Petstupid and their single sex pigs

[CavySpirit]

Christmas + 2 days.

Phone call today. I don't know much.

Man purchased pig from Petsmart. I didn't ask when. Unknowingly pregnant. She delivered late last night. Died this morning. Heavy blood. 3 orphan babies. This was in the LA area. Man had no idea about feeding guinea pigs fresh food.

[smartorl]

It is so sad. In another two or three weeks I dread all the dumped puupies, kittens, and small animals from impulse Christmas shopping. On another board, a Petsmart pig developed a URI two weeks after purchase (surprise) the owner took it back to Petsmart and got another. Petco assured her that they would treat it in the "hospital" in the back of the store and she could purchase it if it improved. You know the poor pig (who they claimed to love ssssoooo much) is in a cage in the back without meds with the staff uncaring as to whether she makes it on her own or dies all alone. People were begging her to not turn it back into the store, even telling her that the pig would probably be killed, she refused to pay for a vet bill so she traded it for a new one. It makes me very sad for the pig and angry at the owner.

[naturestee]

And so it begins. Merry Christmas, disposable pets.

[standuprookie]

My dad is thinking of adopting a dog, so I am helping him browse petfinder and craigslist, and on craigslist I found many dogs bought as Christmas presents and now need homes, on the 26!

[Himino]

People’s disposable mentality is sickening to me. I don't understand how so many "responsible adults" can act with out thinking over their choices, when I at ... can see them and look far beyond them, knowing what will and won't work. Buying "something" a pet from a bad situation just to place it in another is something I can't and never will understand.

[Himino]

And to think I had planned to go to Petsmart to see if there pigs are sexed properly, and if not to do so for them. Although instead of changing my mind, with this problem it seem's that should be the first thing on my to do list.

[naturestee]

Even if the pigs are all one gender at one store, they might have been transported with pigs of the opposite sex. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the girls come in pregnant.

Can pigs mate through cage wire like rabbits?

[standuprookie]

I don't think so, because some people on this site keep males in females in a split cage with a grid divider.

[DaCourt]

My daughter used to go into all the Petcos and Petsmarts in the area and kep a log on the cages, food, pigs, etc. She ended up turning it as a research project. Some of the stores tolerated her, others were pretty nice.

One of the ones that tolerated her got 8 new pigs in. We had not been there for about a month. She asked to talk to someone who worked with the small animals. She told the girl that she had at least 2 pregnant sows. The girl told her it was impossible since they had no males. So, my daughter told her she was wrong and pointed out the baby male in the cage. She then said, oh you are right. But he is too young to make babies. He is only about 2 months old. OH MY GOD!!! She pulled out her GL care sheets and told her to start reading.

The 2 sows that we knew were pregnant were due any day. You could see the babies moving. They were only about 4 months old. There were a few others that were pear shaped. We asked them to take the male out. The girl said she would let the manager know and then took her break. OMG!!! SO we told the manager and his response was, well, the damage is already done. OMG!!

We went back to the store a about 5 days later. Both sows had delivered. Both sows died. One had 3 babies - 1 died, the other had had 2 - one died. And the male was still in the cage. Courtney couldn't take it any more and caused a big scene. It was Saturday and a lot of people looking at pigs. SHe was totally crying, telling them they were responsible for the deaths of 4 guinea pigs. We were asked to leave.

Courtney turned in her report. She was then asked to give an oral presentation to the class. Then, asked to give a presentation for all the teachers. I think she cried every time.

[Solebomber]

Originally Posted by naturestee

Can pigs mate through cage wire like rabbits?

Really ? ? I never heard of this before at least not in the past 24 yrs that I have had bunnies.

[naturestee]

I know several people whose rabbits have had accidental litters due to this. My hubby had an aha moment when I told him that- his parents bred rabbits when he was a kid and they used to wonder how they'd get surprise litters when they knew none of the rabbits had escaped or been put together.

It doesn't happen all the time, probably because both rabbits have to really, really want to mate with each other.

DaCourt, I'm so sorry your daughter had to go through that. She sounds like a very responsible young lady though.

[Res Judicata]

Dacourt -- that is the saddest thing. What's wrong with people? I was in the local ARL today to buy some Oxbow pellets at the little store there, and one of the volunteers had just transported a guinea pig over from the main branch. He was purchased for Christmas several weeks ago, and was dumped because he just wasn't warming up to the family. I felt so sorry for him and had I had the room and a pal for him, I would have taken him home. People are stupid.

[HowietheGreat]

When will people stop treating their pets like possesions? They aren't objects. Didn't "warm up" to the family. What does that mean? People and their arrogance....errrrrrg.

[savage]

Is their a way to tell if your piggie is pregnant? Like signs or actions it does?
Yes i made the mistake of buying her from the petsmart 2 weeks ago ( before i understood the adoption option for piggies, and have already heard all the replies to this in a previous post so please do not critsise me for that or the fact i only have one piggie...cant adopt till she is better) But wouldnt trade her for anything, she has taken very well to me and new enviroment (she must like the extra space in her cage).
She is sick though (pneumonia) but her 21 day antibiotics have been working and she is wonderfully gaining weight (7 days ago weighed 11 3/4oz now 13 oz).
They claimed to have all girls as well but I'm always worried bout the chance of her having gotten pregnant in the store. She was bought 12/15 and was 4 weeks old when I bought her. So that makes her now 6 weeks old.
Is there a way to check for a pregnancy? (besides the vet, i dont wanna move her around too much due to sickness unless absolutly nessisary.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

You'll just have to wait like 5-6 weeks unless you want to spring for an ultrasound. You can usually feel movement at that time. She is still growing, but you can weigh her and if there is a great weight gain then that is another sign. It's harder to tell on babies esp. if they only carry one or two pups.

They can get pregnant at 3 weeks. Pet stores usually say 2-5 months, so they don't separate them or refuse to believe that fact.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Did you submit your vet bill to the pet store? If you make a big stink, they usually pay up.

[CMslave]

please dont refer to petsmart/petco as petstupid even if theyre ignorant how would you like if I posted something like cavystupid

[standuprookie]

We can refer to them however we want, don't mean to sound mean but we are just exercising our first amendment right, people have called this site worse I really don't think T or anyone else will lose any sleep over it.

[CMslave]

It is true you can call them whatever you want but please have some heart people!!

[jdomans]

I was in PetSmart today buying Yesterday's News. The pigs were 'gone' due to URI (so I was told by a customer.) I struck up a conversation with a man that I thought was buying a ferret. When I found out who was actually buying a ferret I told them that there were literally thousands of ferrets on Petfinder needing homes. Her reply was, "Yes I know. Most of them have diseases."
Where in the world did she here such a thing? So so sad. I wonder how many people think that of the animals on Petfinder.

Dacourt, how awful for your daughter. It breaks my heart for her.