Should unwanted guineas...ever go back to breeders?

[CavyKind]

Mmmm...
A difficult...or not so difficult one here?

To cut a long story very short. Several years ago, myself and a couple of other animal rescues that I am happy to work with, took a shed load of guineas from someone in our "area."
Well, now, surprise, surprise, this person (collector) has more, much more, over fifty to be precise! And again, they can't cope...are experiencing health problems etc, etc.

When I asked where the guineas came from, it turns out that the original ones (or most of them) came from breeders (that I am aware of) in our area. Friends involved in general rescue have suggested that these breeders should act in a responsible manner and take them back..But then what? In the past these breeders have supplied pet shops, probably still do

It's complicated, frightened to say too much now (it's a small world), but very sad and wondering where to go from here.
Don't worry, no guinea pig coming to me ever goes back into the breeding cycle. Though I guess that does mean breeders get off lightly...but no easy answer to that?

Barbara

[CavySpirit]

Two issues.

#1. IF you can get the pigs out, one way or another, will the person STOP owning ANY guinea pigs? If not, I don't really see the point in helping. It's just going to repeat itself.

#2. Assuming #1 is true, and assuming you don't have the resources to take all the pigs, then by all means, get the breeder to take them back if possible. Let them deal with their own mess for a change. It might stifle some breeding for a while.

[CavyKind]

#1 Well, on past experience, there are no guarantees...

#2 Personally simply haven't the room to take all the guineas in one go, though even if I did, guess that wouldn't stop them bulding numbers up again.

I can genuinely see where you are coming from. Thank you for your input.

Barbara

[Matt & Guins]

I personally do not think that the breeder should *have* take them back.

Yes, it is a breeders responsibility to inform the purchaser about cavies, and breeding issues - but it really is up to the person who owns them to controll their own breeding.

If I purchased a female cat, and she got pregnant, I wouldnt expect the person I got her from to take all the babies back because she was sold to me un-spayed.

Also, wouldnt you think that if the breeder took them back, that they could be used for further breeding?


matt

[CavySpirit]

If you intentionally breed, you ARE responsible for those animals. It's the accepted definition of RESPONSIBLE breeders across the board for pets. If you sell that animal into a bad home, that is the breeder's problem.

In cases of mass abuse/neglect, just who do you think IS responsible for the animals? It's not the rescues or the shelters. By even thinking that it's rescues or shelters, you are saying YOU are responsible, because that's where they end up--either being killed by taxpayers (you) or adopted by people like you (and me). No thank you. It's the damn breeders. Just because you think your cat example is socially acceptable, doesn't make it so.

IF I ever found out that ANY of my pigs had been intentionally bred, I'd be on that family's case so hard, your head would spin. If I couldn't pull the pigs, I'd find other means of social pressure to get them. If I ever found out ANY of my pigs had been accidentally bred, I'd be investigating big time what happened and why and would take whatever steps necessary to ensure that it didn't happen again.

Will breeders do that? Not in a milliion years. Do as I say, not as I do. Yeah right.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Then you probably got a cat from an irresponsible, backyard breeder. Reputable breeders have contracts for spay/neuter and to take their animals back if the buyer cannot keep them. If there are way too many of your animals out there and you cannot take them all back then you are overbreeding and bordering on pet mill.

Originally Posted by Matt & Guins

I personally do not think that the breeder should *have* take them back.

Yes, it is a breeders responsibility to inform the purchaser about cavies, and breeding issues - but it really is up to the person who owns them to controll their own breeding.

If I purchased a female cat, and she got pregnant, I wouldnt expect the person I got her from to take all the babies back because she was sold to me un-spayed.

Also, wouldnt you think that if the breeder took them back, that they could be used for further breeding?


matt

[Spirited]

As someone who isn't quite as against breeding as the rest of this forum - but still against the majority of the breeding that goes on... if I ever decided to breed it would be on the basis of taking the animal back if there was any problem whatsoever. I would also take the time to ensure they ended up in decent homes.

I'm in two minds about this situation, on the one hand the breeders who sold these pigs were not smart/caring enough to check out the home they went to and may do the same thing again. On the other hand, if I had somehow been duped into giving a collector any of my animals then I would want to be informed and would take back all the animals originating from me plus as many rescues as I could practically take care of.

I agree to some extent that the accessibility of these pets are a problem (no one successfully challanged this woman and she was able to get hold of way too many pets. However, once it has happened once, I would put some of the blame on the system. Someone who has collected too many pets should be sent for physicatric assessment by social services and banned for a time from having all animals, and for a longer time owning more than three (or other small number) animals. Local sources of pets should be warned about the person and action taken against them if they supply her with more animals.

I know it doesn't really work like that, but it should.
Spirited