I've stopped them from selling guinea pigs!

[Fluffball]

Great news!

Ive petitoned, rang, emailed and sent letters to the company that runs my local pet store, about their treatment of their guinea pigs. Today I asked the store manager and she said ''we no longer sell them, as now its store policy''. As much as this makes me happy that I have successfully stopped them from purchasing cavies off a breeder it also is only a slight victory.

That breeder will look for another store to sell her ''stock''. The pet store still sells dogs, cats and birds. Although at least cavies are no longer part of this being housed with rabbits in a tiny hutch with the babies being trod upon, I still feel I could of done more. This is only policy for one store and not the company policy for all stores.

I have alot more work to do, but it shows that after months there is some hope even if it is only a small difference.

[CavySpirit]

Excellent! Big congrats!

[Slave to the Wheek]

Wow! I'm so proud of you. Really!

[mini'smama]

You have obtained a good victory! Congratulations!

[Sabriel]

Congrats! Great to see that your hard work paid off.

[emoxrobot]

That's great! Congrats!

[JarBax]

Well Done! It has been worth all your effort!

[crazywiggy]

That's brilliant news, well done. It's great all your hard work paid off. Maybe it will even start the ball rolling until they stop selling animals altogether.

[cookie_gal]

Thats great news but as you said its only a small victory. Dogs (and cats)should never ever be sold at pet shops. To be honest, if I had a choice between stopping dogs or piggies being sold I would have to say dogs. (don't jump on me for this please). The dogs are kept as cage animals its so awful I can't put it into words, its even wronger than the piggie situation!

As far as I am aware they do not sell dogs and cats in pet shops in the UK thankfully, I just couldn't bear it. Wish it oculd be made illegal in USA etc.

But not to take anything away from your success, its fantastic to see that what we do does indeed work. Its very encouraging, lets just hope one day it extends to all animals.

Well done!!

[janetangel]

Way to get the ball rolling. Everything has to start somewhere at sometime some way and you actually can see the difference.

[Res Judicata]

Congratulations! It takes time, effort, and small steps, but one of these days we'll win the battle and no pets will be sold in stores.

[cavyinhawaii]

Every step counts!!!

[Lyndsay]

Way to go! You should be really proud of yourself, it might be one small step for you and the guineas, but its better than what was happening to them.

[Shaffy]

AWESOME!! Good for you! i have been trying to get people realize how bad animal abuse is for a 6 months now.. What you have done is great!

[Fluffball]

Thanks all!

Cookie_gal your welcome to your opinion and I am glad you brought it up. I wish I could of stopped them selling all the animals. It makes my heart break. But the guinea pig babies were literally half dead in that hutch due to the rabbits stepping on them, they were hardly old enough to be sold. The conditions were awful, dirty bedding, dirty water with algae in it, the smaller guinea pigs not eating as they would be trod upon. The rabbits blocking the water bottle and the food. I contacted the RSPCA and they did nothing, so finally took it to the company. The dogs were slightly better off but still I wish I could of done something for them too. Ive emailed the company about all the animals in that shop but they took away the guinea pigs first most likely due to the conditons.

Lets hope they'll stop the other animals being sold. Ill continue my efforts and I hope they will work out for the dogs as well, as we have a horrible overpopulation problem with dogs and cats. Ive already sent numerous emails with photos regarding the dogs, cats and birds. Hopefully they will be next to stop being sold.

[JarBax]

If ever you feel disheartened in your battle Fluffball, remember this lovely poem:

[FONT='Comic Sans MS']The Difference He Made
by Randy Poole[/FONT]

[FONT='Comic Sans MS'] [/FONT]

[FONT='Comic Sans MS'] [/FONT]

[FONT='Comic Sans MS']Amidst the morning mist of the swift returning tide
I set out on my daily run, my walkman on my side.
Lost within my private world apart from cares and woes
I ran along the moistened shore, the sand between my toes.

In the distance, I saw a boy, as busy as can be.
He was running, stooping, picking up, and tossing in the sea.
Just what he threw, I couldn't tell, I looked as I drew near.
It seemed to be a rock or shell - as I approached him I could hear:

"Back you go, where you belong. You’re safe now hurry home.
Your family's waiting for you - little starfish, hurry on!"
It seemed the evening tide had washed the starfish on the shore,
And the swift receding water left a thousand there or more.

And this self-appointed savior, was trying one-by-one
To toss them back into the sea, against the racing sun.
I saw his plight was hopeless, that most of them would die.
I called out from my private world, "Hey Kid, why even try?"

"Must be at least a thousand here, strewn along the beach,
And even if you had the time, most you'll never reach.
You really think it makes a difference, to waste your time this way?"
And then I paused and waited, just to hear what he would say.

He stooped and took another, and looked me in the eye.
"It makes a difference to this one sir, this starfish will not die!"
With that, he tossed the little life, back where there was hope.
He stooped to take another. I could tell this was no joke.

The words that he spoke to me cut like a surgeon's knife.
Where I saw only numbers, he saw only life.
He didn't see the multitude of starfish on the sand.
He only saw the little life he held there in his hand.

He didn't stop to argue, to prove that he was right.
He just kept tossing starfish in the sea with all his might.
So I too stooped, and I picked up, and I tossed into the sea,
And I thought, just what a difference, that this boy has made in me.[/FONT]

[FONT='Comic Sans MS'][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]

[Fluffball]

Thankyou JarBax, that put a smile on my face I appreciate your kind thoughts : )