Another sick pig case in PA

[MCR_Rox]

I was at the Wayne County Fair today, and was looking at the guinea pigs. They had a lot of symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. They were sneezing, lethargic, crusty-eyed, some of their eyes were sealed shut, and more. I have e-mailed the Dessin Animal Shelter, which is right down the hill from the fair. It's very hard fighting for these piggies. It really is . My mom's friend actually was friends with the person who was selling them. My mom actually bought a guinea pig from there. She knows he may be sick, though, at least, and is isolated from the other pigs. The person was a BREEDER. I still think he is cute, though, and will love him no matter where he came from. I hope they get shut down before they even get to replace him ( which they probably won't even get shut down.)

Also, when we were looking at another place that sold animals there, these people came up to us, and asked about guinea pigs. Of course, my mom tells them that they'd need a small pet store cage ( she actually thought it was big.) She then tells them that they can build their own from directions on-line. I then tell them that it's best to get care from on-line, too.

[dixiedoo4736]

That's horrible. I live in Western New York and am dreading going to our fair and seeing the poor guinea pigs that people enter to show in the humidity and heat. They are kept in these tiny cages for a week and a half just so their owner can get a little ribbon saying "nice animal! your guinea pig had the shiniest fur! etc". I think a lot of the cages even have wire bottoms.

[envisionary333]

Yikes. It sounds like you need to give your mom some lecturing as well as the fair people! Has she taken the piggy in to a vet? If that piggy has a URI, which sounds likely, he could go downhill very quickly.

[MCR_Rox]

I have tried, but no luck yet. She actually wants to wait a WEEK to see if he gets worse. She thinks I'm paranoid, because of last time. My mom thought the reason why he was feeling bad was because of the humidity. I'll pay for the visiting bill. Maybe that'll get her to take him. I'll take the money out of my savings, but my mom doesn't watch that. She doesn't expect me to take money out of it. I'm saving up for a care for when I'm 16. My mom usually gives me $5 a week. I think the pigs need the money more than I. He is such a small guy. He doesn't have any fat to fall back on if he stops eating, either. My mom also said that the reason why he sounds odd when he breathes is because he is little .

The shelter forwarded the e-mail to their Humane Society officer. I hope she gets fined! I hope that the Wayne County animal control are better than the ones in this county!

[MCR_Rox]

I will tell everyone what happens. I don't want what happened last time to happen again.

[piggiesinpa]

Oh gosh, I can't believe this. I live in Southeast PA, let me know if there is anything I can do to help!