Pet Stores: so sad they suffer

[ErikaBaby]

I was thinking about how everyone does not buy guinea pigs from pet stores ,and we just get them from shelters and adopt them. Although this is the best thing to do what ever happens to the animals in the pet shop who DONT get even looked at ? Do they die ? Do they suffer because of the breeders ?

[jordan]

It is sad, but I think what most people are trying to do is stop the whole cycle from even beginning. If pet stores don't make a profit off of these animals then they won't continue to sell them. I honestly wonder how many animals in shelters came from the pet stores in the first place?

[ErikaBaby]

Originally Posted by jordan

It is sad, but I think what most people are trying to do is stop the whole cycle from even beginning. If pet stores don't make a profit off of these animals then they won't continue to sell them. I honestly wonder how many animals in shelters came from the pet stores in the first place?

Yea I wonder that to ? And this is true maybe if no one gets them from pet stores it will just stop and there will be no buying animals from the pet stores no longer.

[CavyMama]

The sad thing is, even if all of us don't buy from stores, lots of people will always continue to buy from stores for a number of reasons:

- they might not realize that guineas are available in shelters.
-They might not want to bother with the paperwork for adopting/it's more simple to get from stores.
-They aren't aware of the origins of the store pigs (or cats/dogs for that matter).
-They want the pigs NOW rather than waiting for one to be available at the shelters.

Sadly, even with all our efforts here, stores will never run out of people willing to buy their guinea pigs. We just need to continue to educate when we can.

[Res Judicata]

I would guess that the majority of the guinea pigs out there are either pet store pigs or the descendants of pet store pigs. I know show breeders and the like sell off their pet quality stock, but I would think that the breeders of pet store pigs pump out more guinea pigs than other breeders do.

It is sad to have to turn a blind eye to those pet store pigs; to have to walk by a pet store and pretend there are not cages full of small animals who are just as deserving of good homes as rescue pigs, but we must remember that unfortunately some must be sacrificed if all are to be saved.

[Wheekie]

I think it's sad, too. I mean, I understand about stoppng the cycle and it's better to adopt, than shop and all that educational stuff, but I feel so bad for the piggies in the pet stores. It's not their fault that they're there and they deserve love, too. And I sincerely doubt that we'll ever stop people from buying in pet stores. All 3 of my piggies are from pet stores( got them before I ever found this site) & all I think about is supposed I passed them by and they died or some bad person got them. I really wish what this site's message is would work, but I really doubt it...maybe it'll get better, but pet store animals will never go away completely. I just can't even go in pet stores and look at their little faces...knowing what a hard life they've had and it's not going to get any better for most of them. At least, most rescue piggies came from a good home in the first place. If they were in a bad home and they had to be given up for some reason, they wouldn't have been taken to a rescue! I'm sorry, that's just my opinion, and I really do pray that I'm wrong! But I promise, I won't be part of the problem anymore...next time, I will adopt. I just have to stay out of pet stores that sell animals.

[Oliversnana]

I agree it is so very sad to even walk past a pet store knowing there is at the least 5 beautiful piggers inside that horrible place all being forced to live in a filthy, smelly Plexiglas enclosed cage, being fed crap they call guinea pig food, along with a small amount of hay, all drinking from a green slimy half filled water bottle, with no comforts what so ever awaiting a better life.
Before finding this site, my daughter and I would sometimes stop by our local pet store (the one that we had purchased our Oliver from) to see the cute little piggers. Since finding this site my daughter and I no longer go to see them. It is way too heartbreaking for us and a bit embarrassing for my daughter because I would tend to very loudly voice my opinion about the horrid conditions I felt the piggers were living in. If an employee saw me coming, they would avoid me. don't really blame em since I was not too nice about voicing my opinion especially to that one "know it all" chick who insisted that the piggers, along with all the other animals in the store were receiving the best care possible along with the best diet possible. I so wanted to slap her, but I had to keep in mind that at one time I too was clueless about guinea pigs, proper health, their happiness and proper housing and that it really isn't her fault that she is (for lack of a better term) CLUELESS!
So I left the link to this site on the counter for her. I have not been back to see if any of them ever visited us. I should hope at the least one of them did if for no other reason out of curiosity.

[internetjunkey]

My first two piggies were purchased, and I do feel bad in that aspect, however...I feel like I saved them in many ways too. not to say that what I did was good, but it made me feel better knowing that in my heart they wouldn't be left, Both of my piggies were the last in the cages...and seeing that my heart just sank!

[Froggirl009]

Just remember that when ever you buy a guinea pig from the pet store, they just replace them with more guinea pigs.

[Ibbet]

I agree it is very sad. I feel very bad for the piggies and all the other animals in pet stores.

I got my guinea pig (Hippie) from a pet store (before finding this website), he was in a 10 gallon tank with another pig, next to 2 others also in a 10 gallon tank. Their food bowls were empty and dirty, they had no hay at all, and by the look of it he was a lot older than the other ones. He was just laying there and I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him and I got him 3 days later. She sounded very surprised I wanted him (I still don't know why) but I love him nonetheless.

I will adopt next time though and have found a rescue like 45 minutes away.

[fieryone]

It is so hard. 99% of the time I order my supplies online, but sometimes if I haven't been paying attention I find myself in a lurch and have to run to Petsmart for a way overpriced 5lb bag of Oxbow or small bag of Carefresh. I have to look at the pigs even though it breaks my heart to do so. I always want to scoop them all up and bring them home to save them from a life of living in a fish tank and then being discarded when the 5 year old they were originally bought for "won't take care of them anymore". It is hard and they are just as deserving of a good, loving home as any other pig. I understand the cycle completely. Believe me. But it doesn't make it any easier. But I take my comfort in the fact that if/when they are discarded, that sad pet store pig will finally get the life that they deserved from the very beginning. I know that my new guy is very appreciative of his new life. You really can see it in his eyes (my other 3 were from other people's accidental litters so they never really had to live a substandard life)

[gooberific]

The pair of boys I adopted had come from a rescue's pet store seizure, as they were selling dozens of pigs who were too young. My third guy was originally from a Petco, and the girl I got him from had him for a year before she decided to give him away. I bet he's just happy to get his nails trimmed, never mind all that extra space and the other boys beyond the grid that he can talk to.

[PiggieMom]

It is sad, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

-A pet store pig that is purchased will just be replaced with another pig, or more than one if the store is doing well.
-Buying an animal supports the idea that it is okay to sell a living being.
-Many petstores purposely keep animals alone, in poor conditions in order to guilt customers into 'saving' the animal. There are usually dozens in back waiting to take that "lone" animal's place.

And most importantly:
-We should not feel guilty about the pigs that are left in the stores. We did not put them there. It is the breeders, the store owners and the customers who support the store who should feel shame and guilt.

As far as whether or not most pigs in shelters are originally from pet stores: in my area, yes. We do not have many breeders who sell guinea pigs personally, though there are some "back yard breeders" that pop up here and there closer to the Michigan big cities (Grand Rapids, Flint, Detroit, Lansing). All of the pigs I've rescued but one were originally purchased from a pet store or were the result of purchasing pregnant pigs unknown.

[kiara]

I had asked the same things... I have bought pet store pets before when I was really little (well I guess my parents kind of did) but they keep them in very small cages and if an animal dies all they do is throw them away... I buried all my pets I think breeders that sell their "pet quality" over stock to stores shouldnt call themselves breeders or say they love their animals because they are setting them up for misery instead of happiness. My two male chinchillas terrace and chewie were given to a "foster home" where a lady sold them to whoever and just wanted them gone the living space was so horrible and I am not talking about the cage. There were dogs barking and a baby crying all day plus they were near a window that caused them to overheat during the day so I took them both just to get them out of there... I wish I could have saved the female too but my parents wouldnt let me....

[rabbitsncavyluv]

At least, most rescue piggies came from a good home in the first place. If they were in a bad home and they had to be given up for some reason, they wouldn't have been taken to a rescue!

Huh? I don't get this line unless I'm reading it wrong. Most guinea pigs end up in rescue because they were unwanted and neglected. They don't take guinea pigs away from good homes unless there is some sort of emergency like job or home loss or something.

[Peggysu]

Originally Posted by ErikaBaby

I was thinking about how everyone does not buy guinea pigs from pet stores ,and we just get them from shelters and adopt them. Although this is the best thing to do what ever happens to the animals in the pet shop who DONT get even looked at ? Do they die ? Do they suffer because of the breeders ?

Yes they do suffer because of the breeders. Even the ones who find homes in small cages and get feed a crappy diet and put in exercise balls suffer.

Pet Stores and breeders make more animals suffer then what should. Poor care information is horrible.

Also the people who buy a guinea pig that is sick and then they take it home and it dies, the pet stores then just exchanges it, like a defective bag of dog food, because these living beings are only merchandise to them.

Right now pet stores are stocking up because of the movie G-Force and you know how many guinea pigs will be euthanized, dumped or homeless when some child gets bored of it? Too many!! There's going to be an increased amount of dumped guinea pigs in the next few weeks, and longer most likely because families will watch it at home on DVD.

By adopting or rescuing a guinea pig I save an unwanted life from someone who got bored of it.

[jordan]

Originally Posted by Peggysu

Also the people who buy a guinea pig that is sick and then they take it home and it dies, the pet stores then just exchanges it, like a defective bag of dog food, because these living beings are only merchandise to them.

This is completely true. We purchased a runt in the beginning with another female. She died 10 days later, but all they did was give us our money back and paid for a check up for the new one we got and the original. It didn't make me feel any better though.

[ErikaBaby]

Originally Posted by Peggysu

Right now pet stores are stocking up because of the movie G-Force and you know how many guinea pigs will be euthanized, dumped or homeless when some child gets bored of it? Too many!! There's going to be an increased amount of dumped guinea pigs in the next few weeks, and longer most likely because families will watch it at home on DVD.

i think thats wrong in so many ways. because of a movie these poor animals are going places where families dont even look information them up. they think that they are going to act just like the movie when it is indeed a MOVIE. i bet these parents are going to put them in regular cages not big enough for them.

[Wheekie]

When I said that some Piggies that end up in a rescue came from a good home in the first place, I was talking about the Piggies that had to be given up for one reason or another and their owners cared enough about them to take them to a rescue, not just dump them somewhere. I know all Gunea Pigs in a rescue or a shelter aren't from good homes. Sorry I wasn't clear...my emotions were taking over!

[Nutmeg05]

My 4 year old Bella I found in Petco at about 4-5 weeks old looking very sick. I asked to examine her and found a large round red spot near her behind. I immediately informed the manager that she needed immediate care and he said he would put her in the back room and have someone look at her. An hour later emotion overcame me as well as the fear that he was blowing me off and would not really take care of her so I stormed back in the pet store, demanded to purchase her, and informed the manager that I would take her to a vet immediately and that Petco was to pay for that service or I would report them for animal abuse. (I would of ended up paying for the visit myself if they said no but would of been bull.) He backed down immediately and suggested I go to the store's account vet. It turns out it was the same vet that I used for all my cavies, very knowledgable and that Petco would call and arrange for the bill to be paid. Turns out Bella had a bad case of ringworm, which I could of caught by picking her up not knowing without gloves on. Had to treat her and quarrantine her for over a month
to be sure she was rid of it. All in all, she nursed back to health beautifully and is a very happy, well adjusted 4 year old pig who is in great health. From then on I try to never go anywhere near pet store animals, I just cannot bear it. I doubt very much she would of been treated.