On Behalf of some of the GOOD petshops.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Do you know how to order things online?

http://cavycages.com/buycc.htm

[Sabriel]

Unless you are building a 2 floor cage with a lid I don't see how building a C&C is all that difficult. I made a floortime pen in 5 minutes. That's half the work in a no frills C&C. Step 1: Zip tie grids. Step 2: Make box. Step 3: Put box in grids. Presto bango, you have a C&C. Heck, school children understand how to make a box out of something flat. How can a teenager find that difficult?

[Susan9608]

I can perfectly understand how a school-aged child, a teen-ager, or even an adult can have a hard time building a C&C cage. I'm a 27-year-old, reasonably intelligent, professional adult, and I had a difficult time with it. My grids wouldn't stay in those little connectors, or they got wedged in so tightly that I couldn't get them out; even with a T-square and yardstick, I still couldn't cut the coroplast in a straight line, I never did get a workable door on the cage; and the cages I ended up making were so unstable, that I found them totally unuseable .... I just couldn't make it work very well.

Everyone has different abilities ... my husband can do calculus problems in his head, but I can't. My dad can build wonderful wooden furniture, but I can't. My mom can do a crossword puzzle in about 15 minutes, but I can never finish one. Some of you can put together a C&C cage in no time at all, but I can't. However, I can read a 500 page book in an hour ... I can put an IV catheter in a premature baby in 45 seconds, and I can draw a perfect circle. My husband, father, and mother can't do those things. My point is that everyone has different talents, abilities, and skills ... and it's unfair to judge someone else by our own individual skills and standards.

I realize that it's frustrating to constantly give suggestions and information and then have those suggestions and information ignored or met with rationalizations. But it still, in my mind at least, seems unfair to berate a child or teen-ager when ultimately it's their parents who make the decisions and have the financial responsibility. I also think that harping, criticism, and extremely intense or forceful advice is counter-productive. The positive effects of approaching an issue in that manner wear off quickly and people eventually become immune to it ... and then all the wonderful information you have to share is totally tuned out.

But then, that's just my opinion ... and you are totally free to disagree with it. <smile>

[alfieiheartu]

Susan you sound very nice. I am glad someone seems to understand.

[alfieiheartu]

Susan you sound very nice. I am glad someone seems to understand.


blah blah blah the post was too short!

[alfieiheartu]

Oops it didn't work right sorry.

[Susan9608]

Well, thank you .... I try to be nice. Most of the time, anyways.

Alfieiheartu, even though you can't drive and are some what dependent upon your mother, you still have the power of persuasion. Unless your parents are extremely strict and irrational, they will probably be willing to at least *listen* to a reasonable argument. It can't hurt anything to gather information about the appropriate type of cage for a guinea pig and the benefits of adoption vs. purchasing, and then present the information to your parents for their consideration. If you do that, and they still reject the information, at least you'll know you did your best to ensure the best possible life for any guinea pig you might get.

I think that's what you ultimately want ... just like all of us here ... to provide the best possible life for our guinea pigs.

I must admit that I don't quite understand your persistent desire to purchase a guinea pig from a pet store, rather than adopting one from a shelter. I really think adoption is a much better choice; that is my opinion. I also think that if you don't see any guinea pigs you'd like to adopt right at this moment, then there's nothing wrong with *waiting* to get a guinea pig. Again, that's my opinion, which you are free to give as much weight to as you'd like.

I also think that if you'd like help gathering information to give to your parents, or help locating guinea pigs for adoption, then the wonderful people on this forum would be glad to help you.

I hope that you are a child or teen-ager (I'm sorry I don't know how old you are) who is smart enough to take advantage of resources right at your fingertips ... I also hope that you are mature enough to not take an animal into your care until you are completely ready to give it the best possible life. From what I've read so far on this forum, which I realize is probably not the whole story, it doesn't seem like you are truly ready for another guinea pig. Again, another opinion of mine ....

Anyways, I suppose I have given far too many of my opinions already, especially since they were all unsolicited.

[alfieiheartu]

Susan I have printed much information but if you would like to help by printing important information so it is presentable that would be very nice. I have already printed lots of papers though. No need to print the cage tutorial or anything like that unless you make it more presentable.

[Susan9608]

It's good that you've printed all the info ... have you given it to your parents? If you have, then good for you ... even if they refuse to supply the necessary materials for the best cage possible. At least you tried. If you haven't given it to them, then you might want to do so ... and see what they say.

i wish you luck. <smile>

[alfieiheartu]

I gave some of the papers to my mom but that was a while ago. I shall try again tommarow.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Does this help?

Go to Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond, whatever store near you sells storage grids for the cage walls.

Look in the phone book or online for a sign or plastics store that sells coroplast. Order a sheet, cut and score it to size. Set up the grids and slip the coroplast into the grids.

Or go to that site I gave you and order one.

Then look at www.petfinder.com or www.petharbor.com and www.cavyrescue.com for a pair of piggies to adopt.

[Funnygpigs]

I must say, children who have parents that do not help/supprot them or show them the proper way in life, only know what they are taught. This Alfie could be 10 years old for all we know. I agree that the pet store not a good idea. I also can say that if a kid has no money or help from parents....then that = no C&C cage. Plus, kids DO think in NOW terms and in terms of themselves. Instant gradification is part of the personality of a achool age child/adolesent (6 months of psychology education,not an expert). I actually can see from her emails that she is not understanding a lot of our more mature philosopy. Maybe give her the information and then leave it be. You cannot make someone understand if they are not getting it in the first place. You cannot undo parenting styles that have been installed in a child (just by replying on this forum). If she truley wants info, then let her take from it what she will. Maybe she will learn a thing or two and share with her parents. :0) P.s, I agree with driving as far as needed to get a pig. I drove two hours each way to get my charlie. I only saw a pic on the web. It was not his "looks" so much as the way he was looking at the camera. His expression(sp?) caught my heart! :0)---just to let you all know, I am the worlds worse speller. I try hard, but still fail. Pls excuse my bad spelling at times. Thank you.

[Funnygpigs]

Also, just to add to this, I used 16inch high, white, coated utility shelving (sold at all home improvment stores). It works great! Best of all, the lip part of the shelving works great to hold the coro box in place. It cost around $8 for 6 ft of it. Plus, it comes in different size space between the wires.I also made my cage with no experiance. Cosmeticaly it is not the prittiest cage I have ever seen. But, my piggs are happy and love it. And, because I made it myself, I love it! Just an idea! :0)

Originally Posted by rabbitsncavyluv

Does this help?

Go to Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond, whatever store near you sells storage grids for the cage walls.

Look in the phone book or online for a sign or plastics store that sells coroplast. Order a sheet, cut and score it to size. Set up the grids and slip the coroplast into the grids.

Or go to that site I gave you and order one.

Then look at www.petfinder.com or www.petharbor.com and www.cavyrescue.com for a pair of piggies to adopt.

[alfieiheartu]

I don't think target near me has them. But I really don't know how we would build the cage.

[Piglet]

If you use zip ties rather than the connectors, things are so much simpler.

[alfieiheartu]

oh! I guess I will discuss this with my mom and dad although eek we might be getting one today.

[Piglet]

Getting a pig? From where?

[alfieiheartu]

I do not know.