Man leaving Guinea Pigs outside - No Food or Water - Just Grass!

**lynn's Cavies** · #1 10-24-06, 10:32 am

Hi all,

I need some advice here to help out a friend. Basically what happened is that she was driving by and glanced over into a person's front yard. There she saw 2 peruvian guinea pigs on the grass with a wire cage top over them and a sheet of plastic on top of that. They had no water, hidebox, or food besides grass.

Here on Vancouver Island it is wet and cold at night as it is Fall. Even if it doesn't rain there is dew everywhere in the morning and nights have been very foggy. Our temperatures have been going down to 5 degrees celcius some nights. Sometimes it is 9 degrees celcius. It is too cold and damp for guinea pigs to be outside! Not to mention the safety factor!

My friend is an avid animal lover as well and this really bothered her. So she drove back later that day and spoke to the people who own them. The man said they were performing a service for him - cutting his lawn and that he moves them throughout the day. When asked why they have no food or water he responded that the grass was enough and that they have been outside for 2 years!!

My friend explained that it is too cold for them to be outside and that the setup he has doesn't provide adequate shelter. He said he would bring them in when it became truly cold, in December! Oh my goodness! This is so upsetting! Then he admitted that a dog killed his last 2 but that it was an "isolated incident"! Sorry for all the exclaimations but even writing this is making me so mad!

Anyways, after she spoke to him for 15 minutes or so he seemed quite receptive and she thought he was simply ignorant but now had the knowledge and would fix it. Oh, and while she was there she offered to take them and two teens said "Dad give her the guinea pigs, we want a rabbit instead anyways". Grrrrr!!!
He said no because he wanted them to continue to cut his grass.

The next day my friend went by to see if any changes had been done and nope they were still in that horrible cage top on grass with no protection. So she called the spca and they did call her yesterday to confirm the address but so far she doesn't know what ended up happening.

So I'm wondering if anyone has any advice if the spca doesn't help. She is thinking of calling this other organization if nothing changes. Also, she was going to ask to take the pigs again but my concern is that they will simply get replacements. The reason I say this is because they replaced the ones that were killed by the dog and that is crazy when I think of how horrific that must have been.

But on the other hand these guinea pigs can't be left in this condition. I'm surprized they have survived as long as that man said. It is extremely easy for them to get pneumonia with how damp and chilly it gets on this Island.

Any advice or suggestions would help.

Thanks!
Lynn

**zambonigirl** · #2 10-24-06, 10:50 am

She should call every local authority that's available: the police, keep on the SPCA, local animal shelters, and whoever Animal Control is for your area. The more noise she makes, the quicker someone will do something about it. Also, if she mentions to the SPCA that she's interested in keeping them, they might process the animals faster.

**PiggieMom** · #3 10-24-06, 01:02 pm

Call local newspapers and newschannels as well. I agree, the more noise that is made the more likely something will be done about it. Have her take pictures of the conditions if she can.

**janetangel** · #4 10-24-06, 03:04 pm

I do not think she should remove the piggies, she could get in trouble with the law if the law considers them owner's property. I do agree she should continue with follow up with the SPCA and do what she can publically to help these little critters.
To cut the grass is a very sorry excuse, especially if they are not being properly taken care of. I tease my horse I am going to take him home with me to cut down my grass in the front yard, but even with him it would take forever. I would need to take home about 5 horses. My lawn mower does it without depositing anything from the other end.

**Naomi** · #5 10-24-06, 06:43 pm

I grew up on the Island and it is way to cold and wet for those poor piggies to be out this time of year! I hope that the SPCA does something or they let you take them and NOT replace them!!

**fashion victim** · #6 10-24-06, 10:46 pm

What he's doing is completely wrong! What a selfish thing, get animals hurt and in bad conditions so that his lawn can look neat! Am I the only one that thinks he's insane?! I agree on getting the authorities to deal with him, maybe they can ban him from having pets due to the death of the other ones before him and the bad conditions the currents ones are living in? Then he'd be bound by law and so couldn't replace them with other animals.

**CadburysMommy** · #7 10-25-06, 05:57 am

That is just horrible! What he's doing just makes me so mad! You need to get as many people as you can involved - the SPCA, animal authorities and get the media involved! Demand that your local newspaper run a story on this man but don't just stop there, have it broadcasted on your local news. Noone wants to look bad and insane in the public eye so maybe this will make him cave in and find them a better home. Do you want to adopt the cavies? If you do then keep on telling the newspapers and news reporters that you would love to welcome them into your home and keep on mentioning this to the SPCA and make sure you fill them in on everything you know about cavies so they know you'll be a responsible owner. If at first you feel as though noones listening to you, keep on trying and don't stop until something is done about this. After he's been shown as the disgusting moron that he is in the public eye then I highly doubt he's going to rush off and buy any more animals any time soon, but if he does then make sure they get taken off him too. People like him are sick and they aren't worthy of pets. Keep us informed of how it goes.

**FoolOnTheHill** · #8 10-25-06, 06:16 am

You said they have no water, so surely this would be classed as Neglect? Also, much as they love it, grass isn't a complete diet for a guinea pig so this can be pointed out to the SPCA.

**lynn's Cavies** · #9 10-25-06, 09:18 am

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. I called my friend yesterday and we still don't know what is going on. She said that she'd call me as soon as she knows anything else. I haven't seen the pigs or where they are but I definitley think the SPCA will have a case because there was no water or food besides grass. Thank goodness, the SPCA is on the up and up about guinea pigs as they have quite a few at their shelter. I'm really hoping to get a call today from my friend to either tell me that they have been ceased or the man finally has gotten it into this thick skull that you cannot house guinea pigs this way. Somehow i doubt it though as my friend explained for 15 minutes about guinea pig care only to drive by and find he had not changed a thing.

It is very upsetting. It is so cold out lately too! Last night I was shivering when I was outside and felt chilly even with a coat on. I can't imagine living on wet grass as well. It's ridiculous that people think this is normal and fine.

I myself cannot adopt them but would be willing to house them temporarily but my friend did ask for them. He didn't give them up even after his kids were saying to give them to her. Crazy world. Alot of people think they can be outside and stand the cold like that. I know that they are pretty darn hardy animals but the cold plus wetness it very concerning. Also, it was quite windy last night.

So frustrating! She was thinking of stealing them but didn't because it is breaking the law. I hope I find out what is going on today!!
I will keep everyone updated.

You know what really concerns me? That she actually saw this in someone's yard in plain view but how many are actually hidden from the road and suffering. I don't mean from this house but other people's houses. And how come no one else in the 2 years he said they have lived there has confronted him?

Sigh...
Lynn

**janetangel** · #10 10-25-06, 11:03 am

I am glad your friend and you are putting pressure on this guy. Sometimes it only takes one person to get a big ball rolling. I hope that is the case here. Saving these piggies thru legal means may indeed save many others. I really hope the subject does not lie to rest until the piggies are safe.

**PiggieMom** · #11 10-25-06, 01:43 pm

Keep in mind that the SPCA may not be able to tell you what happen to the case due to privacy issues. I would just keep an eye on the yard, and if they're gone take it as a good sign. Also have your friend keep her eye on the shelture to see if some familiar piggies show up.

**Shaffy** · #12 10-28-06, 12:08 am

This is disgusting. Now is this in Port Alberni? (maybe too personal of a quesion) But my friend keeps her piggie outside (not really she has it outside alot :P) I know how wel wrid the climates ar here .. but im appalled no water?

I hope the SPCA help you. If they don't i shall be very mad .

~Shaffy

User Name		Remember Me?
Password