Not All Pet Stores Are Bad

[Poohbear]

This is funny becuase this conversation doesn't seem heated.

[lindsey's boys]

Yeah, I know!!

[Poohbear]

I am happy it isn' t sometimes the kitchen can get pretty heated.

[lindsey's boys]

Yeah, it can!

[Poohbear]

Sometimes I think the thread should be closed.

[sasha]

I went to a pet store tonight that carries oxbow cavy cuisine. Normally, I don't notice anything too bad, they aren't great, but none of the guinea pigs appear sick, and they are only 4-5 in what would probably be a 2x4 if it were c and c, they have food and water.
Tonight, I went in and they had 20-25 guinea pigs, male and female in the same cage. Many of the females were only four weeks old, and they are going to be bred that young. I did the usual do you know how unhealthy, risky, etc that is. I don't think they had any roans or dals, but who knows. The girl who seemed about 16 who worked there, said that her mother took in pregnant guinea pigs, and then kept them until they had the babies. Then she gives them to the pet store, so the babies can imbreed to hell and back. I was pissed, and I think I will have to order online from now on. Those poor pigs looked so cramped. I counted 23 at least. They had a pregnant sow in there that could have been anywhere from 2-3 weeks or 2-3 days away from giving birth, and it sounded like this girls mother must have had 5-6 pregnant sows at home. I offered to help sex the pigs and separate them, but they told me that they were only 10.99, so they would all sell. I wonder how many of those babies will end up let loose or killed or given away as snake food? As long as pet stores can make money by selling animals, someone will take advantage of it. If the rules were stict enough to ensure proper care and breeding, it wouldn't be profitable.

[Poohbear]

That is horrible Sasha. I can't even imagine it. I always think it is better to give your piggies a lot room. I am building a 4x6 for 4-5 sows.

[sasha]

i have a 5x3 for two
i am really upset, because as long as they don't look sick, and they have food and water, i don't think i can force them to do anything, so it will probably be like talking to myself

does anyone know of any old threads, or have any pictures of "you wouldn't think this would make a lethal but this had a small spot and no one knew" stories, maybe i can scare them straight

[Poohbear]

Sorry I do not have any lethals.

[salana]

Suzi, the mother of my lethal, Einstein:


I think in one of the lethal threads someone had a PEW that fathered a lethal.

[Poohbear]

Salana do lethals act any diffrent then a normal cavy. Also Suzyy is very cute.

[salana]

Lethals are blind and have tooth problems, at minimum. Many are also deaf. Many of them die at a young age because of internal problems. The ones who survive seem to have normal personalities for blind and deaf pigs with tooth problems. Einstein is a total sweetie.

[sasha]

one fo the already showing females, that thank god doesn't look four weeks like some of the others, is all white with black looking eyes, and i don't know if she has any hidden spots or anything, but she is not a himi or anything, so she could have roan/ dal genes, yikes

edit: does anyone know of any laws federal or MD that regulate pet stores and breeding - they shouldn't be able to breed freely like that until it kills the animals, especially imbreeding and having so many in such a small space. I would hope, although I doubt it, that there would be a law against that.

[salana]

You can't tell with an all-white pig whether they have a copy of the roan gene or not, unless you a) know the parents don't, or b) see any lethal babies, or roan babies where you know the other parent didn't give them the gene.

[sasha]

i am worried about if the babies will be lethals and since i don't know if she has those genes it will be impossible to tell- whether they are born at the pet store or at someone's home who doesn't know she's pregnant or thinks it will be easy and fun, those babies would die or not get proper care.

[Poohbear]

Ok thanks Salana.

[CavyKind]

Originally Posted by RustBottum

I don't think that all petstores are bad. When I am older I am thinking of opening a pet store and selling animals but I want to get the animals from a shelter and sell them in my store. I will give the shelter half or more of the money I get from selling them. .

I don't doubt your intentions are good, but no reputable shelter or rescue would hand over their guinea pigs to a pet store to sell...I certainly wouldn't. Perish the thought.

[Ly&Pigs]

Now if you wanted to have a pet store that does not sell animals and have adoption events then that would be much more acceptable.