Hi :D

[Emmsy_30/06]

Hi, my names Emma. I'm a member of guinea pig world with over 1500 posts on there so I'm hoping this forum wi just be as addictive! I have 4 guinea pigs (2 sows, 2 boars). I enjoy showing my guinea pigs, but as mine were from a pet shop I am restricted to the pet classes.
Emma x

[VoodooJoint]

Welcome to the forum. I hope you enjoy yourself here.

We do not support showing or breeding on this forum. Showing is directly linked to breeding and there is a major GP overpopulation problem. Rescues are all oveflowing and GPs get euthanized every day for want of a home.

I hope you take some time to read and learn more about how to love and care for your animals without the stress of showing them.

[Emmsy_30/06]

Showing doesn't stress my piggies, they are perfectly fine at shows. I really love my pigs and I wouldn't do anything to harm them - I don't completely agree with breedingbecause of the risks you put on your guinea pigs but its something that is done.
Emma x

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by Emmsy_30/06

Showing doesn't stress my piggies, they are perfectly fine at shows.

Showing does stress them. They are prey animals any do not like being in noisy, strange surroundings. Whether you realize it or not.

You are also risking their health by showing. They are in close proximity with other animals you do not know the health of and being handled by people who have been handling many other animals that day and could be transferring disease and parasites from one animal to another.

I have head of show animals catching URIs, mites (from either transferrance or stress) and even a GP getting pregnant (because a handler was unfamiliar with the animal and placed it in the wrong cage after it's time on the show table) at shows.

Originally Posted by Emmsy_30/06

I really love my pigs and I wouldn't do anything to harm them

I'm sure you do love your animals and want what's best for them. I just don't think you realize the risks you are placing them in. Take into consideration what I have said and expand your love for them and please don't subject them to shows any more.

Originally Posted by Emmsy_30/06

I don't completely agree with breedingbecause of the risks you put on your guinea pigs but its something that is done.

It does not have to be "done". Just because people do something does not make it right nor do you have to blindly accept it. Breeding animals in a world that is full to the brim with homeless animals does not make any sense and only aggravates the problem.

Imagine if your GPs that you know and love were in a shelter and running out of time. Because some breeder just had to breed more animals in their desire for perfect markings the home that could have taken those homeless GPs in instead got their animals from that breeder. Those GPs have just been doomed to death. In the end what does perfect markings on a GP accomplish? All they are good for is a pet right? It's not like those markings make a whit of difference to anyone, anywhere for any reason.

I know you love your pets. Now extend that love to encompass all animals. Help be part of the solution and put an end to suffering and homelessness. All you have to do is stop showing and stop supporting breeding. Tell everyone you know about the overpopulation problem and don't ever buy another animal from a pet shop or breeder. Instead adopt a homeless animal that desperately needs your help.

[Emmsy_30/06]

My friend breeds guinea pigs but before she breeds them she always finds homes for anyones she doesn't want to go to. I didn't say breeding has to be done I was just saying its done.

[daftscotslass]

Hi and welcome! I'm CrazyCavy over on t'other forum.

Have a little look around for posts on breeding... there are many! Remember that every pig that is needlessly bred is also doing another rescue pig out of a home.

[Emmsy_30/06]

Wow! There's actually a gpw'er on here, most of the gpw'ers have been chucked off here !

[daftscotslass]

Actually it's the other way round. I'm one of few GPC'ers that haven't been chucked off there.

[Emmsy_30/06]

Thats only because guinea pig world believes in respecting in each others opinion...

[daftscotslass]

No, I'm sorry, that's not true. My opinion is regularly disrespected because I don't agree with breeding. But this is your welcome thread, not a place to discuss the ethos of other forums.

The information and banter you get here is far superior to that you would get anywhere else! Pig pics please!

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by Emmsy_30/06

Wow! There's actually a gpw'er on here, most of the gpw'ers have been chucked off here!

We don't chuck people off of here for showing or breeding or any of that other nonsense. Those that say we kicked them off for being breeders are liers. We chuck people off of this forum for breaking the rules. That includes having breeding/showing "how to" discussions, swearing, namecalling and threatening members. I'm always amazed at how the breeders and showers resort to those petty attacks when we refuse to support their practices.

If you don't believe me then find out the screen names those banned members used here and look up their posts. I am certain that they are very course and crude and in the end broke rules so got themselves banned.

On the other hand, as Daft said, I have been chucked off forums for supporting rescuing over breeding. I never threatened anyone and I don't believe I ever swore or called anyone names but the breeders don't like to be reminded that they are the cause of the animal overpopulation problem, no matter how "responsible" they claim to be. They breed = they create more animals = animals die for want of homes...it's simple math that they resent having to face so would rather "shoot the messenger", by kicking us off of their breeder friendly forums, then digest the message.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by Emmsy_30/06

Thats only because guinea pig world believes in respecting in each others opinion...

In the end the animal overpopulation problem is not an opinion, it is a fact. Breeders like to ignore it, us rescuers won't because we clean up after the breeders.

Who gets the better end of that deal? The breeders or the rescuers? Somehow we are the ones made out to be disrespectful though.

[Emmsy_30/06]

I don't want this to turn into an argument so I'll just say one last thing:
One of your members posted a picture of some hutches on here and commented that they were horrible and tiny - those hutches belonged to a gpw'er called Emma. Emma simply stuck up for herself and her beliefs along with some of her friends helping her alon the way...And what happened? Chucked off.
I won't say anymore on this topic, its my opinion.

[Emmsy_30/06]

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

In the end the animal overpopulation problem is not an opinion, it is a fact. Breeders like to ignore it, us rescuers won't because we clean up after the breeders.

Who gets the better end of that deal? The breeders or the rescuers? Somehow we are the ones made out to be disrespectful though.

You can say that again ! This is the badge I received from a gpw'er yesterday at the show - quite a few people were wearing them

[VoodooJoint]

I remember her. Those were horrible cages.

Please take a look at the name of this website. It is about building large indoor cages. Of course nasty, outdoor housing that puts animals' health at risk are frowned on around here.

In the end, if I remember correctly, she and her friends resorted to some very nasty name calling and swearing. THAT is what got her banned. She could not handle a civil debate and have to resort to crude methods.

Go look up the thread and be enlightened.

[Emmsy_30/06]

As I said I'm not going to say anymore on the topic
Anyway as requested here are pics of my piggies.

Amber:

Smudge:

Pip:

Squeak:

If yuor wondering, yes pip and squeak are ambers sons.