Horrible book by aspca!!!

[5guinea5pig5]

I don't know if I'm going to cover all of the horrible facts because I don't have this book anymore but there was this horrible book aspca wrote! Here's the horrible facts:
1.The food they say that is good for them is flakes and has dried veggies and colorful pieces.
2.They say something like If you want a guinea pig here's how you can get one:
1.A friends guinea pig might have babies
2. A BREEDER might sell you one
3. You could BUY one from a PET STORE

3.They have a page on how guinea pigs grow and at the top say BREEDING your guinea pigs is fun and exciting but is hard work(This book is for kids!!!)

4.The cage they keep it in is an OUTDOOR hutch and say nothing about how guinea pigs shouldn't be kept outside

5. The indoor cage they have is a pet store cage and looks very small and they say guinea pigs should be brought in occasionally.

6. They have a kid who looks about 7 or 8 giving it a bath!!!!!!!

7. They say nothing about nail clipping.



The book is called Guinea pigs for KIDS and has something like written by president of aspca.

[hueyeats]

Any chance you think some breeder who had their animals confiscated by the ASPCA wrote that?

There are plenty of "haters" of the rescue who would do something like that I would think... since there is so many points that is so unlike ASPCA's mode of rescue (as we all know ASPCA are against breeding from the limited space they operate from & the sheer amount of animals they had to put to sleep).

I really doubt that the "president" of the ASPCA would do something that, but a hater of the ASPCA or rescues & Peta would pose as him/her to give such infos.

[5guinea5pig5]

Huh I never really thought about that.




Edit: Look under cost here

[hueyeats]

I dunno... but just a guess because there are "haters" out there all right.

Any idea also what year it is published?

I know on ASPCA site actually do refer to this site, cavyspirit, guinealynx etc... (the good guinea pig sites) with links right off their page, so it just does not make sense that a recently published book would be so un-GP friendly with tons of incorrect info.

Link:
ASPCA: Pet Care: Guinea Pig Care

[5guinea5pig5]

It was published in 2004 I think. I never knew that they referred to all those wonderful sites. Neat!

[hueyeats]

Then it could be old info that has never been updated.

It is great that you brought it up though, hopefully they are not republishing it to continue circulation of info supply to the public... maybe we should let the ASPCA know about that book & have them take it off the shelf or something.

[5guinea5pig5]

I'll definitely notify aspca. I don't know if he has to do anything with aspca but Mark Evans wrote the book.

[5guinea5pig5]

I can't find a phone number or email to call or write to about the book. I think it may go under ASPCA store.


Edit: We could all send letters telling them about the book. There's an address at the bottom of the screen along with a phone number.

[hueyeats]

That'll be a great idea!!!

[Caviekisses]

Is this the book?

https://www.valorebooks.com/Affiliat...source=froogle

[AnimalHouse36]

Food runs about $75 a year, plus $25 annually for toys and treats, $50 for an annual veterinary check-up and $400 per year for litter and bedding material.

Pshh I wish! More like $75 a week! And obviously these people don't know us piggie slaves. When we do buy cozies and such we go over board! But most treats are terrible for pigs.

We recommend getting your guinea pig from a responsible breeder or, even better, adopting one from a shelter or small-animal rescue group.

They should know better than put "responsible breeder" since they know how few there are. Sure I like the adopting part but really breeding and rescuing don't mix. And we all know what option the people are going to take.. Hmmm little baby piggies or old ugly piggies?

As a rule of thumb, you’ll need to provide a minimum of four square feet of cage space per guinea pig

And the quote about breeders and there standards from our home page: The old breeder-espoused cage standards of 2 or 4 square feet are dead and no longer apply

small amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables to your guinea pigs every day. Try grapes, cucumbers, corn, peas, carrots and pears. Half a handful of veggies and a slice of fresh fruit per pig is plenty

What???!!! No comment.

guinea pigs cannot manufacture Vitamin C, so you’ll need to ensure that your pets get enough of this essential nutrient every day. A quarter of an orange will do,

We allllllll know that leads to sores!

But at the bottem they link to our site and Guinea Lynx so they can't be that bad. They just got some incorrect info which could cost some piggies their quality of life.

Man that angered me!

[Ly&Pigs]

We all know that most books out there are outdated or written by people who use old school methods. It's best to avoid most of the books on the market as they contain old standards or breeder standards and not the current standards.

[Angelgal]

Ugh. I can't wait till I become a registered Vet Tech. I would love to work with an exotics clinic. Educate, educate and more education to owners. Lots of information sheets on PROPER care.

I know the anger you guys are feeling. The other day in my behaviour course my teacher was doing "Bunny Behavior" and there was a slide, I think it said "If theres a rabbit who doesn't do well with another of its species, a guinea pig can be a great companion." and the teacher (cat/dog vet) went onto explain "guinea pigs are low in the pecking order, they won't mind." Ohhhhhhhh did my blood ever boil. NO NO NO NO NO NO NOOOOO!!!!!! I think that teacher hates me now for telling she was flat out wrong and giving incorrect information and that the guinea pig being housed with a rabbit may likely end up dead from injury. -sigh- ohh how I'm going to enjoy her equine behaviour lecture... these are Vet Tech's she's educating. At least half of us (either being rabbit owners, or cavy owners) knew better!

Though back on topic... I don't see the spca writing something like that book. I would definatly think it would be a hater for sure. It would be nice if there were ONE decent book out there on the market. If only...

[deborahtucker]

Hey Angelgal, good job!! There's nothing wrong with standing up for what you KNOW over what other people THINK. I'm a vet tech, but have never had any education on guinea pigs.

[5guinea5pig5]

Caviekisses that is the book.



P.S. Is anybody else up for the letter thing?

[breezy2]

I think the letter is a great idea. Why doesn't someone on this site write a good guinea pig care book? Many of you know more than enough and loads and loads more than most of the other authors.

I definitely do not spend $75 a week on my guinea pigs, if I did I would be very broke. But $75 a year is totally ridiculous. That is less than $2 per week. You can't even buy a head of lettuce for that.

[starshine123102]