My rescue experience

[socal805]

It is no ones fault that I was not able to get those rescue pigs.

It's your fault...as far as I have seen everyone here was trying to help you find a way to get the extra 14" so you could get the rescue pigs. People were frustrated that you were giving up so easily we really were trying to educate and help you...you were/are unwilling to listen to people who have taken care of these special animals for years!
My prediction is that you will get your pigs from who knows where...and within the first 6 months to a year (maybe sooner) you will be dumping them in a shelter or listing them on craigs list because they are
a)too much work
b) don't do anything but hide all day because the cage is too small
or c)the vet bills are too expensive

Thank you to everyone that has been nice to me and the ones of you that haven't well you know what you can do.

Take a look back and read what you wrote in your first post...

My husband is very upset also. He calls you people guinea pig nazis now.

That tells me a lot about you and your husband, there's nothing else that needs to be said..good luck to you.

[ellenvega]

I have found other sites and forums that educate and welcome everyone.

And generally give crappy advice when it comes to guinea pig care. We know them all, the online guinea pig world is relatively small.( and the one you picked is notorious for bad care advice, which I see they've already given you).

Also can I just say how disturbed I was that this person returned their pigs to the store just because they were scratching and biting (because probably, like most petstore pigs, they were infested with MITES). Mites are a lifelong concern with guineas, they can suffer outbreaks at any time. My 2 girls haven't seen another pig in four years but they've had a couple of outbreaks over the years. Just because a pig is healthy when you get it doesn't mean it will be healthy for a lifetime. That just bothered me. Instead of treating them (mites are easy and inexpensive to treat) you took the easy way out.

[Calliso]

I just sincerely hope personally that she decides on her own not to get guinea pigs. Or realizes her mistakes. Maybe her husband will tell her no, but looking at that picture I have a hard time believing her family would feel any effect from making the cage another 14 inches longer. She did get jumped on kinda in this thread..but she really brung it on herself especially with the nazi comment. But still many people still calmly gave her advice, offered to help out, and still she refused and then refused to take any blame in the matter. I can understand her being upset too..it is just sad that rather then stepping back and calming down and thinking things through rationally she seems to be taking things the easy way out. Sadly like someone else said I would not be surprised if the guinea pigs she gets will before long end up in a shelter,

[piggiesinpa]

True I am not but still all of my pets have always been loved and taken care of. 9 times out of 10 if they need something they get it, if we can't get it right then we get it as soon as we can.

That should be a 10/10 as animals can't fend for themselves. You know what is the absolute worst part of this in my opinion? You were not only warned and EDUCATED about the dangers of petshop pigs, you went and bought them and experienced the exact things people talked about. Then, instead of dealing with your mistake the adult way and taking care of them properly, YOU TOOK THEM BACK like objects that were no longer worthy of your time, money, or affection.

Owning pets, of any kind, just doesn't work that way. There are extreme situations in which people have to rid of their animals but GOOD caretakers find a suitable homes through extensive means. They don't take it back to where they got it for a refund, ugh. I am just so disgusted by the fact that anyone would do this, especially someone who claims to be informed of the problem.

And guess what? The behavior you described of your pigs is absolutely normal for pigs suffering from mites and living in a home too small. You are punishing them for YOUR wrongdoings. How in the world is that fair? There should never, EVER be a question about your pets well-being.

[monikah]

Many people need to learn from personal experience, rather than just hearing someone else give them advice. I know, because I'm a bit like this.

I started my (single) pig off in a 1x2. Then when I noticed he was always in his poop, I expanded it to a 2x2. Then I thought it might be entertaining for *me* to add a 2nd level. I noticed the 2nd level made him more active. Then I got bored and thought why not make it a 2-level 2x2. Eventually, I thought, what they heck, and made it into a 2x4 with 2 levels.

Each time I increased his cage size, I noticed he was happier, more active, and more entertaining. I also noticed it was easier to keep the cage clean. There's no way that I would have listened to a stranger lecturing me about minimum cage sizes. I just had to experience *for myself* it and maybe the OPs the same way.

I also knew full well that guinea pigs needed a buddy, but I did not get one until my pig started squeaking at the cage wall and going loopy.

BTW, I found my first pig running around a parking lot, and as we had no experience *at all*, it took us a while just to figure out that he was a guinea pig and of course, to find this wonderful site!

[jilovecavies]

Originally Posted by monikah

BTW, I found my first pig running around a parking lot, and as we had no experience *at all*, it took us a while just to figure out that he was a guinea pig and of course, to find this wonderful site!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I'm so glad you and your piggie found each other!!! Who knows what would've happened if you didn't rescue him.

Piggiesinpa, I could not have said it better myself. Thanks.

[John4216]

Originally Posted by monikah

Many people need to learn from personal experience, rather than just hearing someone else give them advice. I know, because I'm a bit like this.

I started my (single) pig off in a 1x2. Then when I noticed he was always in his poop, I expanded it to a 2x2. Then I thought it might be entertaining for *me* to add a 2nd level. I noticed the 2nd level made him more active. Then I got bored and thought why not make it a 2-level 2x2. Eventually, I thought, what they heck, and made it into a 2x4 with 2 levels.

Each time I increased his cage size, I noticed he was happier, more active, and more entertaining. I also noticed it was easier to keep the cage clean. There's no way that I would have listened to a stranger lecturing me about minimum cage sizes. I just had to experience *for myself* it and maybe the OPs the same way.

I also knew full well that guinea pigs needed a buddy, but I did not get one until my pig started squeaking at the cage wall and going loopy.

BTW, I found my first pig running around a parking lot, and as we had no experience *at all*, it took us a while just to figure out that he was a guinea pig and of course, to find this wonderful site!

And thanks to you for your post and that you did eventually figure it out and do the right thing.

[PiggieMamaKelly]

Monikah makes a GREAT point. Some of us are too thick headed to realize it just from the testimonials that bigger really makes a monumental difference. When I started out I thought my 2x2 was living in the lap of luxery for my two pigs. A 2x4?! That was crazy! Then little by little as I expanded on size and added levels I realized the difference that everyone talks about is real, and huge.

While I think 2x4 is in the best interest of two pigs, I do understand why one with no experience with pigs would think it's not necessary. These days I make my cages as big as possible because bigger=easier to clean.

[piggly wiggly]

Why do you say you cannot expand the cage, when the truth is you will not. What a selfish person.I hope you or your children are never put in a position where someone as selfish as you, decides where they live, like say a 10 x 10 room, with a dirty toilet, an no room to play or get away from the other person sharing the 10 x 10 room. Wow, I just realized I described a jail cell. Anyway. My question was, why do you need to beg and plead with your husband,to get pigs or expand a cage? You keep saying this, then why are you getting pigs,if this is the case? You are teaching your children to be selfish, and not very caring of living creatures,or feelings of others. My children help me with animal rescue. We do dog rescue, and if there is another animal in desperate need we help. My daughter who is ten, has given up her room for a few days, when we needed to rescue some cats. now that is a caring child. I only hope yours can grow up realizing aimals have feelings too,it's not just what you want. And the comment about humans come first is just sickening, why is it who's first, and not equal living beings. I am so sad that selfish people have other means to get animals, when a rescue refuses them. We work so hard to help animals, to see them end up in a selfish home, and returned to rescue. Because,in this case, I can see these pigs end up in rescue in the near future. Man this thread infuriates me.

[Calliso]

Originally Posted by PiggieMamaKelly

Monikah makes a GREAT point. Some of us are too thick headed to realize it just from the testimonials that bigger really makes a monumental difference. When I started out I thought my 2x2 was living in the lap of luxery for my two pigs. A 2x4?! That was crazy! Then little by little as I expanded on size and added levels I realized the difference that everyone talks about is real, and huge.

While I think 2x4 is in the best interest of two pigs, I do understand why one with no experience with pigs would think it's not necessary. These days I make my cages as big as possible because bigger=easier to clean.

Aye true she just may not "get it" until she observes things for herself. I do wish she would have listened to us here but sometimes people do just have to learn on their own to get things.

I also actually agree with her on her statement of humans come before animals. However from seeing that picture it does not appear like they would really have to sacrifice anything. We are talking about adding 14 inches to a cage here not taking away her kids college fund or their food. To be perfectly honest and I may be wrong..but I think it comes down to mainly lazyness and stubborness They donlt want to redo the cage plain and simple cause they feel they already did enough. Also they likely are thinking hey this is enough! this is way more then most pet store cages so it must be ok! or sometime along that line.

[piggly wiggly]

It is too late to edit my post, so I have to make a new one. I want to apologize if anyone reading my post thinks I came on too strong. I know this is off topic, but it just angers me to think someone is unwilling to compromise a few inches for an animals well being, I drove for 18 hours, and stayed in a motel in another country to go and adopt a special needs dog. And there are other people who dedicate their lives to helping animals. I think a matter of 12 inches, is not a big deal. There are many people here who have sacrificed alot more, than a few inches. Sorry if I came on a bit strong above.

[Fluffy_Guinea]

Piggly wiggly I agree with you all the way and if I ever have kids I will do the same and teach them animals have feelings just as we do. The comment about humans coming first infuriates me as well, I would do anything for my pets I would die for them. I love them and to me their not objects or even pets they are family. Now this puzzles me you knew this site is against puchasing from petstores and then you came here with your sob story and expected not to get jumped on? If I couldn't get a pig from a shelter I wouldn't get one at all! Alright I'm done with my rant sorry if I came off harsh this just infuriates me.

[kayleemommy01]

I came by to see what you all had to say. I read most of your replies. I am thinking of expanding the cage into a full 2 story cage this weekend. I will do this work myself my husband will just cut the new coroplast. I CAN expand in this way but cannot expand it the other. Please don't talk about my kids. My little girl is a very smart girl... She is only in kindergarten and is already ahead of her class in EVERYTHING...My boys will be the same way. You can talk about me all you want, doesn't bother me one bit. I have had alot of experiences in my life and learned not to worry about what other people think. I am a good person, my husband is also I know that and if you get to know us you will see that.

[piggly wiggly]

I never ever said your kids would not excel, or that they were stupid. I said YOU are teaching them to be selfish.I did not say you or your husband were bad people. I said you were being selfish. I also said I hope your children grow up to know that animals have feelings too, and getting one is not all about what you as a person want, it's about the animals well being. I did not say they would not be caring people, I was saying, by buying an animal when you know better, just because you want one right now, and are not willing to put the animals needs first,is teaching your children to also be selfish. Please read my post again.

[Ly&Pigs]

I am thinking of expanding the cage into a full 2 story cage this weekend.

I know you are trying to do what you believe is right but upper levels don't count towards overall square footage. Only the base/main level counts. It's such a shame that you can't do something to add just a mere 14" in length to this cage. It's not that big of a deal to add to the length. Then you would be able to go back to that shelter that requires you to have a 2x4 and adopt a pair of pigs.

Furniture rearranging isn't that hard to accomodate a cage. I've done it plenty of times and so have tons of other members. Maybe you could sit down with your husband and figure out a way. I also looked at a photo you posted of your current cage. If you change the base to coroplast, it appears you have plenty of room there for a 2x4 cage.