USA Today recent post.

[Ally has U's]

Guinea pigs appear on the menu in Lima restaurants - USATODAY.com

Guinea pigs are native to the high Andes, and have been an important source of protein for millenia. Today, they are common in rural Andean households as a sort of savings account — they are so easy and cheap to breed, that when a family needs money, they can sell a dozen or so.

What does it take to get through to people? USA Today is not putting the right words out there. Sure other countries have there cultures but why is USA Today putting it out as such a positive article? It is beyond me. Read the comments too!

[Susan9608]

I don't really see how it's any different than an article on eating any other animal, personally.

[Jenni_Feathers]

I agreee with susan, I mean we eat horses, chickens and cows which people keep as pets, one of my friends has a steer named copper as a pet, she had bottle fed him and he's very friendly and almost dog like. We have 3 chickens, one of which is really nice, the other 2 should come around though, they are still shy we have only had them a few weeks. I've known of some people's chickens who will let you hold them and pet them. I mean ya, guinea pigs are our pets, but other animals we eat and dont even think about it are people's pets too.

[chexxy]

Yeah, I mean I am vegeatarian, and I see where Susan is coming from. I own a pig who is like a dog, even sits on command, and 2 goats. One will hug me one command (he puts his hooves on my shoulders) and the other one goes on a leash like a dog. They all come when they are called and stuff, but people eat goats and lots of pigs. I dont see them as better or worse then my guinea pigs.

[cs275]

I agree. I thought at first I should be offended but then I eat chickens and they are special to others somewhere else in the world.

[Mommy Of One]

I see where you guys are coming from, I really do. But I find this particular subject repulsive and it angers me so much that people just breed them like that and will order pets. I do know people have farm animals as pets too, but guinea pigs being a pet that so many people have I don't see it becoming popular here in New York..

[Res Judicata]

But you don't appear to realize that guinea pigs are not pets in Peru. We may not like that, but that's the way things are there. I knew a girl in college who spent time there and a lot of poor families raise guinea pigs for income because they require less food and space -- both of which require money -- than cattle, etc. And crops are out of the question. You need land for that as well. They do what they can to scrape by. I can't condemn anyone for raising animals for meat under such circumstances, even if I don't like it.

[Ally has U's]

It isn't the food part that angered me. Every culture is different, people in India don't understand why we sell cow as food.

Any how what angered me is that the said that breeding Guinea Pigs is cheap and easy to do to make a profit. So anyone in our own country that sees that and isn't wise enough to not do it can get the idea to on that article. Maybe not to sell as food but to pet stores. The sheer fact that the person who wrote it didn't realize what kind of message they are sending out angers me.

Anyone read the comments? They aren't from Peru...

[Susan9608]

I read the comments; I didn't really get any horribly bad impression from them. Curiousity, sarcasm ... but nothing that suggested anyone was off to start breeding guinea pigs just based on this article.

I also don't really think the article was geared towards suggesting or encouraging breeding guinea pigs. I think it was more of an article exploring a different cultural food item. I agree that it's a horrible cultural practice, but so is Americans breeding/raising chickens for food.

[PiggieMamaKelly]

I don't understand what angers you so much. To me the article is an un-biased report on a trend in another country. It's just a news story. Sounds like you're saying that it shouldn't have been reported in the paper because it will give someone ill-intentioned ideas. Should newspapers cease to report on murders, bank robberies, child abuse because it could give people an idea to go out and do those things?

[Ally has U's]

You know what just never mind. It isn't anger it is just my overall care for any creature, not saying you don't care though.

I don't feel the need to defend myself on a matter that shouldn't be brought up in a culture that is not like Peru; (granted information on another culture is wonderful but when it is an article on what goes in a cavy dish count me out and count me angry, I would feel the same if they said something about any animal). I am sure as our 'meat' here in the US are abused while they go through the terribly, painful and torturing process of being murdered for your food these guinea pigs in Peru are most likely not in any better shape. So yeah I care.

I am sure that USA Today would never write an article on what is used to make dog and cat dishes from Asia in a light hearted manner. Or that anyone one would comment on the article on how they are going to the pound to pick up a puppy for supper...

I regret this post. If I can ask a Mod to close this thread I am doing it now so any Mod be it you Susan or anyone reading I request this thread to be closed I am not sure if I have that power to suggest closing a thread but there it is any how. Either way I am done reading replies on this topic/thread.

[newpiggiemommy]

That is disgusting! The article is not only saying how easy it is to breed guinea pigs for a little extra pocket cash, but is giving Americans their next big idea to serve in their gourmet restaraunts. They serve snake, antiloupe(sp?), ostrich, alligator. Why not guinea pigs next? GROSS! That never should have been reported on in the USA. Too many people are money hungry and will just see $$$$ when reading this article.

[Calliso]

To be honest I agree with those that just donlt get why people are so angry with this article. It is just an article reporting on a cultural trend in another country. I seriously doubt anyone in America or many other countries are going to read this article then say hey I will start breeding guinea pigs for food for profit! And if they do I think they are in for a big disappointment. I personally think it was great that this article was published and others like it that explore what other cultures do and think. I think it is good to be informed about what goes on in the world even if we donlt agree with all of it.

[CoppsCavies]

I'm new here but I wanted to add my thoughts. I have heard this several times about different places. It is horrible to me, however, I personally will just not visit those places. I'm sure to some other cultures as others have said, it is horrible that we eat some of the animals that we do. I know that I don't eat guinea pigs and hope to never go where they do or encounter someone that does eat them. I am fortunate enough to live in a country where that is not a main staple of anyone's diet. I can see how as a vegetarian you are mortified by it. Just try and focus on educating the people around you as to why it upsets you, not why people shouldn't be eating them.