My guinea pig died :( - Page 2 - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**CapuPebbles** · #21 03-09-06, 11:47 am

Im sorry to hear for your loss. My condolences.

**Mummy** · #22 03-09-06, 12:02 pm

Okay...both my female and male were fixed...no worries of babies.

I'm confused. You say you'd had them both 3 months and they were small when you got them? It sounds like they were too young to have been 'fixed.' Did you actually have the female spayed and the male neutered?

**C&K** · #23 03-09-06, 12:12 pm

Quote:

I'm confused. You say you'd had them both 3 months and they were small when you got them? It sounds like they were too young to have been 'fixed.' Did you actually have the female spayed and the male neutered?

It is sort of strange, I have also never heard of a petstore selling altered guinea pigs. I have with rabbits, but not guinea pigs.

**joylam** · #24 03-09-06, 12:16 pm

I bought them both from two different Petco's and on their paperwork it says they sold me a Spayed female & a Neutred Male. I called both Petco's today to make sure, and they said they do not sell any guinea pigs that aren't fixed.

**C&K** · #25 03-09-06, 12:19 pm

Quote:

I bought them both from two different Petco's and on their paperwork it says they sold me a Spayed female & a Neutred Male. I called both Petco's today to make sure, and they said they do not sell any guinea pigs that aren't fixed.

I have no doubt that is what you where told, but I have never ever heard of a petstore fixing guinea pigs like this, least of all a petco. Out of curiosity, how much did you pay for them, what Petco is this, and how old where you told that they where? Generally, altering a guinea pig is rather expensive, I can't see petco doing it if they are going to take steep financial loss.

**joylam** · #26 03-09-06, 12:23 pm

I was told both the male and the female were about 6 months old....and I paid $39.95 for each of them. The Male was bought at Petco in Mchenry, IL, and the female was bought at Petco in Vernon Hills, IL.

**C&K** · #27 03-09-06, 12:27 pm

Very interesting... It does not sound like enough though to include altering, but does seem a little more then typically guinea pigs go for. I hope you don't mind, but I posted a side note to a thead on Guinea Lynx about Petco, asking if anyone has heard of them neutering all pigs in IL stores.

http://www.guinealynx.info/forums/vi...=757900#757900

**joylam** · #28 03-09-06, 12:32 pm

No I don't mind at all....please let me know if you get any replies.
I'm going to the Petco in Vernon Hills at lunch today and I'm going to act interested in buying another female guinea pig and see what they tell me....

**C&K** · #29 03-09-06, 12:38 pm

That is probably a good idea. Ask if they know when they where neutered, and by who. Another factor to consider is that there are not very many vets that are very knowledgeable about guinea pigs, and how to properly neuter them. Generally for those that know how, they sure do charge enough! ;-P

I sent an email to Petco CHQ about if their pigs are all neutered in the IL area?

**RyanR** · #30 03-09-06, 12:45 pm

I'm so sorry. I'll prayer for you tonight.

**joylam** · #31 03-09-06, 12:50 pm

Thank you, let me know if you get any response from them. If I find out either of them weren't I'm going to do something...because if my female died because she was pregnant too young.....and my daughter had to go thru that trauma....I'm going to be so mad. Thank you again for all of your help.

**VoodooJoint** · #32 03-09-06, 12:59 pm

I just called both the Vernon Hills Petco and the Mchenry Petco.

Both stores said they do not spay/neuter their GPs and they know of no stores that do. The Mchenry location did have to put me on hold to find out for certain though and when I first asked she said she believed they were. But the fact is they do not!

**joylam** · #33 03-09-06, 01:10 pm

That is just lovely.....I have the receipt that they wrote write on there that they both were. I never would have put them in the same cage otherwise. I have 7 children...believe me didn't want more guinea pigs. I'm calling them right as we speak.

**nonamian_girl** · #34 03-09-06, 01:20 pm

It sounds like they mixed them up with ferrets or something.

**joylam** · #35 03-09-06, 01:21 pm

Okay....I just got off the phone with Petco in Mchenry and you are right he told me the same thing when I called. I let them know the name of the salesperson I had and what he had told me and what he also wrote on the receipt. The general manager said that he would talk to him and see why he would tell me that. I know exactly why he would tell me that, because when I went there I wanted to get another female, but they didn't have any so a neutered male would have been the next best thing, right? Anyways the manager said that if I wanted another guinea pig to come in and they'd give me a discount on one. I told him that won't work because I can't put two males together and don't want another female with the male. So then he said he'd cut me a deal on a guinea pig with a cage....I told him I have to think about it. I'm not too hip on getting another pig from a petstore. Can't bare to put my children thru anymore disappointments. I really appreciate all of everyones help on here today...I'm guessing my poor female died because she was pregnant at too young of an age. Thanks again.

**WEAVER** · #36 03-09-06, 01:26 pm

I am so sorry you and your family had to go through this, not even to mention the poor female. I know you must feel terrable and so angry.

I do not even know what to say except I would go to the extreme if I was you and had actually document stating they were both altered. There is no reason for this to of happened, and all because an employee of a petstore once again did not know anything about the animals they were selling.

Giving you a discount on another pig---you have to be kidding!!!!?????

**nikilovesdogs** · #37 03-09-06, 01:26 pm

DO NOT even think about accepting another piggy from them, under any circumstance. Please, I'm sorry to get a little snippy, but you would have to be out of your mind, knowing that if you get a guinea pig from the store and support them, some homeless piggy will remain that way.

Your rescue GP will be spayed/neutered, and that will be INCLUDED in the price. Please, please do not buy another one from this pet store.

**nonamian_girl** · #38 03-09-06, 01:30 pm

Definitely boycott the petstore, they deserve it.

Also, pet store cages are crap. Do you have a C&C yet? If not, you should really build one before adopting a second pig. Also, do some more research on guinea pigs, because you have been really misinformed by the pet stores. There is no problem with keeping two males in one cage, as long as there is enough room, which is why you need a C&C (not to mention all the benefits of exercise).

If I were you, I'd call them back and tell them that you are so traumatized, you're never going to shop there ever again. I wonder if you could at least get a refund, $40 per pig is a LOT. You could put that money towards a good rescue.

**WEAVER** · #39 03-09-06, 01:31 pm

Not all rescued pigs are altered-it depends what rescue you get them from.

I would not even consider what he is offering you-----nor can I believe he even said that

. If I went through what you and your family just did and that happened to me and I had paperwork stating I "bought" something and that really was not what was "sold" to me I would take it higher than just the manager at the store.

**nikilovesdogs** · #40 03-09-06, 01:34 pm

Weaver,

I agree with what you said - on all counts.