Not holding guinea pig right
Gosh, is it just me or is she holding him a little roughly?
I was checking the petfinder for female pig up for adoption in my area and seen this, not that it matters very much but it did upset me a little
javascript:void(window.open('http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/photoView.cgi?petid=15448735','Photo1','height=660 ,width=778,left=20,top=100,screenx=200,screeny=100 ,scrollbars=yes'))
Sorry, I didn't copy the link right.
Here it is:
Adopt a Guinea Pig: Casey: Petfinder
That poor pig!!! Wow I didn't know what to expect when I opened the link. I was just expecting maybe she wasn't holding it against her chest or something ....Not that though.
Well, it certainly isn't the advised way. Look at his legs dangling; I doubt he feels very safe.
I find it kind of funny it takes two people to hold, pose and take a picture of a single boar. It would have been easier, I'd think, to hold him to her chest or just set him down somewhere comfy like most seem to do. Maybe he's extremely skittish or inclined to run whenever his feet touch the ground, or maybe he jumps out of arms. I could understand that taking two people.
Or, maybe he's not and they were just in a hurry.If that's the case, I wonder about their other animals...
Last edited by tribbletek; 01-13-10 at 09:01 am. Reason: Addition
Yeah, I know, it shouldn't take two! Poor little thing, I wish I live some what closer to the area so I could adopt him!
Even if it takes 2 people to control the pig I don't see any reason to squeeze a pig that hard where it looks like the stomach is popping out and to hold the legs like that.
Anybody think of sending them a "how to hold a GP" email along with a "hand slap" for treating a scared animal this way? Regardless if it's a GP, cat, dog or whatever. No animal should be terrified this way - they're scared enough.
That poor pig!:O
Unfortunately most city shelters are dog and cat oriented. They do not know how to handle guinea pigs or exotics
Aww poor pig
Clearly the pig in the picture is being held completely inappropriately - it's bad enough that they needed two people to 'restrain it' but even worse, they are happy to photograph it like that as if there is nothing wrong
Just out of interest how do people consider that pigs should be held? (I had a look in forum 'search' but nothing very obvious came up).
My view is that there is only one correct way to hold a pig (unless it is your own and you are handling it in your own home environment i.e. not at the vets or friends). That is with the pigs head facing into the bend of your elbow, pig’s body weight supported in your hand and the two hind legs dangling either side of your hand. The other hand lightly placed on the pigs back . That way if the pig is startled it cannot run/jump off your hand.
If it is your own pig and you know it is happy being handled then holding it against your chest or any other way that supports the body weight safely is OK.
There is a link on guinea lynx that explains holding.Originally Posted by DalesLass
http://www.guinealynx.info/handling.html
Guinea Lynx makes valuable suggestions on how to hold/handle/carry a pig properly.
Agreed, I think each pig is going to want to be held a little different, as long as the bottom and back legs are secure and he knows he is in no danger of falling. My pigs will only tolerate being held with a hand under the belly for about ten seconds before they start trying to nestle into my hand. I generally bring my pigs right to my shoulder or chest after I catch them for a warm pet and a few soft words to get them calmed back down.
...Anybody give any thought to sending the staff an email and letting them know that pigs shouldn't be handled like this, or were we just gonna all comment on how awful it is and how the poor thing shouldn't be handled that way and how the staff should know better?
Unfortunately, they generally don't know better -- obviously -- and so instead of simply bringing it to the attention of the forum and commenting that it's atrocious, it seems like it might be a better expenditure of energy to contact the staff and mention it to them.
While I agree that an email is in order, I don't think it's probably wise to condescend when you're trying to educate a person -- or persons -- who quite obviously doesn't/don't know any better. First of all, you're sending completely unsolicited information to begin with. If you start off by explaining how awful and wrong they are, you aren't likely to get much headway, either.
As such, this is an excerpt from the message I sent to the email address listed in the ad:
I also sent a link to GL. If they have the time to look, hopefully they'll give some more thought to how they handle small animals.The way the guinea pig is being held is obviously (at least to someone who knows guinea pigs) way too rough. Pigs are actually very delicate little creatures and holding one that way really might be harmful. I obviously can't say for sure, but it looks like it's putting pressure on the spine - which can be a serious problem.
The best way to hold a pig - just for future reference - is to scoop one hand under their belly and put the other hand on their back, so they're secure and you minimize their ability to wriggle (they are usually trying to get away when someone is holding them, being prey animals). The sometimes flailing movements they make when being held can cause them to injure themselves, and like I said, they're very delicate and their spines aren't meant to bend like a rat's or other small animal's might. It's also important that they feel safe and secure (such as by being held next to a person's chest). Like I said, they're prey animals and anything you can do to help them feel safe is going to make handling them much less stressful for them and overall much easier for you guys.
I really don't mean to be a "know-it-all" or anything like that, and I hope this message isn't perceived that way - I just thought it might help for the staff and volunteers of your shelter to know how better to handle the little ones.
[Edit] And I've actually already received an email back, thanking me and letting me know that they'd pass the information along to the staff/volunteers that handle the animals.
Last edited by Paula; 01-13-10 at 05:33 pm. Reason: Adding information.
Thanks for setting that example. Personally speaking I will be taking more initiative in the future.
Hopefully their staff/volunteers take the suggestions to heart.
Re: Not holding guinea pig right
Hey there everyone, sorry I posted this and haven't been on all day, I had to run to the store and get some more fresh veggies for my Annie. I am so glad that everyone agrees on the improper handling of the guinea pig in the picture. And thank you so much for the email sent Paula. That was what I had thought about doing but wanted to get some opinions first. Hope that changes the way they hold it and the others there. And like it was said, they probably didn't have alot of experience in holding guinea pigs to begin with, but really I don't think it takes that much sense to know that the way they did it was incorrect. Anyway, thanks for all the feedback you all!
the listing has been removed. yay.
You think they will put up a new listing of the little pig, but a different picture?
I hope so, that pig was cute. Hope it gets a good home!
The picture is no longer up...Hmm, I wonder why!
....*sarcasm*.
I wish I could have seen the picture. I can't know how she was holding it but I have some sort of an idea from the rest of you piggy lovers!
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