Why not from a pet store?

[LunarDinosaur]

Well, I just got my two girls a 2x4 C&C cage, and am planning on extending it soon, and adding another pig to the herd. So I have been looking online for pigs up for adoption around here and had no luck. But then I was wondering why it is so much better to adopt than the buy one from a pet store? The only reasons I could think of was if the store workers did not take proper care of the pigs, and the possibility of the pigs having a bad experience with humans. Is that why, or am I totally off?

[gooberific]

Most pet stores get their pigs from breeders. This site is pro-rescue, because there are thousands of little guys and gals who need homes, and "the breeders" often do not have ideal conditions. They also get them from "piggy farms" where they are kept and transported very poorly, to a point beyond cruelty.

To purchase from a pet store encourages more "stock" renewal, so even if not consciously aware, people who do purchase from pet stores that sell animals are supporting this by using their economic vote (aka money).

For more reading about the topic, search this forum for pet store cruelty and you'll find a lot to read. You can also look for video online, [insert pet store name here] 'undercover' or 'cruelty' and you'll see a lot of what goes on behind the scenes.

I hope this helps you understand.

[Haley0489]

You should have a look at The Kitchen. There's tons of threads about it.

In short.
Pet stores do not treat guinea pigs correctly. They aren't cared for, they live in poor conditions, they're sick and infested with parasites more often than not.
There hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of guinea pigs in shelters right now. If you buy one, a guinea pig in a shelter lost it's chance at a good home. Guess what? He's getting put down now because no one came to get him in time. There's not enough space in those shelters for all the dumped guinea pigs. The unwanted ones get have to be put down to make room for all the other GPs coming in.
Not to mention, pet store pigs come from disgusting pet mills. The pigs are back bred, locked away in way, way, way, too small cages and their only purpose in life is to make more money for the people running the mills. As soon as they're no good for breeding their dumped at a shelter or killed on site.

Every time you buy a pig you're supporting the pet mills and pet stores that don't care for their animals. My boys are pet store pigs and if I could go back in time and do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing because I love my GPs more than anything. But now that I'm aware, I will never buy another guinea pig when I know there are hundreds desperately needing a home within an hours drive of my house.

[VoodooJoint]

Here are just some threads and links to read about why NOT to buy anything, especially animals, from a petshop

PETA TV:Buy One, Get One Killed
http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...w-exotics.html
Pet Stores and Guinea Pigs
Guinea Pig Rescue Story of Hollister
http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...-adopting.html

In case those aren't enough here are a few more threads from this forum and a couple of others that also highlight the problem with petstores
General Petstore Threads
Petstore Missexing with birth complications
Petstore Missexing
Pregnant Petstore GP
Petstore Abuse Case
Petstore hands out bad advice and dead GP in petstore tank
My piggy passed away last night. She was only 3 months old
Sick Petstore GP dies
Petstore bought GP has running lice and dies suddenly
Female housed with male in petstore is pregnant
Pregnant Petstore GP
Misexed Petstore GPs
Second Petstore GP dies
Misexed and pregnant Petstore GP
Surprise Babies from Petstore GPs
GPs in and from Petstores Pictures
Petland GP pregnant. Owner may dump babies back at petstore
Just Purchased Guinea Pig had Babies
3 Month Old Satin Pig Pregnant by Inbreeding
Pet Shop Owner Charged With Torturing Animals
Petstore Bought GP Sick and Dying - Sold with Rabbit to live with as well
Petstore GP gives birth to 3 Dead and Deformed Pups
Petstore sells mixed-sex pair. Mother gives Birth and Dies one Week Later
missexed Petland pigs with parasites
pet store employee says they get a lot of sick guinea pigs, many do not make it
lethal from pet store
sick pet store pig
three pet store pigs pass away from same illness
Pet store supplier houses males and females together, does not guarantee gender and cannot tell when guinea pigs are fertile
Pet store pig with URI
GP purchased at Christmas passes from URI
Two pet store pigs with mites
Pet Stores?
Petsmart
Sick Petsmart GP
Petsmart hamsters killing each other on video
Petsmart GP has URI
Petsmart GP is Mite Infested
Petsmart GP delivers 3 babies and dies
2 Petsmart bought GPs die during their first day home.
Sick GP from Petsmart
Breeders noticing that new Petsmart (Pets at Home) opening near them means more animals needing rehoming
Petsmart choosing to kill sick animals instead of getting them vet treatment
Two petsmart pigs just bought pass the first day, Petsmart vet also prescribes toxic AB
sick petsmart pig
sick Petsmart pig, same owner
Petsmart pigs have ringworm/mites
sick Petsmart pig
sick Petsmart pig passes
sick Petsmart pig passes
Petsmart male gives birth to one stillborn
4 petsmart guinea pigs pass from URI, 5th Petco pig comes down with URI
Petsmart pig with URI
Petco
Petco guinea pig dead of serious infection
Petco GP sold with URI dies
Petco bought pigs keep dying
Petco lied about GPs being spayed/neutered. Female GP dies of unknown cause 3 months after purchase
Petco pig sold sick. Taken back to store for treatment
Petco will do anything to make a sale
Petco Missexing
Sick Petco Pig and Rats
Petco Bought GP delivers dead babies. Sow dies 2 days later
Inside Petco
Petco pig passes, infects owner's previous guinea pig with URI
Pregnant petco sow, both babies pass, one was a lethal
sick Petco pig passes
another sick Petco pig
petco pig passes
Petco pig has two babies, possible lethal white newborn passes
Another Petco pig has surprise babies
Petco pig with URI
more sick Petco pigs
Petco pig with URI
sick Petco pig , companion possibly missexed
Petco pig with URI, owner given Baytril without a prescription
sneezing Petco pig
Petco employee notes the guinea pigs have lice, manager unconcerned
Petco pig losing hair
pregnant Petco pig births two stillborns
Petco pig near death, they decline to take him back
Another sick Petco pig
lethargic Petco pig
Petco pig deteriorates a few weeks after purchase
Petco pig passes a few weeks after purchase
Petco pig passes, infects owner's previous guinea pig with URI
recurring URI in Petco pig
Petco pig diagnosed with fungus
Petco pig diagnosed with URI
Petco pig with lice
Petco pig gives birth
Petco pig with abscess
Neglected guinea pig from Petco passes
Petco pig with URI, Petco gives poor advice
young Petco baby with mites
sick Petco pig
Guinea pig with URI, Petco says it's a hairball
Petco Animal Food Products Seized by FDA Due to "Unsanitary Conditions
Surprise Birth from Petco Pig

[ittybitty98577]

Would you get a guinea pig from petsmart or petco? Well any kind of "store"
This is where your piggy came from. Reading about things like petstore pigs is one thing but its 100% different and it hits the heart a lot hearder when you see it on vid.


Check it out and if you still want a pig from a petsore. Well then its just discusting to support that.

[salana]

ittybitty, it's not necessary to name-call. LunarDinosaur is not insisting on getting a pet store pig, but just asking a question. Not knowing about the problem is not wrong; wait and see what she does once she knows before you pass judgment.

VJ, you missed one.
Petstore pig is pregnant with lethal

[ittybitty98577]

ittybitty, it's not necessary to name-call.

What are you talking about? I never called lunardinosaur a name.

I said "its just discusting to support that." and it is. Its awfull to support puppmills or anything like that. And people still buy animals at petsores knowing and seeing whats on the news and on Tv like opera or something.
I never ment to be mean to lunardinosaur.

[Angelgal]

I feel bad considering almost 5 years ago I helped this cause, I feel so discusted. My piggy is a petstore piggy. The sow was sold to the place pregnant and they were born in the petstore. I got lucky, she has no genetic problems, she's very happy and has been healthy for the most part up until recently where she's being treated for a URI. She was a small baby because her brother pushed her out of the way during nursing but has hit 2.5lbs with good care.

I remember way back when that store had large cages for housing multiple animals and I could see they had a good amount of space. The emplyees seemed educated and they were healthy and well cared for from what I could see. Being a pre-teen I had some good guinea pig education. There was one piggy at the shelter, he had been severly abused and was very unfriendly but due to my shyness and lack of confidence, I wasn't comfortable with him.

Reading this thread has really hit home. There's a job opening at Petsmart here in the small animal section, and I know I could probably get it ... but I fear what I would find. Acutally, I had been lurking around the shelter and pet stores lately to find healthy pig droppings to help my piggy rebalance gut flora ... there are no pigs. No shelters, no pet stores.

Seeing this makes me want to make a difference, to do something. Improve the quality of life for these animals ... somehow (take em all in!) Wouldn't these kind of poor environments be something the SPCA could deal with? its just discusting.

[ittybitty98577]

Well what is also sad. Is that all the kids that get puppies, kittens guinea pigs, ferrets and what els. You know they save their allowance to buy all the supplies and what not then they go to the store to get their 'first' pet and a couple days later it dies because of poor breeding and living conditions. Its sad cause they get so attached so fast then BOOM its gone, all that hard work just to burry a pet withing a week!
Also what about the kids that have christmas or a birthday coming up and have been researching on a pet for a whole year. Then they open that box see their dream pet. Sleep with it that night, or if its in a cage sleep right next to the cage! Then it dies shortly after.... That was actually my experiance. My mom bought a ferret from a pet store but couple years later 5 i think he got really sick and passed away. I slept on the floor to give him company but when I woke up and saw him looking at me I thought he was better but then I went to pick him up and he had past on. RIP Ricky Ticky Tabby.

I got the best feeling in the world when I was re-homing my ferret because he was just way to much for me. But this 11 year old wanted a ferret ever since she was 10 yrs old had read all the books in the library did the whole online thing. Me and her mom made a plan to surprise her because it was her birthday and we were to meet at the walmart. I put a bow on ponyboy and everything. Although her stupid friends kept giving her hints about where they were going and she found out before hand. But she was so excited and happy she started crying. When I took him out of the car she just stood there staring at him. I finally had to say "well hold him." And that was it! She balled her eyes out. It was so great cause I was able to help her get her dream pet. And I know he went to the perfect home....

There isnt just the statistics about pet stores and how many mistreated animals and the discusting living conditions and what people will do to make a buck. The emotional part will always hit home. And although many people try and save those pets they get from the store by spending thousands of dallors in vet fees. The hearache always gets the better of you.

[mini'smama]

LunarDinosaur,

The links that VoodooJoint posted provide a wealth of information in answer to the question you asked. I hope that you will read some of them. I used to think that buying guinea pigs from pet stores was okay years ago. But, after doing research on the matter, I found out that I was wrong.

[MKruger]

I used to think that buying guinea pigs from pet stores was okay years ago. But, after doing research on the matter, I found out that I was wrong.

I think most of us have been in that position at some point in our lives. I remember when I was little, my dad bought me a rabbit from the fair. Then I can remember buying an Iguana, two anoles (type of lizard), and rats from pet stores. Sadly, I found out the hard way that the stores didn't know what they were selling and were not as knowledgeable as I thought. I have learned a tremendous amount over the years. Being in rescue taught me what really goes on, and now I wouldn't dream of doing it, and haven't for years, but I didn't always feel that way. I heard on a show one time, someone said that we do the best we can with the knowledge we have at that time. That stands very true to me. That's why I feel that education is so important to not only the kids that want pets, but to adults as well.

[fourboys4now]

I think there's so many people out there who just didn't know better. Until I came to this site I had no idea of the horrible conditions that guinea pigs as well as all animals that are bred and sold came from. I would just see a sweet face and buy it. Now, I feel so blessed to know where the "for sale" animals come from and I feel better about adopting now instead of buying my fur babies. I feel if we've learned this from our mistakes we can make a difference the next time we save a life.

[guineapigluver1]

I almost got one from PetSmart a while ago (still waiting to move to adopt 2), and I can't believe I almost supported it. Often I see people say "But they had veggies and fruits, and were perfectly fine!"
They still get the pigs from breeders, and therefore are still supporting the cause, not too mention another store (of the same branch, like a another PetSmart or PetCo) might not take care of them properly, you are supporting that as well.

[MKruger]

They still get the pigs from breeders, and therefore are still supporting the cause, not too mention another store (of the same branch, like a another PetSmart or PetCo) might not take care of them properly, you are supporting that as well.

Oh no. I still do not support the selling of animals at all in stores. I'm not trying to cause a problem here. I'm still standing firm, though, on the fact that not all of us have the luxury of going to another store for supplies. I have not bought a small animal from any store, and I won't. I will; however, not deny my dogs food, drop them to an extreme low quality (to buy from the grocery store, Wal-Mart, Target, etc) or put them through extreme illness just because of a store selling animals, if that's the only place I can get it from. I hope this makes sense, because you all don't know me, and don't know how adamant I am on educating people to not support the selling of any animal in a store by not buying them. We need pet supply stores. We just need ones that do not sell animals. Now, if we're fortunate enough to have a store move into our area that does not sell animals, and has the food or supplies we need, then you better believe I will switch, even if it means driving a little further.

[Tergale]

I wasn't fully aware when I got my first gp. I found out later that the pet store I went to is a small business and its only branch and the guinea pigs are all raised there. It made me feel a little better because I recognize a few people working there I used to go to school with and they are really good people. I'm still hesitant at this point though towards not adopting if I were to get a second.

[Susan9608]

I'm still standing firm, though, on the fact that not all of us have the luxury of going to another store for supplies.

Now, if we're fortunate enough to have a store move into our area that does not sell animals, and has the food or supplies we need, then you better believe I will switch, even if it means driving a little further.

I guess you'll have to define what exactly is your area and what you qualify as a "driving a little further" because I imagine that somewhere in the state of TN there is a pet supply store that carries quality animal products which also does not sell animals (and is also NOT Target, Wal-mart, etc.)

Even here in Texas we have a few ....

And there's always on-line shopping as well.

You support pet stores that sell animals when you buy their products just as much as when you buy the animals that they sell - that's what you need to remember.

So .... It depends on how much and what, exactly, you're willing to sacrifice for the greater good of all animals.

[MKruger]

I guess you'll have to define what exactly is your area and what you qualify as a "driving a little further" because I imagine that somewhere in the state of TN there is a pet supply store that carries quality animal products which also does not sell animals (and is also NOT Target, Wal-mart, etc.)

Even here in Texas we have a few ....

And there's always on-line shopping as well.

You support pet stores that sell animals when you buy their products just as much as when you buy the animals that they sell - that's what you need to remember.

So .... It depends on how much and what, exactly, you're willing to sacrifice for the greater good of all animals.

Yes, there are stores in TN, but they're in the larger cities, which is no less than a 2hr drive from us. I've lived in this area for over 30yrs, and we're not fortunate on having that option.

I still don't agree with that concept, but I'm not trying to change anyone's opinion. I've spoken to a number of fellow rescuers not just in my state, but in NC, OH, IL, and even out in KS and CA. Every one of them agreed that it's more about supply and demand. No demand for the small animals, no selling. I'm sorry I don't agree with you on that, but that's how I feel. I'm not going to condemn someone for disagreeing with me, and I hope you won't condemn me. I do not agree with purchasing animals from stores, and I won't do that, but I can't neglect my dogs or pigs just because a store sells pets when there isn't another within a 1hr drive radius of us. Also, I do not use credit cards, and do not trust giving out personal information online, so online ordering is not an option. I've had personal information stolen before, and, frankly, I do not want to go through that again. I hope this doesn't change things with me coming to this forum. If it does, then that's sad, because we all should be able to get along and understand that everyone has their own opinions. As long as it's kept on a mature level, we should be able to respect that. After all of the rescue work I've done, I still support the rescues out there even if I don't agree with how some of them are on their beliefs (not talking about anyone here...speaking in general), since some take it way too far.

[warcarrot]

Pet stores are horrible, but personally, I don't think this problem will ever be solved. Not soon anyway. There are too many people who don't understand why pet stores are bad, children always buy pets there. The parents don't do research and are irresponsible, but we can't do anything about it since their are no requirements in buying any pets so people rarely know how to take care of them. I don't know anyone personally who knows about how bad pet stores really are. So what are we going to do? Stores like Petsmart and Petco are already such huge companies. They can either change, or or close down. And they probably won't be closing down any time soon. Anyway, we should try to spread the awareness in our own communities. It seem as if the only people who know about this are people who research it on the internet. Make flyers. Do things like that. Complaining about it won't change.

Sorry about the negativity, but killing animals will never change. Guinea pigs are eaten in many places. They are like chickens to us. That certainly won't change. Even if all the humans became vegetarians, pain of death on Earth will never go away until the Earth itself blows up. Lions have to eat impalas (or whatever they eat) to survive. A vegetarian lion will never exist. Yeah, this is nature. And to me, nature sucks, but that's the way it is! And sorry about digressing. But it makes me feel sad. Please make me feel better and give out some flyers about animal cruelty.

[Cagney]

Everyone is correct. By purchasing any animal directly from a petstore you are supporting animal mills that just churn out animal after animal, looking to make maximum profit no matter the cost to the animal.

Now I do not support or agree with anything PETA turns out or puts up to view, so I won't read some of the links or watch the videos. I'm sure they're not far off the mark. But PETA often and has been proved to intentionally stage and harm animals for their own profit. So to me supporting anything from PETA is no better than supporting a petstore.

It's difficult I understand. I find it next to impossible sometimes to try and resist the urge to "save" something from a petstore. But you must. Your perfect pet or pets will find their way to you.

What will happen is the guinea pig you wanted to save in the petstore will be purchased by someone who doesn't know any better. They also won't know any better about the care or handeling of the guinea pig once they get it home. Then they will surrender it, kids become bored, it's more trouble than they thought, etc...Keep your name fresh on the minds of shelters and even some petstores, let them know that you're looking to rescue a guinea pig, not purchase one. When that petstore pig is surrendered a few months later you can truely rescue it. And your money will not be supporting the pet mill the guinea pig came from. Instead your money will be spent to show that little creature, or creatures a life like it's never known before. And there you will find comfort in knowing that you have actually "saved" that little life.

[Cagney]

And to add. I searched high and low for places that carried oxbow products. Only the petstores that sell not only small animals but puppy mill puppies are the ones to carry the oxbow. I do wish i had the luxery to pay the shipping from oxbow. But the truth is, I can't. I won't take away from my human family or the pets i have commited to just to buy online and not from that petstore.

It's a tough circle and you have to choose where you make your stand. The problem is public knowledge and public interest in general. If the public would make a stand as a whole and not purchase any pet from a petstore that would end it. Petstores would be forced to either allow rescues to adopt out of their store or they could just carry pet products instead of the pets. I wish it would happen, but I'm not too optimistic on it occuring. Education of the public in general is next to impossible. But in my opinion that is what it's going to take. Yes it's sad and yes some animals would be sacraficed in the process but many many many more animal lives would end up being saved in the end.