Pet Stores and Breeding - Ignorant Woman!! - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**GizzyandMe** · #1 10-16-09, 07:01 am

It has taken me a week to calm down to the point where I can hopefully make sense out of this story!!

On the 9th I drove 130 miles to take my Gizzy for a check-up, the vet was impressed and even though she herself loves Guinea Pigs and has owned them as a youngster she told me that NO ONE has ever brought her a Guinea Pig just a for a check up and that she normally only sees them in time to say they have passed!

However being in such a big town I just had to go do some shopping for me and Gizzy so off to a very reputable looking petshop we went.

So in we walk and what do we see a whole fishtank full of guinea pigs! My first thought was "Yippee a friend for Gizzy"

my second thought which came a second later was "O my Gosh who keeps guinea pigs in such conditions"

8 Male pigs in a fish tank that is not big enough for them to sit side by side in, no hay, no fleece, hell no bedding of any kind, one bowl of RABBIT pellets, 2 water bottles which where bright yellow with the Vitamin C Drops.

When I spoke the the Shop owner she informed me that she was also the breeder. I decided to be strategic and do what I can to get them something better so I started:

Me: I noticed they have yellow water and take it that it's due the the Vit C drops?
Her: Yes, it is vital for them.
Me: No it is not, it is actually not a good idea to have it in their water and they should get their Vit C from fresh vegetables.
Her: They should not eat any fresh vegetables except maybe for a carrot or some iceberg lettuce once or twice a week.
Me: (After mini heart attach) Are you feeding them rabbit pellets?
Her: Yes, it is cheaper and they like it more.
Me: Do you perhaps have some bedding that we can put down for them while in the fish tank
Her: No, cause it will stick to their fur and they will make it dirty and then no one will want to buy them.
Me: Do you perhaps have an old box that I could put in them for them as a hidey house
Her: No because then they will not be seen and bought
Me: Can you please check out these two websites to see how Guinea Pigs should be treated
Her: Buy one or leave

Me: .... Well I left - and guess what I did you silly old minx I phoned the SPCA on you!!!!!!!

Together with the Cavy Savvy vet and the lady from the SPCA they are going to remove her Guinea Pigs and get them re-homed. At this time I have decided not to take one of them as the Vet informed me that she had enough homes that they could send them too as pairs.

I just can not believe that a woman would be so ignorant and not willing to take any advice on making life more pleasant for another living thing! I take all the advice I can get!!!

**angiekay** · #2 10-16-09, 07:08 am

Good for you!!! Glad to hear this information from you, and how you were very strategic in asking her questions, you should be very proud of yourself!!! Yayyyy!!!

**princesspoppy** · #3 10-16-09, 08:01 am

Well done to you. You should be very proud of yourself.

**erikahand83** · #4 10-16-09, 08:28 am

Yeesh, some people are so cruel just so they can make a buck or two.

**twiztedlilfae** · #5 10-16-09, 09:29 am

Glad you called the SPCA on her and got those piggies out of those deplorable conditions

. But it might not stop her from trying to breed again, just hope that she doesn't.

And to think I'm sure she gave the same "advice" to people who bought the poor creatures

**Duffinvt** · #6 10-16-09, 09:59 am

Good for you !! I hope the piggies go to wonderful homes and live long and healthy lives.

**ferndalezoo** · #7 10-16-09, 10:44 am

Quote:

I just had to go do some shopping for me and Gizzy so off to a very reputable looking petshop we went.
So in we walk and what do we see a whole fishtank full of guinea pigs! My first thought was "Yippee a friend for Gizzy"

I had a hard time going any further in your post than this. "Reputable looking petshop" "Fishtank full of guinea pigs"... And yet your FIRST thought is "yippee a friend for gizzy"?!

**leyley904** · #8 10-16-09, 11:10 am

ferndalezoo, it was just her initial reaction, she saved those pigs lives and your pointing out that one wrong thing she did?

**Paula** · #9 10-16-09, 11:51 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by leyley904

ferndalezoo, it was just her initial reaction, she saved those pigs lives and your pointing out that one wrong thing she did?

I agree that if story is true, it's great that she was able help facilitate a rescue of the pigs from the situation.

I also had a hard time getting past the statement about a friend for Gizzy, because it almost sounds like going to a pet store would be a reasonable option if perhaps the pigs had been in better conditions, if the store had seemed reputable enough. And I would hope that any person who knows better, as presumably the OP does, wouldn't go looking to buy a pig in a pet store in the first place, especially after being a member here and knowing better.

In any case, the pigs needed help, and I hope they're getting it and the owner/breeder of the store can be stopped.

**wigglesgiggles1** · #10 10-16-09, 04:20 pm

Good job for sticking up for the pigs.

**fridzalone** · #11 10-16-09, 04:55 pm

I believe she said the same whole things to people who bought piggies from her. How could she can be a breeder without a knowledge about how to treat piggies properly?

Too bad, I think breeder in your country are much much more cruel than in my country.

**2pigs2kids** · #12 10-16-09, 05:40 pm

Great job GizzyandMe! You should be proud of yourself!!!

**ferndalezoo** · #13 10-16-09, 06:28 pm

Quote:

ferndalezoo, it was just her initial reaction, she saved those pigs lives and your pointing out that one wrong thing she did?

I hate to sound like a skeptic, but... It's highly unlikely that the SPCA would remove the animals in this situation. The criteria for immediate removal are pretty strict, and it sounds like while these pigs were receiving crappy care, there isn't anything that would fit those standards of "these animals will die in the next 24 hours if we don't take them".

But YES, I'm going to point out that walking into ANY pet store, and having your first thought be "Oh, goody! I can BUY a pig!" seems an od start to a story in which one supposedly champions for proper cavy care.

**Tessa Bea** · #14 10-16-09, 09:58 pm

I am SO glad you took a stand for those pigs! However, I hope you'd never buy a pet store pig as a friend for Gizzy...

**horsiecutie** · #15 10-16-09, 10:08 pm

good for you! I made a big mistake and got my last pig from a petstore and will NEVER buy a piggy from a store EVER AGAIN! I'm so happy that you did what you did but I sorta agree with ferndalezoo

**GizzyandMe** · #16 10-17-09, 01:02 pm

Please note:
1. It is thanks to my vet and her ability to convince the SPCA about safe houses for them that they managed to take the gp's.
2. I live in South Africa and there is only one rescue in my country that deal with gp's. I am on their waiting list for a friend for Gizzy for 3 months.
3. I did not go into the pet store looking for a pet I went looking for toys.
4. Having been looking on craigslist and having placed adds in local papers with no luck for a GP my joy of actually seeing one clouded my judgement for a mere second!
5. I will contact my vet on Monday to see about getting photo's of the boys in their new homes.

**horsiecutie** · #17 10-17-09, 01:45 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GizzyandMe

Please note:
1. It is thanks to my vet and her ability to convince the SPCA about safe houses for them that they managed to take the gp's.
2. I live in South Africa and there is only one rescue in my country that deal with gp's. I am on their waiting list for a friend for Gizzy for 3 months.
3. I did not go into the pet store looking for a pet I went looking for toys.
4. Having been looking on craigslist and having placed adds in local papers with no luck for a GP my joy of actually seeing one clouded my judgement for a mere second!
5. I will contact my vet on Monday to see about getting photo's of the boys in their new homes.

I misunderstood. I understand and that same thing would have crossed my mind! I think you did a very good thing for those pigs!

Rose11 · #18 10-17-09, 04:17 pm

That is soooo horrible to think that some petstores treat pets like that! What a horrible and stupid woman to think all of those things. I thank you very much and good for you to call the SPCA! That was the right thing to do!

**GizzyandMe** · #19 10-21-09, 12:07 am

Finally got a call back from my Vet last night and she said she will ask the new parents to please email her some photos of the baba's

She has given me some advice to pass on though: She said that as an animal lover she introduced herself to the SPCA in her town when she first arrived there and she keeps them up to date on what is going on with animals that come through her office and it's thanks to this relationship that she has been building for years and her list of "parents" that will adopt a range of animals in need that she manages to remove animals immediately. She said if any of you have a Cavy Savvy Vet that will be willing to back you up with the SPCA you will be able to assist little critters just as fast.

Happy saving! :-)

**Wheekie** · #20 10-21-09, 01:05 am

GizzyandMe...Good for you! You're a Piggie Hero!!!!

"Thank you, GizzyandMe, for this useful post," say these 19 members:
angiekay (10-16-09), Aquena (10-21-09), CavyMama (10-16-09), Cornish Cavies (10-16-09), Dobelady (10-16-09), Froggirl009 (10-16-09), horsiecutie (10-16-09), JD In Van (10-16-09), khptown (10-16-09), MapleSyrup (10-16-09), MissFormosa (10-17-09), NicholsS10 (10-16-09), princesspoppy (10-16-09), sealion (10-16-09), Tessa Bea (10-21-09), vicky2 (10-16-09), wheekers01 (10-16-09), Wheekie (10-21-09), wigglesgiggles1 (10-16-09)

"Thank you, angiekay, for this useful post," says:
GizzyandMe (10-16-09)

"Thank you, ferndalezoo, for this useful post," say these 3 members:
dra&pigs (10-16-09), Paula (10-16-09), Peggysu (10-16-09)

"Thank you, Paula, for this useful post," say these 4 members:
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"Thank you, ferndalezoo, for this useful post," say these 5 members:
Ly&Pigs (10-16-09), Paula (10-16-09), princesspoppy (10-17-09), rabbitsncavyluv (10-16-09), wigglesgiggles1 (10-17-09)

"Thank you, GizzyandMe, for this useful post," say these 3 members:
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