Is it Safe?: Cage Safety Check Time! - Tragic story

[VoodooJoint]

A tragic event today led me to want to request of all members to do regular safety checks of their cages. Please take the time after you read this story to do a thorough check of your cage. Check all connectors and zip ties to insure they are properly installed and still tight and functional. Check the stability and connections of second floors and any supports you may use. Check the lid (if you use one) to make certain it is safely held in place and well braced.

Today a friend of mine, whom I placed two rescued Guinea pigs with, suffered a tragic lose. Somehow the lid of her C&C cage (made of wire shelving) came loose and fell into the cage. It apparently struck one of the guinea pigs. We are unsure if the head or neck was struck but shortly after the lid fell her daughter saw the pig lying in the cage having seizures and breathing erratically. When she lifted her GP from the cage she saw blood coming from her nose and mouth. She rushed her quickly to a vet (while frantically explaining what happened to me on the phone at the same time). Unfortunately, even though she acted quickly, there was nothing the vet could do. The poor little girl's legs were already going cold and her breathing was stopping with only the occasional gasp for breath. The vet quickly euthanized her to save her from any further misery. It was a tragic accident and not one that she could have foreseen. She and her children are devastated (especially her little girl).

The only way to have avoided this tragedy would have been to closely inspect the lid connections. Over time connectors and zipties can fail. Please take the time to inspect and replace ones used on your cages. I would hate for this to happen to anyone else.

[CavySpirit]

Thanks for posting the warning. I think it's important that people realize that when they are building multiple levels or ramps or upper decks that they cannot rely on one or two zip ties as hinges or connections. Also, not all zip ties are alike. They come in various thicknesses and therefore strengths. It's important to double, triple and even quadruple the connections that you make with zip ties. For example, if you use zip ties as a hinge for a ramp or upper deck, especially with the heavy wire shelving, you should use not just two zip ties, but more like six or more.

Thanks again for the post.

[Biscuit]

So sad! I'll be putting about 50023423 zip ties on mine.

One safety thing that has me worried though...can't pigs jump out of the open cages? Zesty easily scaled the 9 inch tall play pen fence, is the extra 3 inches really going to make it totally safe? She's really a crazy pig!

Album: MVC-965F

Album: MVC-963F

My play pen fence now is 15". Maybe I could get more of those and use them to build the cage to worry less.

[Percy's Mom]

The walls of most C&C cages are 14-15". It would be rare for one to jump or climb the walls of an open cage.

[Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Percy's Mom

The walls of most C&C cages are 14-15". It would be rare for one to jump or climb the walls of an open cage.

Oh, I thought they were 12" for some reason! I don't know where I pulled that out from.

14"-15" is plenty to thwart the plotting ways of the Zestysprout.

[s_anthony]

Also be wary of certain zip ties marked for wire connecting... even though they are rated 50 lbs, the teeth on the zip ties are very small don't hold enough and let go very easily...