The Email I sent to the pet store I got them from

[evilnumberlady]

I bought two pigs from a pet store before I knew any better. Now, 4 months and much knowledge later I'm finally telling them off.

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I am really disappointed with Preuss. I've always been under the impression that you take exceptional care of your animals, and want to only sell the best products for pets, but after purchasing a guinea pig from your store I know that is not the case.

I knew little about the care of guinea pigs when I made the purchase, something that was not at all helped by the fact I was given blatantly wrong and conflicting information by the store employees. Some complete untruths I've heard: "Males get along better than females" "Males don't get along and will try to attack each other" "Guinea pigs do better living alone" "You need a salt lick for them" "You only need to brush him (long-haired pig) once a week". Please tell your employees to not give advice if they are just making it up. www.guineapigcages.com and www.guinealynx.info are good sources of info-- you could direct people there instead.

In addition, they are given completely unsuitable food (it contains nuts-- which are totally unnecessary and a choking hazard) and far too small of cages. You should really be feeding the guinea pigs plain pellets from a good company like Oxbow. I see you carry Oxbow in your store... use it? The fact that they are only living in the store a short while is no excuse for a small cage. People who see how you keep your animals will follow your example. The pigs are unhealthy. The guinea pig I got from the store had lice and agression problems.

Your store sells huge balls and walking harnesses marketed to guinea pigs that could hurt their back-- even kill them. You sell those "Yohgurt drops" that are not only useless but harmful to guinea pigs (they shouldn't eat yogurt)

All in all, I'm very very very disappointed. Someone asked me today if your store was good one. I told them no, and that they should try to find one that doesn't sell animals instead. I'm taking my own advice, too.

[fourbwabbys]

Keep us updated if they email back.

[evilnumberlady]

This is the store in question. They have a very good reputation around here.

Preuss Animal House

[fourbwabbys]

If they don't improve, spread the word. If they're so well known, it would make a great newspaper article.