Animal Welfare: Potentially unsafe environment for guinea pigs

[lissie]

I saw this on Craigslist. I think this is unsafe for guinea pigs. I don't think I have enough knowledge to email the owner of the post. I'd like you guys to see this and possibly send some warning to the email listed.

GuInEa PiG DayCare

GuInEa PiG DayCare (fremont / union city / newark) Reply to: comm-grnp2-1140461173@craigslist.org
Date: 2009-04-25, 9:11PM PDT

The GuineaRUN!

I'm looking for cute Guinea Pigs and loving owners who worry about the well being of their beloved pets. I have a local garden and decided to offer it to similar minded Guinea Pig parents to allow there Piggies to socialize and play.

Guinea Pigs are social animals who naturally live in a small colonies. Being alone all day waiting for the kids and parents can be very lonely and damaging to social animals. Having an open, mentally enriching (and yummy) environment will keep your Piggy happy and mentally active during the long days.

My garden is an enclosed area and is not treated with heavy fertilizers or weed killers. Everything in the garden is edible which also creates natural cover.
All I ask is $10 a day.

Please inform me if your Piggy needs medication, needs special attention, has allergies, or diabetes. I would prefer female Guinea's or neutered males at this time but can rotate animals for play time. I can also sex the Guinea if this is questionable. No sick animals will be allowed but elderly Piggys will be accepted and tenderly cared for.All new Guinea pigs will go through a trail social run to ensure none of the other pigs or your lovely will get into disagreements or arguments. All pigs will be exposed to dogs, cats, other Guinea Pigs, and loving rabbits who are all use to multiple Guinea Pigs.

I will provide toys, treats, shade and sunscreen for sensitive ears, nail clipping and baths if specified. I will also take pictures of each new addition and take extra notes about certain behavior or new playmate formation.

If you have any questions or want a quick look I'm in Milpitas on the corner of Burley Dr. and Temple. I can provide more information and answer any questions if you email me at the above email address. Please leave your name and phone number for contact information.
If you are going to drop off your precious little Piggy please do so in the morning 6-10 and pay up front. I have no change. No checks, or credit cards please.

[pringles70]

Wow, I don't think that's a good idea at all. A piggie could be sick and not showing symptoms yet. Or there could be a mis sex situation. Any number of things can go wrong with that.

I wonder if that person gets any business at all? It amounts to piggie day care, and it's hard enough keeping the kids from getting sick at day care without a fragile little piggie being exposed to who knows what!

But that's just my opinion. I'm sure there will be other opinions coming.

[meghannmariexx]

I dont think that would be a good idea because, you would have to introduce the pig and then take them away from each other, it would cause a lot of stress on the piggies.

[lissie]

Yeah... I know it's not a good idea... I've posted this so that eveyone here can help send email to the day care owner.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

A fight can break out at any time and her dogs/ cats/ rabbits are going to be interacting with them? Accidents can happen. Diseases can be spread.

[lmarieaa]

The constant changes and battles in the hierarchy would be so stressful on them. What a terrible idea. I hate how people try to incorporate things for different species. Sure this kind of 'day care' situation works out for dogs, but a guinea pigs social life is a very delicate balance. Guinea pigs suffer with constant change.

[jamie15701]

Seems unsafe for me. What if he mis sexed the guineas and your sow (if you have one) accidentally got pregnant? I would be upset!

[blackarrow]

Originally Posted by lmarieaa

Sure this kind of 'day care' situation works out for dogs, but a guinea pigs social life is a very delicate balance.

Just wanted to say, a VERY good DC can work out for SOME dogs - their social lives can be a very delicate balance too. There are a lot of dogs who end up getting bitten at a lot of doggy day cares and end up with problems with other dogs as a result.

I can't imagine this person really spends the whole day monitoring all these critters in her garden, or what the poop/pee situation is like. Yikes.

[lmarieaa]

Originally Posted by blackarrow

Just wanted to say, a VERY good DC can work out for SOME dogs - their social lives can be a very delicate balance too. There are a lot of dogs who end up getting bitten at a lot of doggy day cares and end up with problems with other dogs as a result.

Oh Yeah. I was referring to the 'pampered' society of dogs here in New York City. They basically have been in 'Day Care" and "Doggie Camp' since their birth. I worked at one for a litter while, and honestly, I do not see what the big deal is. My dogs would be miserable laying around all say on a tile floor in a basement room doing basically nothing all day...and their "walks" were only like 5-10 minutes. I thought it was a complete rip off and really felt like telling the customers so. I always wondered if they knew what their dogs were really doing all day(because they are told that the dogs get so much attention and play time), would they still pay so much money for this?
I feel that if you do not have enough time in your life to take the dog for a walk and spend some time with it, then you do not have the lifestyle fit for having a dog. But hey, people can blow their money away how they want to.