pigs as christmas gifts

[cavyinhawaii]

I just got finished watching a segment on giving pets for christmas. They stated that giving guinea pigs is a great gift. I was disgusted. They showed a skinny/hairless pig that had at one time had an ear tag. The healed rip was obvious,so you know that he had to be from a breeder. I really want to send something to the news station letting them know how much of a committment a guinea pigs are, and really should not be given as gifts especally to children. It was a vet who brought in 3 different pigs to show.
Is there a good letter or post that I could link. I looked and couldn't find just the right thing. I am just afraid that 6 months from now when school is out and kids are playing outside. The pigs will end up in our one and only shelter on this island.
Here is the link to the news station I didn't see the segment yet since it was this morning it might not be up yet. It is sad that the news station believes this vet. KHON2 FOX | News

[TX_2_Pigs]

I didn't see that story but ended up following a link that led to a video about a new giant rat and a pygmy opossum they found in Indonesia. The rat was as big as a house cat! They didn't have anything next to the opossum to gauge it's size but they are saying it is the smallest known marsupial.

[cavyinhawaii]

The segment was small enough it may not make it online.
I saw it this morning and was just looking for some idea of what I should send them so they are informed.

[Jenni_Feathers]

That is horrbile. One of our news stations, I cant remember which had people from the Humane Society saying why not to give pets as gifts.

[PhoenixFeather]

This page: http://cavyspirit.com/kidsandguineapigs.htm has a lot of information on why guinea pigs are not great starter pets.

Here are a couple on why people should not give pets as gifts:

Dog Tip: Why People Should Not Give Pets as Presents

The Best Gift You Can Give: Waiting to Adopt Until After the Holidays | The Humane Society of the United States

[cavyinhawaii]

I sent them a note telling them how disappointed I was that they would recommend pets as gifts. I attached all the links plus a few. I hope they will carefully think about what they have done and maybe even have the local SPCA on to counteract the idea pets make good presents.

[YuselinMaikel]

I would never give a pet as a gift. 1. It is a responsability, not a toy 2. I would not know if that person wanted to have it as a pet and if that person wanted the responsability to care about a guinea pig 3. Guinea pigs need attention and most of all responsable and stable owners. This is my personal opinion and I totally respect if others agree with pets as gifts.

[mommyoffive]

You know what is really ridiculous is how petstore will order more animals for the hoildays because all they wanna make is money. My main boss knew that I didnt wanna guinea pigs at the store anymore, and my petcare manager had respected my wishes and had stopped ordering them for a good 2 months, well about 2 weeks ago he text me and said that my main boss had overwridden his decision and had ordered 15 guinea pigs and he was laughing about it too...I hate that man I swear. Our store can only handle 6 piggies at most, and after the hoildays are over, the shelters are full.

[Guineapigluver2]

I think one of the problems of pets as gifts is that around the holiday time things are crazy so the animal might get the attention it needs for a short amount of time but when its new owner gets bord of it that's the problem. One of the pigs that I adopted came from a family where the son got board of the piggy and so they got rid of him, poor thing.

[DaisyGP]

Pets are not gifts. I have been given a pet as a gift in the best, and for me it worked out, but for most people it doesn't.

The owners are the best people to pick out their own pet. Even if you know the person wants the guinea pig, you still don't know if they prefer to pick it out themselves. You can't know everything those owners are looking for in their next pet. If you want to be nice, tell them you'll pay for pets cost once they find exacltly what they want. That way the pressure it off and everyone wins.