Family-Owned Petstore

**Ramon** · #1 09-24-07, 03:31 pm

There's a rather extravagant pet store in old town Lansing. It is the largest family owned pet store in Michigan. I wanted to look into getting a friend for my two pigs, I look at the humane society and the former local pig rescue became into doing shows.

So I saw guinea pigs in large cages, larger than the one I have at home, they have them with had water and veggies. They told me they keep them for a quarantine period, then they'll sell them.

This store is reputable and very responsible in regards to taking care of the animals they house. They choose not to keep some animals like puppies if they can't take proper care of them.

This is much better than the chain stores that sell pets, and I drive out there every other week because they sell Oxbow Hay products.

Is it still wrong to buy from a local business who takes proper care and procedure in their pets or should I just wait until I run across someone who happens to have the proper sex and age of guinea pig?

**daftscotslass** · #2 09-24-07, 03:34 pm

Yes, wait.

By selling animals they dish them out into homes that are in no way vetted. Each one that's sold does a rescue pig out of a home, potentially sentencing some to death.

**Ly&Pigs** · #3 09-24-07, 04:49 pm

One of the big reasons we are against all petstores that sell animals is because they get their animals from breeding mills or backyard breeders or even breed themselves. Everytime an animal is bred, it takes homes away from homeless cavies. It doesn't matter if they have cages the size of your living room and give them 5 cups of veggies each a day on 24 karat gold plates, they are still getting their pigs from a breeder or breeding their own.

I'd definately wait until a pig comes along that needs a home. Maybe you will find an ad on petfinder, craigslist or your local newspaper.

**ortal** · #4 09-24-07, 08:17 pm

Quote:

I look at the humane society and the former local pig rescue became into doing shows.

I really cannot comprehend this sentance ....

**MCR_Rox** · #5 09-25-07, 04:57 pm

Try looking on Petfinder.com: Adopt a pet and help an animal shelter rescue a puppy or kitten..

They don't have an application, do they? That means that they sell them to whoever they want. They could sell them to someone who just wants them for their 5-year-old who doesn't even know how to handle one right. Also, as Ly said, every pig, unless they are taken from a rescue, is preventing a homeless pig from being adopted.

**Malhablada** · #6 09-26-07, 07:49 am

I go to that exact store several times a week. It's a fantastic store.

I'm not going to condone buying animals from any petstore because I don't want to get banned from the forum, but I would think that - in terms of supporting or not supporting an individual store - you'd be better off working with this particular family-owned store. Their animals are healthier and more well-cared-for than any you're going to find at a national chain.

However, you'd be even better off waiting for an adoption, as long as you go through a reputable rescue.

If you're in the Lansing area, just keep watching the boards and checking the newspapers. There's always a lot of cavies available around here when MSU goes back into session. Try CL, too.

ETA: As for this particular store having an application, no, they do not. However, if you can't prove that you're informed, they won't sell you the animal. I always pop by the small animals on my way to the fish, and literally EVERY time I walk through there, one of the employees is saying, "I know how cute they are, but rabbits really aren't an appropriate pet for a child that age" or "Guinea pigs need a lot more space than you'd think."

**FoolOnTheHill** · #7 09-26-07, 12:05 pm

It's obviously good that they care for their pigs, but at the end of the day you don't know where the pigs are from, the conditions they're kept in. And no matter how good the store is - you will still be taking a home away from a rescue pig and opening up a spot for more pigs to be bred.

I too would wait for a rescue piggy - there's certainly bound to be some around if there are stores selling them.

**Ly&Pigs** · #8 09-26-07, 02:37 pm

Just remember to look at the bigger picture. It's not always about what you do see but is also about what you don't see. Everytime one pig is sold, it's normally replaced by 2 more. That means some poor sow somewhere has been bred to provide all these pigs. Does this store get their pigs from breeders or do they breed their own? Either way, they are putting sows lives at risk to get cute widdle pups to sell. If they get them from breeders, it could be a piggy mill or backyard breeders who all keep their pigs in tiny cages with only pellets and no hideys. Also if they get them from breeders, how are they transported to the store?

When their animals get sick, do they get vet care? Are the sexes separated?

**Ramon** · #9 09-26-07, 03:33 pm

I was looking at the bigger picture, which is why I asked. However, a baby Abyssinian hasn't easy to come by.

**envisionary333** · #10 09-26-07, 03:58 pm

Have you tried checking shelters farther away from you? Have you looked on Petfinder and Craigslist? Tried asking vets or animal control services? I'm sure they are out there, it's just a matter of finding them! Plus, sometimes you just have to wait. I had to wait several months before my shelter had a Peruvian, but my little Ragamuffin was so worth the wait in the end!

**crazywiggy** · #11 09-27-07, 11:19 am

I would say there are two main reasons for avoiding pet shop pigs, even if they get fantastic care:

1) Overpopulation. Buying encourages breeding, and takes away a potential home for a homless pig. It causes more overpopulation, and more piggies to remain or be put to sleep in shelters.

2) No contact between breeder and buyer. (If you don't take the whole issue of breeding into consideration.) If you were buying direct from the breeder you could see how the piggies were kept, find out how frequently females are bred, what happens to ex-breeders or animals they can't sell etc. You can avoid mills and byb's. For the breeder, they get to meet and vet potential buyers and ensure their babies only go to great homes. For these reasons resonsible owners don't buy from pet shops, and responsible breeders don't sell to them.

Does it have to be an abbey? Does it have to be a baby? I can understand looking at different breeds of dog, but not piggies, but that's just me. I agree with Envisionary though - if you really won't consider an older or shorthaired piggie then keep looking and wait until one becomes available from rescue.

**HowietheGreat** · #12 09-27-07, 10:07 pm

When I first called the shelter about Jasper and Jinx I was told they were adopted. My boyfriend and I concluded that it wasn't meant to be. Literally a day later I got a call that they were returned and were we still interested? That was months ago. They are the sweetest pigs ever-I cannot imagine why two homes gave up the pair of adorable silkies-we were thankful though! Keep trying, it is worth it!

**wheekypigs** · #13 11-12-07, 01:18 pm

Why punish a little piggy for being in a display case in a petshop? I think any effort in taking in a piggy from anywhere and giving it lotsa love, care and a good forever home is being responsible.

**daftscotslass** · #14 11-12-07, 01:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheekypigs

Why punish a little piggy for being in a display case in a petshop? I think any effort in taking in a piggy from anywhere and giving it lotsa love, care and a good forever home is being responsible.

Have a read of the threads at the top of this forum before you post any further.

You buy a pig from a pet store, you give them enough money to buy four more. Are you going to "rescue" them too? What about the four that replace each of them? Is that being "responsible"?

**LouisesPigguns** · #15 11-12-07, 03:42 pm

I got three of my four boars for pet shops, before I posted here or anywhere else I just thought it was the done thing. I have learnt from that and now only use rescues and try to buy all products from shops that don't sell animals. It's heartbreaking to see those poor pigs in stores and other animals for that matter but DSL is right we can't rescue them all.

I was under the illusion that I was rescuing my boys, but all I was doing was lining the pockets of people who don't care about animals. Don't get me wrong I love my boys and I'm so glad I have them now, but they have been harder work than my girls (who are from a rescue) and my baby boar Eccles who I got on Saturday from a vets (his mam was abandoned before pregnancy and the vets took her in and she gave birth to three boars) and even though Eccles is only 8 weeks I can see he is so much calmer than my other boars when I got them from pet shops.

**wheekypigs** · #16 11-12-07, 04:45 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by daftscotslass

Have a read of the threads at the top of this forum before you post any further.

You buy a pig from a pet store, you give them enough money to buy four more. Are you going to "rescue" them too? What about the four that replace each of them? Is that being "responsible"?

I did read and this is my opinion. I'm sure on this forum we are graciously allowed to defer.

It doesn't make sense to me that if Ramon chances upon a piggy (s)he is taken by and wants to give it a good forever home, that (s)he should pass it by, but the decision is up to Ramon.

Thank you for your food for thought though.

**Susan9608** · #17 11-12-07, 05:08 pm

Quote:

It doesn't make sense to me that if Ramon chances upon a piggy (s)he is taken by and wants to give it a good forever home, that (s)he should pass it by, but the decision is up to Ramon.

What is it that doesn't make sense to you?

Perhaps you are not understanding the massive overpopulation of guinea pigs; perhaps you don't realize that every day guinea pigs are euthanized for lack of good homes or are surrendered to shelters, or are simply set

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