Appalled: Children breeding.

**suzilovespiggie** · #1 12-21-05, 06:35 am

An aquaintance at work just told me her son just got GP's. They are for his 8th grade science project. He has to breed them and keep a journal from the time they are put together to the babies are born. I flipped. She had no idea I am absolutely against breeding of any kind, let alone by children who don't have a clue.
The pigs were bought a local pet shop. I started asking all kinds of questions, about care, feeding, pregncnacy, age of female. She knows nothing. They just bought 2 pigs and put them together. What about the babies? What are they going to do with them if all are ok. She didn't know. Not only that you take how many kids are doing a science project, 20? Plus 2 parent pigs, plus babies?
What happens to all the pigs when this is over? I am flipping out here. I am sick here. Is this happening in our schools all over the city? Her son goes to a private christian school so I don't know if the rules are different. I have to find out and do something. This has to stop.
I am so upset I could rant on and on. The woman is not to happy with me right now.
Any suggestions?

**KPIGGY** · #2 12-21-05, 07:46 am

That is awfull. Could you contact the school or the RSPCA or any other animal welfare org. The only other thing is you could ask if you could check up on the guinea pigs to make sure that they are doing ok, or speak to the son and see how he feels about what he has to do.
Best wishes Kerry

**Zeander** · #3 12-21-05, 09:14 am

That is just outrageous! Was this particular project assigned or did the kid get to come up with it himself?

**DaCourt** · #4 12-21-05, 10:29 am

I would definately call someone who could step in. Thoese kids do not have to participate if they don't want to. I have already told my daughter that if her school does not offer simulated disection, then she does not have to participate. If they give her a lower grade, then so be it. Won't compromise on beliefs.

This is just sickening.

**Herbie Girl** · #5 12-21-05, 11:13 am

Oh no, thats awful!! I would definately contact the school or something..This is terrible. Using any animal for an experiment is cruel. They are putting the mommy and babbies at a great risk. I certaintly hope not all the students do this experiment..

Becky

**homeschoolmama** · #6 12-21-05, 11:13 am

Oh my gosh. First we think it's okay to chop animals up for education, and now it's okay to breed them? Where will it end?

I can see this for something like college veterenary students. But for middle school? Outrageous.

**Percy's Mom** · #7 12-21-05, 11:17 am

Did the bother to mention to the kids that they might have to end up spending astronomical amounts of money if something bad happens during the pregnancy? And if something does happen, are they prepared with counselors for the kids who watch some of their guinea pigs die? With a 20-25% chance of problem pregnancy, I'd imagine it's going to happen to at least 1 of the kids if not several.

**__ben** · #8 12-21-05, 06:18 pm

I've seen this project before, but it was ages ago and in Denmark, they had to track Albino pigs and their babys to see which of them would be albino like the mother and father it was something like that... poor pigs

SleepyBirdy · #9 12-21-05, 06:31 pm

in 8th grade? I'm in 8th grade, our school doesn't allow us to do such things. We can't even open up frogs!*i really wanted to do that*But breeding? thats nutts! nobody can trust us teenagers!

**The Magic Taco** · #10 12-21-05, 07:46 pm

My friggin 9 year old neighbour breeds and she makes me SO angry! I hate how she treats her guinea pigs, she makes me angry. I am seriously thinking of contacting the RSPCA or something... UGH!

**citronsoul** · #11 12-22-05, 05:16 am

There are much better experiments that can be used for middles school science classes. If they want to use guinea pigs, why not an experiment on how well guinea pigs see colour (putting foods in different coloured pots). Or to see if they can learn different sounds in response to different foods.

Maybe if you suggest something else, they'll change their mind about breeding. Also print out the cavyspirit pages on breeding & hand it to her. Although, if they have been put in the cage together it may already be too late. But a school definitely shouldn't be promoting the breeding of animals for a science class.

**lilchris_28** · #12 12-22-05, 10:59 pm

Ignorance is contagious.

**CavyKind** · #13 12-26-05, 06:47 am

I think this is disgusting and it makes you wonder what the school is thinking of.
That said, there are a lot of children breeding guinea pigs in the UK, to show and just for fun, that's disgusting too and sadly nearer to home.

**flower power :@** · #14 12-26-05, 08:40 am

Children breeding is not good!
*more homeless pigs
*more hurt pigs
You know what i'm geting at,but to let a school do it,well that's just sick, alot of children get ''bored'' quickley of pets, so can you imagine a child with say 5+ pigs?! (not all children are like this NOT ME

)
Also alot will not even know how to look after them!

**i love piggies** · #15 12-26-05, 02:54 pm

Here in Australia at school we had to breed lots of different animals in our (yr7,8,9) agriculture class. I never did, because the students were offered to purchase the babies, and I thought it was wrong and cruel.
Anyway we always had hundreds of baby chickens and for $2 you could have one. Most students didn't have the right equipment to look after them and sadly the chicks died. So the students would purchase more.

Then we had a large pig(sow) she was was bred every year and all the students could watch the delivery. Then when the piglets were old enough they were sold for $50, mostly to farmers who fattened them up(we all know why)
One day a ewe had an iron deficency and died. It was sad. Our class had to watch while the teacher hung her up and skun her. Then we had to examine the organs etc. I was so horrified.

So I am very aware of schools ideas on breeding as a form of education. Quite franckly I think it is outrageous. I got in alot of trouble at school because of this.
I am glad at my brothers school they only grow vegetables.

Sawda · #16 01-01-06, 04:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by flower power :@

Children breeding is not good!
*more homeless pigs
*more hurt pigs
You know what i'm geting at,but to let a school do it,well that's just sick, alot of children get ''bored'' quickley of pets, so can you imagine a child with say 5+ pigs?! (not all children are like this NOT ME

)
Also alot will not even know how to look after them!

OH MY GOD! i breed. im (age edited out). i go to the vets when i need it.
i have never sold or given away ANY pigs as of yet whereas adult breeders have sold and given away tonnes!
And you dare say i do not know how to look after my pigs again, they are healthy and happy and get vetnairy treatment when and where they need it

**clover-crystal** · #17 01-01-06, 05:01 am

What do you mean by hurt pigs Poppy?

**CavyKind** · #18 01-01-06, 06:55 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sawda

OH MY GOD! i breed. im (age edited out). i go to the vets when i need it.
i have never sold or given away ANY pigs as of yet whereas adult breeders have sold and given away tonnes!
And you dare say i do not know how to look after my pigs again, they are healthy and happy and get vetnairy treatment when and where they need it

It's good to hear that you take your guineas to the vet when they are ill, but a shame that you feel the need to breed for fun...

Why not start adopting instead Sawda, if you really love guinea pigs, this truly is the best option

Barbara

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