Cages, Your Cavy At Home. It’s generally less expensive than buying a cage at a store and much easier than you might imagine. If this is something you might consider but you’re not sure where to begin, please email me and I can give you the names of several local sources for the materials needed. Rubbermaid bins are not suitable homes for guinea pigs. They aren’t sized properly, and they don’t allow for proper air flow.
If you do decide to bring a guinea pig into your home/life, please consider adopting instead of buying. Animals sold in pet stores are often sick, and they also quite often come from back yard breeders that have no regard whatsoever for their health or longevity. There is as much an overpopulation problem with guinea pigs and other small pets as there is with cats and dogs. You can find a homeless pig in several places. You can check Petfinder – Pet adoption: Want a dog or cat? Adopt a pet on Petfinder, your local humane society (insert name of your local shelter/rescue here) or places like this (Craigslist). It’s often all too easy to find a small pet who for whatever reason needs to find a new home. Doing this gives a homeless animal a home and doesn’t promote the notion of selling living animals as merchandise and breeding them for profit.
With guinea pigs, like any animal, please remember that they are living animals with feelings and needs that you become responsible for meeting when you decide to take them into your home. They are not disposable. They are not starter pets. They are endearing little creatures that with a little time and understanding can truly blossom and thrive as a family pet. But they are not for everyone, and unless it’s a family decision, they can quickly be forgotten or mistreated.
Hopefully this has given you an idea of what guinea pig ownership is, and what it isn’t.
And please, “don’t breed or buy while others die.”
It's a small step, of course, but I'm hoping it will at least give people some pause before they race off to buy themselves or their children a guinea pig on a whim after seeing this movie.
Last edited by Paula; 07-28-09 at 12:05 pm.
"Thank you, Paula, for this useful post," say these 26 members:
Thanks Paula! I posted it on craigslist and got a compliment email. I thought you should see.
Quote:
very informational! I hope people read it and take it to heart. Guineas are sweet, aren't they? I've met quite a few sweeties but I don't own any. I don't have the patience for all that litter changing. I barely do well enough with the cats and even there I have that automatic litter thingie... I just have to change the containers every couple of days.
But rodents/rabbits/cavy's need more than this. I don't have the patience.
Thank you for posting this...I went ahead and posted and here is a response I recieved......
"Very well said and a great reminder post, I would keep posting this as long as the movie is out in theatres so people don't rush out and 'buy one.'
I have a rescue guinea pig myself, dumped outside of a Petsmart store while I was volunteering one day. Nobody would take him, so I did. They are very expensive, and I wouldn't ever give him up to anyone! However, people need to realize there are many out there that need homes!
Mine got removed within 30 minutes of posting time to re-post!!
Geez, that stinks. I don't understand this. What is so wrong with it that someone would have it removed? It's very informational and it can do nothing but good. What possible problem could people have with it?
Well. Breeders and others that breed/sell these animals for profit might have a huge problem with anyone pointing out that there might be a more humane option. The truth might have a negative impact on sales.
Please remember that if you are going to post emails from people you receive here on the forum that you need to paraphrase them due to copyright issues. Thanks.
In addition to posting this, I also post under pets guinea pigs and ferrets that are available for adoption from local shelters/rescues. I make sure to note that I am not affiliated with the shelter/rescue but just want to spread the word that small animals are available for adoption. So many people just do not know this. I also provide the link to this site so they can read up on how to properly house and care for their piggies.
07-28-09, 11:37 am
Enjoyed Post! : +10 (+10/-0) 
time to re-post!! 
Re: Craigslist Post in Response to G-Force 
