My guinea pig died :( - Page 3 - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**aqh88** · #41 03-09-06, 01:35 pm

Males can be put together. I have 3 together and I know a few people who have around 6. You do have to watch cage space slightly more. My 3 are in a 2x7 but they are rowdy, high energy boys and one of them would probably get along with a calmer cage mate in just a 2x4. I also had two older boys in a 2x3. If you don't know c&c cages yet those sizes are in grids and a grid is 14" long so a 2x3 is 28"x42" and is the minimum for 2 pigs to live without arguments. It would be best to do a 2x4 minimum for 2 boys.

**twinkies** · #42 03-09-06, 01:44 pm

I am so sorry. I also had a bad experience with the petstore. First off the gave me a sick piggy that died 2 days later. Then after I brought him back, I got one that I had to take back due to fighting. Fighting to where he drew blood on my much younger piggy. So, I picked out a much more mellow piggy, and I was told all they sold was males. Well, about 3 months later, we had babies. I didn't know about adoption, and I will NEVER buy a piggy again. I called the store to let them know that they sold me a female and she ended up getting pregnant, and all they said was, "We don't sex them, our specialist does". What kind of a specialist doesn't know how to sex piggies?? Made me so mad.

I ended up getting my boar neutrered. I think pet stores need to have a more trained person if they intend on selling any pets to people. I know pet stores will always sell pets, but they should also post adoptables.

**VoodooJoint** · #43 03-09-06, 01:53 pm

Joylam
Don't forget that I told you there are TONS of GPs up for adoption in both Wisconsin and Illinois. There are also a few rescues there. I know the Rescue in Illinois has so many GPs that they literally cannot take more in until they adopt some out.

Through a rescue you are much more likely to get a healthy GP, a properly sexed GP and great support and info to boot. Look on Petfinder http://petfinder.com to find lovely GPs near you once you are ready.

We can also help you find a vet to neuter your boy so you can adopt a female if you want to go that route.

If it were me, since the store actually gave you written info that the GP they sold you was neutered, I would take it to manager, district supervisor and eventually corporate if necesary to get them to pay to have your pet neutered. If you make them pay it hits them where it hurts (the wallet).

DO NOT get another animal from them no matter what.

**aqh88** · #44 03-09-06, 02:00 pm

Where are you at in IL? I am coming to accept I have far too many guinea pigs. I really can't fit these cages in this apartment and we are really considering finding homes for a few. I just kept rescuing them and not finding homes for them until I had somewhere around 40sq feet of cages stacked on top of each other. As much as I hate to part with any of them I think we might have to.

**joylam** · #45 03-09-06, 02:19 pm

Oh I'm not done with the store yet...believe me...and if I have to go to headquarters I will do that as well. I just told him I had to think about it....it will be a cold day you know where before I bought another guinea pig from there or any other pet store. I looked into rescues in my area...and right now most of them aren't really close to me. The closest is about 1 1/2 hours away...and they have one adult female and one adult male....want someone to adopt them both...not sure I want 3 guinea pigs at this point. I think I'm going to just keep the one male I have...until I get more educated about them. Coming on this forum has really helped. Guess I should have done this a lot sooner, maybe what happend to my female could have been prevented. I have 7 children so I really don't think the male that I have will be lonely...they fight all the time on who is going to take him out and play with him!

I am surprised to hear that about keeping two males together though....because every book I read said they will fight. Does any one else on here have two males in the same cage?

**joylam** · #46 03-09-06, 02:20 pm

I actually live in Wisconsin, and work right over the border in Illinois.

**WEAVER** · #47 03-09-06, 02:26 pm

There are many on the forum who have been very successful housing two boars together.

Just take your time, try and relax and recollect yourself. You have time to get him a friend. I would do as you stated and try to learn as much as you can about them. This forum is full of very knowledgable people who can help you and answer any questions you may have along the way. If you take the time and read past threads they have tons of good facts there also. You will find your boy a friend in time, it does not have to be right away.

Keep looking and checking back at the rescues that surround your area, many will even put your name and number on a waiting list if you are wanting a certain sex, hair type etc. Good luck to you and again welcome to the forum.

**snickers66** · #48 03-09-06, 04:25 pm

I also am very sorry for your loss and what you are going through.
Just to let you know, I have 2 boys living together (they are both approx
4 months old) and besides the occasional purring one does when the other
"bothers" him.. they have NEVER fought. Good Luck

**Mummy** · #49 03-09-06, 04:40 pm

I believe you could actually sue Petco for this. Not that you would, but you could. Make them pay all the vet bills and pay to have your current one neutered (if that's what you want). Absolutely do NOT let them have their vet perform the neuter though - it must only be done by someone very experienced in neutering guinea pigs.

After you've taken them to the cleaners, go out and adopt another male (or a female if you male has been neutered) :-)

**C&K** · #50 03-09-06, 04:57 pm

I was thinking the same thing as Voodoo and Mummy when I read what the outcome was of your phonecall. This is absolutely outragous! Get them to pay you back for the female AND pay to neuter the male. That way you will never have to worry about this problem again. I agree this is something you could sue for and win.

What a "stupid" petstore. This is definately going into my classic screw up memory banks. I am so sorry your family had to go through this, however I am glad that the truth has been unfolded.

I am so sorry your family had to go through with this. As for rescuing, please be patient, it is guaranteed that with a couple such irresponsible stores in your area, lots of piggies are to be had, it is just a matter of tracking them down and finding them!

**nikilovesdogs** · #51 03-09-06, 05:11 pm

I agree that it is a terrible thing that the pet store did, and I hope they make rectification in some way.

That said, I also think that people are a bit sue-happy and too quick to scream "lawyer" over things that may not necessarily be unlawful. Were they deceitful? Yes. Were they wrong? Yes. Were they unethincal? Yes. Do I think that lawyers' fees, court fees, and all the other messes that come with a court case should be instituted? ABSOLUTELY not.

**C&K** · #52 03-09-06, 05:52 pm

Quote:

I think that lawyers' fees, court fees, and all the other messes that come with a court case should be instituted? ABSOLUTELY not.

In Canada, 15 years ago, no one sued for anything. You could have a doctor come up to a family after surgery and say "Im sorry _____ did not make it, I decided 1/2 way through the surgery to go out for popcorn and a movie, and well, the supporting staff did not know what to do". And the family would have been horrified, outraged, upset, hurt, but probably would not have sued, afterall, "what can be done".

Indeed, we looked upon our American Neighbours like nutcases for suing so much, it just was not us.

That has changed, A LOT, a neighbour of mine just successfully sued for breaking her ankle on a poorly maintained step out her back door. She knew it was poorly maintained, but decided to use it anyway. Oops, it is the landlords fault right?

Blah. I get what you are saying, about maybe it isn't worth it, and honestly, I would not sue for this unless Petco is unwilling to do the right thing and make proper restitution on their own first. I feel that reimbursing the female piggy and paying for a neuter are fair. Their actions in all likelyhood caused the death of an animal that they "sold". They should be held accountable for this, is it a million dollar lawsuit with the majority being for pain and suffering? No, but common, if big petstore chains are not held accountable, they will never do the right thing.

In Ontario we have something called "Small Claims Court". It is a lot like the court T.V. shows, in that there are no lawyers present. They actually are not allowed. I feel that this is a very appropreate action to take in this case, but then again, maybe I am a newly Sue Happy North of the boarder Neighbour!