Pet Store Piggy

**lilouisianagal** · #1 10-29-04, 01:26 pm

I'm thinking about just going to the petstore and getting a piggie. I can't find any for adoption in the area right now. Is there anything wrong with this?

**mom to cujo** · #2 10-29-04, 02:22 pm

I happened to buy Cujo from a petstore for the same reason - no rescues in my area. He had literally been at the pet store for a few hours when I bought him - he was around 6 weeks old and so far he has been in perfect health. (Thank God). I would rather adopt but there is nowhere in my area to do so. If you really want a piggie save him from the pet store! As long as he gets proper care, lots of love and a good home you are still "rescuing".

**cinn&sprinslave** · #3 10-29-04, 02:28 pm

I think it is ok. Sort of but just remember as soon as you buy this piggy (he/she?) watch a piggy apear in one of the rescues near you. And another piggy will fill have to fill that piggie's 'spot' at the pet store...

**CavySpirit** · #4 10-29-04, 03:12 pm

Where there are pet stores, there are pigs in need of homes. You just may have to look longer or a little harder.

Getting a pig from a pet store is NOT rescuing or adopting. Please be clear about that. You are just supporting the mill breeders and show breeders that dump their culls to the distributors and stores. And by buying from the pet store you are indirectly supporting the process and the backyard breeders.

**CavyCrazyMom** · #5 10-29-04, 03:35 pm

Have you tried looking in the news papers under pets? I bet there are some there. What about the shelters? My oppinion is (even though it's well known I work at petco) you should exaust all efforts in looking for one elsewhere before you buy one for the reasons above that Cavy Spirit said. Try petfinder.com and cavy classifieds. That's where I got the two I adopted. But if there is absolutly no one near you that can adopt one out to you, there's no one. And I don't think you should miss out on piggy parenting! Two of my girls came from my work...although I didn't know that the rescue existed or I would have done that instead. But I wish you luck in your search. Oh, also try doing a google search for cavy guinea pig rescue in somewhere USA (or UK!

). Use both terms because they can be found under either.

**Piglet** · #6 10-29-04, 03:38 pm

I know its tough to find a place to adopt from. Please, just keep on looking. Don't give in to the petstore. Try guinea lynx again, try newspapers etc. Try looking for rescues outside your town. My rescue was 40 minutes away, but it was well worth it.

**mom to cujo** · #7 10-29-04, 04:28 pm

Whether you agree with me or not the thought of a piggie being raised and miatreated at a petstore breaks my heart and if buying him supports some moron that makes a living breeding well, then, I am sorry. I can't imagine walking in a store and falling in love with a piggie and then leaving him there to be poorly taken care of. That is only my opinion and there just aren't adoptables or rescues in everyone's area.

**CavyCrazyMom** · #8 10-29-04, 07:08 pm

You don't need to be defensive about where you got your pig from! I got two of mine from a petstore! And they were not mistreated. I was there!

But I was one of the lucky few I have to say. My store is the exception to the rule. Most don't get it, and all have breeders...that's realistic. But anyway...I am not ashamed about where I got my loves from and you shouldn't be either. That's why I don't talk about it!

I just don't want to hear it form people who have very strong oppinions about it (not a bash to anyone). The point is that we are here to improve the lives of our pigs, and that is important. Not where we got them.

**CavySpirit** · #9 10-29-04, 07:55 pm

Okay, for the record and I'm just talking to myself out loud, so to speak, I'm getting tired of repeating myself and presenting the arguments. I'm now going to create a new webpage that articulates--graphically--why, once you know better, it bloody well does matter where you get your pig from.

Everyone is forgiven their first mistake of buying an animal from a pet store when they don't know any better. But once you know better, it's pretty tough to justify. Too, too many people think it's all about the care the store provides. That is so not the issue.

Also, yes, once you have your pig, you have your pig. You can't change the past. You have a pig to love and care for. So now, in the grander scheme of things, even though you've contributed to the pet trade industry problem, you can now be a model of care for your cavies and become part of the grass roots movement to shift away from the incredibly low standards of care propagated by the industry.

**Furkidsmommy** · #10 10-29-04, 08:12 pm

[font=Verdana]Very well said. To answer your point if you do not want to fall in love with a pet store piggy, stay out of the pet store. If I were to add another guinea pig to our family I would drive several hundred miles rather than adopt from a pet store.[/font]

**lilouisianagal** · #11 10-29-04, 09:51 pm

Let me just reiterate this one: there are NO piggies (females or neutered males anyway) available for adoption (and the preggie piggie won't be available for 5 weeks even after her babies come thats 2 to 3 months, should I wait?), either through shelters or private within my state. I found one 10 hrs away. And they said that I had to come with Fifi to get one or a pair from there. My parents wont let me get and neuter a male right now so boars are out (silly, yes, but not my choice). I have called/emailed everyone in my 3hr radius. I will do a more thorough Google search.

**spider** · #12 10-29-04, 10:36 pm

Try placing an ad in your local newpaper. Wanted female guinea pig. I did that and received 2 calls. 2 sows 5 weeks old came into my home the afternoon that the 2nd call came in. I work in a shelter have rescued 3 pigs before. This time for my next pair I wanted a specific look and waited 3 months to find them. You never know who has them and wishes to let them go. The ad offers an easy out. This way all they have to do is pick up the phone. As well you will not be paying pet shop prices. The ad was 11.00 and the 2 pigs were 10.00. The pet shops here sell their pigs for 30.00 a piece. Canadian funds by the way.

**CavyCrazyMom** · #13 10-29-04, 10:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CavySpirit

Okay, for the record and I'm just talking to myself out loud, so to speak, I'm getting tired of repeating myself and presenting the arguments. I'm now going to create a new webpage that articulates--graphically--why, once you know better, it bloody well does matter where you get your pig from.

Everyone is forgiven their first mistake of buying an animal from a pet store when they don't know any better. But once you know better, it's pretty tough to justify. Too, too many people think it's all about the care the store provides. That is so not the issue.

Also, yes, once you have your pig, you have your pig. You can't change the past. You have a pig to love and care for. So now, in the grander scheme of things, even though you've contributed to the pet trade industry problem, you can now be a model of care for your cavies and become part of the grass roots movement to shift away from the incredibly low standards of care propagated by the industry.

I just want you to know that I agree with you 100%...I just didn't think that she should have feel like she has to make excuses of why she had to buy her pig, that's all.

**lilouisianagal** · #14 10-29-04, 11:24 pm

Okay yall. You seem so big into the "get your piggie a buddy idea" but the only buddies around are at the pet shops. Should I just wait?

**loves2travel** · #15 10-29-04, 11:40 pm

lilouisangel, you say you are in baton rouge. there are 6 piggies available for adoption in new Orleans, which isnt too far from baton rouge. there are sows and boars. look on petfinder. there ARE piggies for adoption. i JUST checked.

**cinn&sprinslave** · #16 10-29-04, 11:42 pm

Well really the main thing is getting your piggy a friend. No one here can tell you what decision to make. You should have a look at those piggs l2t mentioned!

**lilouisianagal** · #17 10-30-04, 12:16 am

Honda, Toyota, and Nissan- already been adopted (old posting I guess, they need to take it down) I called them.
Buzz , Bucky, and Sweet Pea- Buzz and Bucky would have to be neutered (see note on parents in above post) and Sweet Pea is not available right now. She is the pregnant one and it is very annoying that she posted her even though she is not available.
So even though 6 are listed none are available.

**bunnyluv17** · #18 10-30-04, 08:53 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilouisianagal

Honda, Toyota, and Nissan- already been adopted (old posting I guess, they need to take it down) I called them.
Buzz , Bucky, and Sweet Pea- Buzz and Bucky would have to be neutered (see note on parents in above post) and Sweet Pea is not available right now. She is the pregnant one and it is very annoying that she posted her even though she is not available.
So even though 6 are listed none are available.

Is this a rescue? If it is, they will probably have more in soon, I would wait and see. You could also call a rabbit rescue in your area, they might have some or know where some are.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password