Skinny pigs - the new "designer" pet in the UK.

**daftscotslass** · #1 10-18-07, 11:23 am

3 papers covered the same story. Meet the latest designer pet - a hairless guinea pig | the Daily Mail

Now every child will be wanting one for Christmas and the pet stores et al raking it in. Lovely.

**clover-crystal** · #2 10-18-07, 11:43 am

What a disaster for guinea pig welfare

This is sadly expected though as it was only a matter of time before skinny pigs where put in view of the general public.

**muffin** · #3 10-18-07, 04:40 pm

Ugh. It will be like a smaller, cheaper version of a chihuaha to most people. The breeding of these animals should be outlawed.

**catzeye21138** · #4 10-18-07, 07:35 pm

I dropped a fairly lengthy comment. I also added that many people have found these skinny pigs in shelters if one would want one and have the time for one so badly. We should all at least try to submit one comment and hope that most will get published!

**daftscotslass** · #5 10-19-07, 12:09 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by catzeye21138

I dropped a fairly lengthy comment. I also added that many people have found these skinny pigs in shelters if one would want one and have the time for one so badly. We should all at least try to submit one comment and hope that most will get published!

Bear in mind the article is in the UK and they are NOT common in rescues here and the breed is not yet widely available. I only know of one and she was born into a rescue to a skinny carrier and died of unknown causes not long after. The fact here is that they WILL now appear in rescues when people see this and decide they want the latest fad.

**cookie_gal** · #6 10-19-07, 01:41 am

I too read this in the Mirror and was furious! Everyone will be wanting one now with absolutly no knowledge of their proper care and I bet some will even try to keep them outside!

**PrincessAngel** · #7 10-19-07, 04:22 pm

My mom showed me some article in the newspaper about skinny pigs but I didn't read it. So she was more than less just pointing it out to me. I wish I read it but I don't know where my mom put that newspaper.

**JarBax** · #8 10-20-07, 10:45 am

...ugh.

What a nightmare.

**kathrynj** · #9 10-21-07, 12:54 am

Great. How many are going to be now bred from? Soon their will be skinnys popping up in back yard breeding from carriers. For goodness sakes, what was the 'breeder' thinking?? $$$$$$$

**crazywiggy** · #10 10-22-07, 10:20 am

Great - designer piggies, that's all we need!
The article only encourages it - with poor care info to boot. The breeders crossed hairless lab pigs with normal pigs to strengthen their immune system? Here's an idea - lets just NOT breed from animals we know have a poor immune system!! And of course they need sunscreen and jumpers.... what rubbish! That is only giong to lead people into thinking skinnies can be kept outside.
I despair sometimes - if anyone knows who I can write to to complain that would be grest.

**Kazyumi** · #11 10-22-07, 05:33 pm

I strongly oppose this.
Just like I hate to see stuff like Paris Hilton with her dog.
I feel sorry for the poor critters...

**Fanch** · #12 10-22-07, 07:33 pm

I feel for all the skinnys that will end up in shelters because of the fad that will last for a bit, then die off, leaving these poor pigs in shelters

**i-love-nev** · #13 10-23-07, 03:41 pm

I actually cried rading that in he daily mail --------thats all we need! this is gonna end up like all the kids wanting rats after the film 'rataouille' (or however you spell it!) argh everybody gets one "oh looks they arnt such a big thing now"..."lets toss them out the door they arnt going to get us now where now"...."lets think of another designer pet we can get".................."I know a chihuahua, or a crested dog, or even this time we can have a cobra!" argh makes me so mad!

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