Pet Stores: Buying pigs in petstores

[princesspoppy]

Originally Posted by sdpiggylvr

I bought both of my guinea pigs at a petstore. I honestly DID NOT know that it was bad to buy from a petstore. I honestly didn't know that it was considered taboo on this website. My guinea pigs are perfectly healthy, but I am still ashamed.

Although not ALL petstores are bad like delilaharcade says, I think that it all depends on which petstore you go to. Some petstores are horrible and some are just ok. If I had known that you could get guinea pigs from a rescue and that petstores were horrible places of breeding, I wouldn't have bought my guinea pigs there.

I hadn't regretted getting my pigs from there until I came on here. I was in chat, talking to other members and when I said I had gotten my guinea pigs from a petstore, they all jumped on me! Thats when I knew it was not respectable.

I now know why everyone jumped on me. And I am ashamed, upset, and embarrassed that I even contributed to the horrible breeding mills that petstores get their pets from.

I will forever try to make it up for my guinea pigs by trying to stop the cruelty petstores engage in and I will always provide the best life I can for my pigs. In a sense, I feel like I sort of rescued my guinea pigs from living in a tiny cage with several other guinea pigs. Sure, they weren't from a rescue, but I think they didn't have to endure living in those horrible circumstances anymore. My guinea pigs turned out to be healthy pigs. My first guinea pig got mites, but we aren't positive if it was from the petstore or from another source.

Don't beat yourself up . I was exactly like you. I found this site 24 hours after i got my pigs. A day to late. I was jumped on also and considered not even returning here. But then it would have been me and my pigs that would have lost out. I'm happy i stuck around because i have learn't so much from everyone here. Super members and very knowledgeable mods. Muah to you all.

[Annab7]

For some reason I thought I'd post a quick reply. I did get both my girls, Gloria and Pearl from Petsmart. I had no idea that you could even adopt Guinea Pigs at the time. I am not ashamed though, and I thought it was sad that there are people on here who are ashamed when they did not know that what they were doing was wrong. More or less, I feel sorry that I did something that is seen as bad and can be bad, rather than adopt a guinea that needed a good home, but I'm not ashamed at all. I love my girls. I plan on getting more piggies and will look for them only in adoption places and such, but for those who purchased their little babies; you have no reason to be ashamed if you purchased them BEfore you knew it was bad, only if you purchased them AFter you knew it was bad. And just to point out, when I went to get my Piggies from Petsmart (I did gobs of research on their health and care prior, but missed the whole adopting one post; perhaps adoption info should be placed at the beginning of each forum, like one that says BEFORE YOU BUY:ADOPT [READ THIS]. I would have seen that) anywho, when I went to Petsmart and pointed out that I wanted Guinea Pigs they sent out a lady who is the main caretaker of the piggies and she asked me tons of questions as if she was ready to convince me against my decision if I didn't know jack, and she was very pleased with how much thought I put into it before I came to get them, even so much as having a homemade cage ready for them before I even got them. There was also another woman there with her young daughter who wanted a piggie but they had done no research. The lady gave them a book on Piggies and told them to read that and if they still wanted one afterwards then they could get one. She couldn't stop them from getting one if they really wanted, but she did try to make sure they knew what they were doing beforehand. She also was an avid Piggie owner. Anywho, I just wanted to say that because not all petstore people are there just to sell an animal.

[1frankie7]

I had to drive about 1 hour to get my piggy maybe longer including traffic.

[Ly&Pigs]

Annab7's post and the rest of the ensuing conversation has been split off into it's own thread. If you want to add more to that, here is the link: http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...info-site.html.

Please keep this thread on track. This thread is not about whether there is or isn't adoption info here on this site or what administration should do regarding that or about attitudes, rudeness or anything else along those lines. It's about getting people to realize there are better means of getting pigs than by purchasing pigs in petstores or from breeders.

So please keep this thread on topic. Otherwise the threads will be unapproved.

[JordynThePiggie]

Wow, had no idea! Thanks!

[Rubybubbles]

First post!

I am so glad I saw this, I live in England though! I having been looking and researching as looking at getting guineapigs thanks! will keep on looking through the RSCPA local sites

[Rose11]

I was actually thinking of buying from a pet store but now I know not too! I have checked all the SPCA's in my area and they have no piggies. I ahve also looked on rescue sights but I am looking for a female, and they are mostly males. I also read somewhere that if you want to have 2 piggies you should introduce wone of them as a baby. I have been looking for shelters with baby piggies and I cannot find any! Please help!

[Fudgenrolo]

Originally Posted by Rubybubbles

First post!

I am so glad I saw this, I live in England though! I having been looking and researching as looking at getting guineapigs thanks! will keep on looking through the RSCPA local sites

Hi! I'm in England too..... depending on where you are there are quite a few small animal and guinea pig specific rescues.

It may be worth Googling 'Guinea Pig Rescue *your county*' if there are none in Rspca centres near you.

There are at least three fairly close to me with lots of piggies looking for homes.... also check out Guinea Pig Rehome .

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by Rose11

I was actually thinking of buying from a pet store but now I know not too! I have checked all the SPCA's in my area and they have no piggies. I ahve also looked on rescue sights but I am looking for a female, and they are mostly males. I also read somewhere that if you want to have 2 piggies you should introduce wone of them as a baby. I have been looking for shelters with baby piggies and I cannot find any! Please help!

This can be somewhat helpful when finding male pigs to adopt. It doesn't really matter that much with females as most females tend to get along no matter the age. Just keep looking and you will eventually find the pigs you are seeking. Have you tried petfinder and craigslist yet?

[alicia09]

I also feel quite guilty because most of my guinea-pigs were bought from pet shops. I think because a lot of people haven't heard of guinea-pig rescues is why pet shops sell so many. Well, I know quite a lot of people have heard of guinea-pig rescue centers, but I know lots of people that think the only place you can get a guinea-pig from is a pet shop. I wish I'd known about rescue centers for guinea-pigs when I got mine.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Many people do know about adopting though and still choose to buy from pet shops and breeders unfortunately. Not saying you in particular but many others ...