Going To A Cavy Show

[jackrussellgirl]

I'm going to a rabbit and cavy show next weekend. Its a 4-H show. I completly understand that everyone is against showing but I want to see a show for myself before I pass too harsh of a judgment. Its free to go so I won't be giving anyone any money for being there. I also know many of your opinions of 4-H but again I want to see it for myself before I pass a harsh judgment. I'm actually excited to go and at least see what it is like and what it is all about. Hopefully I will be able to talk to some people about the "hobby".
I just wanted people's opinion on my plan before I go.

[sweetjay6891]

You want people's opinions yet you say you already know what were going to say. I don't know what you want people to tell you.

My opinion - by going, you are supporting breeding and slaughtering. Once the farm animals are shown, most are usually slaughtered. I wouldn't never be caught dead supporting that.

[Percy's Mom]

Which "hobby" did you want to talk about? Placing animals in a stressful show environment around way too many people, networking with breeders, breeding and overbreeding an animal until it gets sick or dies, or breeding animals JUST to get a certain look so you can win a prize?

I have to go with sweetjay6891 on this one. What opinions were you expecting us to give on an anti-breeding/anti-showing forum?

[jackrussellgirl]

I never said I am pro breeding or showing. In fact I would never breed any animal and have advised a few people not to also. I know you all hate breeding and showing and like I said I want to see for myself before I pass a harsh judgment. Never mind, I guess I'm not going to get any good information on this site.

[Percy's Mom]

Originally Posted by jackrussellgirl

Never mind, I guess I'm not going to get any good information on this site.

You'll get plenty of good information on this site, but nothing to encourage you about showing.

[jackrussellgirl]

I ALREADY SAID I WILL NEVER BREED OR SHOW. I DON'T NEED ENCOURAGMENT TO SHOW, I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE! You might as well take down this thread.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Ask the breeders what they do with their culls and stick around after where they try to unload their unwanted stock on pet stores, snake owners, kids to backyard breed them etc.

[Percy's Mom]

There is no need to take down this thread. You knew it would be heated when you started it in the Kitchen to begin with.

Thank you rabbitsncavyluv for your excellent suggestions of things that jackrussellgirl can do to see the truly ugly side of showing.

[bleachmiracle]

I just don't get it. You know that this site is against showing guinea pigs. You even state it in your original post, and then you get mad when people are against showing? What in the world? Go to the show. That's fine. You need to make up your own mind as to what is right and wrong. You made a post here and all anyone was trying to do was better understand it. This site is one of the greatest sites to get guinea pig information out there. The kitchen can be a harsh place, so if you can't handle criticism why would you post something so controversial here?

[DaCourt]

Originally Posted by rabbitsncavyluv

Ask the breeders what they do with their culls and stick around after where they try to unload their unwanted stock on pet stores, snake owners, kids to backyard breed them etc.

See..you did get some great info and questions to ask. Be prepared though....you will not like their answer.

[this_lil_piggy]

I would love to go to a show, but not to evaluate it, or make a decision about it--I have already made up my mind there. I wouldn't mind the opportunity to go one of these days though, so I could badger the hell out of some of these sick people about their poor choices and treatment of animals, and to try to talk kids out of falling into it.
I wouldn't be there to watch or participate, I would be there to make noise and enemies and hopefully change a few hearts.

I refuse to shop or give a dime to Petco, but I do still like to drop in there from time to time to see what the conditions are, and strike up conversations with people in the small animal section so that hopefully they walk out with better knowledge than they came in with or are given by the employees

[kavykrazy]

Personally, I think it is good someone wants to see for themselves what really goes on instead of just repeating what everyone else says. It would give more clout when explaining the whys and whynots if you have a personal knowledge.

I would tend to believe someone with such knowledge over someone who says "Well, I read on such and such that it is wrong and all the people say it, so it must be so."

[this_lil_piggy]

I agree 100%!
I would not, under any circumstances, walk into one of these events and pay to be there, and I can't bring myself to condone or support anyone that would/does. I have seen enough in way of pictures, and just by the amount of pigs in shelters alone to convince me that it (breeders circuit) is bad, immoral, harmful. But.
If I had the opportunity to walk in for free (so that I am of no financial support to the breeders) I would do it in a heart beat. Because 1) I would like to be able to preach what I have seen for myself and 2) because if I could make just one person think twice about what they are doing, change the life of even just one cavy to the better, or best of all turn someone off of the lifestyle, it would make me very happy, and make going there worth it.

Just being physically present doesn't make you in support of something. If you don't put money into their mouths, and you use the experience to your advantage to educate yourself, and to try to educate others, then I really really don't get what everyone is so upset about?

If JRG had said I am going to go to a show next weekend, it is only 5.00 to get in. and/OR, I am going to go to a show next weekend because I am interested in showing etc. Then, I would be in total agreeance with you all, and would be up there on that soap box with you. HOWEVER, I think you all are being irrational, harsh, and blowing this out or proportion.
No one should be denied their right, or criticized for their need, to see something for themselves when they are in no way giving support/causing harm by doing so.

Hopefully I will be able to talk to some people about the "hobby".

Ask the breeders what they do with their culls and stick around after where they try to unload their unwanted stock on pet stores, snake owners, kids to backyard breed them etc.

Perhaps that is what she intended to do? I took her comment as sarcasm--as in she was hoping to talk to people about their poor choice and animal treatment.
Maybe I am wrong, but no one asked and gave her the opportunity to elaborate--you all came out with guns blazing.

and then you get mad when people are against showing?......
so if you can't handle criticism why would you post something so controversial here?

I don't see where she was angry about people being against showing? She got angry because she asked a simple question that did NOT require people to lash at her accusingly and harshly. I don't get where you or anyone else thinks they have the right or that it is proper to 'criticize' a person for wanting to gain their own free solid education and experience about something before they continue to rip people a new a** for participating in it. Your right...The kitchen can be a harsh place, as it is the area of the forum that is set aside for debates and sometimes heated discussions about controversial issues. That doesn't mean that anyone that decides to post something, is automatically fair game to be abused, mistreated, and accused.
Sometimes I think there are a few around here that have gotten themselves SO wrapped into anti-mistreatment of animals, that they have forgotten the good etiquette of treating humans with an ounce of dignity and respect.
It is never a good idea to rip someone apart first, and ask questions later. It would have taken less time and energy, and made this a much more productive post, to have level-headidly asked for some clarification from JRG, instead of drawing your own conclusions and ripping her head off her shoulders.

[jackrussellgirl]

Originally Posted by Percy's Mom

There is no need to take down this thread. You knew it would be heated when you started it in the Kitchen to begin with.

Thank you rabbitsncavyluv for your excellent suggestions of things that jackrussellgirl can do to see the truly ugly side of showing.

Sorry if I can't take people's word for it. I know many of you say that breeders do these thing but I want to see it for myself. Thats the whole reason I'm going. Why do you treat me like I'm a 7 year old who knows nothing about breeding/showing?

[daftscotslass]

I went to one of the most well-respected shows in the UK when I was younger. I saw pigs manhandled by judges with no thought of hygiene - no-one washed their hands between pigs. Goodness knows what sort of diseases could get passed on. Pigs had to do without water or food for the duration of the show. Cages were one foot by one foot.

Breeders count on the fact that people will turn up just to have a look - it is often those people that feel sorry for the breeder "excess stock" and then take them on. Word of mouth passes from one person to another. "Oh, I didn't realise I could get guinea pigs from a show! They must be healthy ones if they're at a show!". Thus creating a demand and breeders thinking it's alright to offload their excess stock on the unsuspecting public. You see the beautiful shiny animals. You don't get to see the cubes they live in at home to keep them "in coat" whilst having their hair uncomfortably and tightly wrapped. Long haired cavies are also housed alone due to the risks of barbering. Just so they look good at the show.

It's not what's at the show. It's what's behind it. Do go and see for yourself but I hope you are disgusted at what goes on behind the frills.

[nonamian_girl]

I don't know why you would want to put yourself through having to see that. Yes there is the curiosity, but it's just so heartbreaking that people can be so heartless.

A couple weeks ago I was flipping through the channels and I somehow found a cat show on. Naturally I was curious too so I watched it for a while--it was just atrocious! These people literally have to WRESTLE their cats into these teeny tiny little cages. The poor cats are so spooked and they just sit there scared out of their wits or growling, while the proud owner goes "My Tina just LOVES being shown." And somehow they actually believe that too! Many of the judges get repeatedly bitten because these poor cats are just miserable. In a way, I'm glad I saw what you guys are always talking about...but I don't think I'd EVER want to see that in person.