I'm so fustrated grrr....

[Jenni_Feathers]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this thread, sorry to the mods if it isnt.

Well here is the whole story:

On another forum I posted a thread about my guinea pigs, I was pleased at the number of people who responded all like I love your piggies and your cage see mine... and it was a C&C cage. But one person respond like I have a guinea pig too her name is roxy, then they said something about how they got her, then they say that her cage is a plastic tub.

So then I PM them and write on the thread that plastic tubs are very very very(I think I said it like 20 times) bad for guinea pigs and that they can casue death which I know is a lil hasty but I was mad, So anyways I tell them all about how guinea pigs require 7.5 sq foot and that she should make a C&C cage and I gave them a link to the site, I also commented on how the piggers nails needed to be cliped(they were waaayyyy to long- they gave a pic).

So this morning I get on and I get this:
I was alittle upset this morning to find that you PM me saying that plastic tubs aren't good for guinea pigs. Why's that??? Roxyis 6 1/2 yrs old and is doing great in her cage. When I clean her cage , I let her run around the room sometimes so she gets the exersice. Thanks for the info though. I will keep in mine for the furture.



Argggg... I was sooo mad, how should I respond!!!! I dont wanna be mean I just want to hep that poor piggy.

[crazywiggy]

I sympathise with you - I hate it when people just don't want to hear that they're doing something wrong.

I think you need to tread carefully here so as not to offend or anger this person, otherwise they are more likely to completely ignore anything you say.

I would say to give her clear factual reasons about why tubs are bad, such as poor circulation (causing increased humidity and ammonia build up which causes health problems) and of course exercise. She obviously think her piggy gets enough when she cleans it out, so maybe you cuold explain that this is not enough, that piggies need to be able to exercise and play on their own time.

Aside from that just be nice about it - explain that you know she cares about her piggy and obviously wouldn't do anything to intentionally harm it but that there are some improvements she could make. I really think you need to win her over, not just criticize.

Good luck - keep us informed how it goes.

[Chocolate Cavy]

Rubber tub? Like you keep hamsters in?

That's absolutely terrible!

[envisionary333]

It's sounds like she has no intention to harm her guinea pig and isn't angered by your message, but she is just woefully misinformed. Try to be very rational and helpful in your explanation of why a tub is bad for the health of her guinea pig. Unfortunately, most people who own guinea pigs are simply unaware of these facts. It's not so much that they are ignorant, but in most cases they have actually been instructed by a pet store, book, or website that this is perfectly acceptable. She probably thinks that all of those pet store employees and breeder books must know what they are talking about, which of course we know couldn't be further from the truth. Tell her how much happier your guinea pigs are with friends and room to play, and how much more you enjoy them when they are given proper care. Tell her that many sources of information give out poor information, and give her links to the good sites like this one, Guinea Lynx, and Cavy Spirit. If you approach her in a friendly and sympathetic manner, she will be much more likely to take your advice. Good luck!

[Jenni_Feathers]

YEAH!!!! I'm so happy!
I sent her a bunch of quotes from care guides for guinea pigs that said that aquariums and plastic tubs are bad,and also that I am not yelling at you I am simply trying to help you take better care of your guinea pig, if you care about her you should listen to what I am telling you! and she PM'd be back basically thanking me for the info and saying that she will keep the info and that if she ever gets another piggy she'll make a C&C but dosent want to for her one now becasue of her age(her pig's 6 1/2) and she dont wanna make a cage and then the piggy die a month later then she'll stuck with the new cage, but its understandable, I guess.

[envisionary333]

That's great! How nice of you to give her all that good information. Now she will be able to give any future piggies a much better life, and anyone else she knows might learn to do the same also. So at least a few piggies lives have been changed for the better!

[MCR_Rox]

That's good. Maybe you should give her the link to Guinea Lynx.

[Jenni_Feathers]

I did I gave her this site and guinealynx and cavyspirit.

[MCR_Rox]

That's good .

[envisionary333]

Originally Posted by landhermie

Maybe you should give her the link to Guinea Lynx.

Hey, didn't I already say that...? ("give her links to the good sites like this one, Guinea Lynx, and Cavy Spirit") I'm starting to think no one reads my links since I usually write so much!

[Ly&Pigs]

Ok, let's not get upset here. Many people may say the same things on a post. It's actually a good thing in my opinion because it reiterates what has been already said in many cases.

[envisionary333]

Sorry, I was just teasing.