I don't know what to do! Please help! :(

[blacklotus]

Hello, I need lots of opinions on this matter. I went to a mom&pop pet store called Pet Paradise, and let me tell you, it is anything but what the name says!!! There was 1 adult guinea pig, and 1 younger (3-4month) guinea pig in a cage with the length of a loaf of bread!! NO JOKE!! A loaf of bread! It was probably only at the most 10-12 inches wide. It was horrible, there was no room at all for the poor guinea pigs. I know if you buy anything from a pet store it only helps them stay in business, and causes more and more animals in harm in the long run, but I really want to get the small guinea pig. I feel so sorry for it in that cage.

The question is I already have 3 sows in a 2x5 cage, my cage is a little larger than most 2X5 cages, my grids are 14.5 inches, instead of the normal 14 inches. So the dimensions of my cage are 72.5X29. My cage is 14.59 square feet, so couldnt I add another sow to my cage? The website says a 2X5 should only hold 3 sows, but it also says that 13 square feet is enough for 4 sows?? So since I have 14.59 sq ft, I could put 4 sows together?? I know it might be pushing it, but I REALLY feel sorry for this guinea pig.. I dont want others to suffer for me purchasing it, but I would love the advice from anyone... Thanks!!

[crazywiggy]

I know you want to help this piggie but PLEASE don't buy her. As you know, this will only encourage the store to buy more to replace her, condemning yet more piggies to being shoved into the same tiny cage and sold to anyone with a spare buck.

If the conditions are really bad maybe you could report them?

[Biscuit]

Unfortunately, more piggies will suffer for you purchasing it, and then you'll feel sorry for them too.

[aaronmeister]

You're better off reporting them. But first, ask the owners to do something first. It's understandable they want to use as little space as possible but at the size you said is inhumane. Talk to them, if they don't do anything, contact the authorities.

[pigsforlife]

Pets Paradise is a notorious chain store here in Australia, I wouldnt call them a mom&pop store at all.

Just last week my friend annouced that she had brought a dog. I was shocked and rather disappointed that I hadnt been given the chance to urge her to opt to adopt. She new full well my beliefs in regards to animal welfare, so I dont know what was going through her head. Perhaps it was an impulse thing? I dont know, but I was disgraced nonetheless. Moving on, she collected this pup and brought her home. As part of the petstore policy you have to go to THEIR vet 48 hours after purchase, so she did so complaining that the pup had diarrhea and wasnt eating. The vet dismissed her worries. The same afternoon she was rushed to another vet, who diagnosed her with corona virus.

The pup nearly died, but has survive. My friend rang up the Pets Paradise store that she brought her from, and said that ALL animals that were in the store and have been sold NEED to go to the vet ASAP, and that ALL animals that are at the petstore NOW do too. His answer was, "Its too hard." He wouldnt do anything, not even after my friend went into great detail about how contagious this virus is.

So the store was reported to the RSPCA, and I dont know what has happened from there. My friend has forked out hundreds and she has only had the pup a week. Now she listens to me. LOL.

If the guinea pigs are in the state that they are in they should be reported to the RSPCA (SPCA in America I think). You can not do anything about it, you do not have the power. By removing this pig from the store, you are only endangering many many more.