Should I get another cavy?

[cavy_lover_jen]

Here is my cavy history: (feel free to skip this paragraph...)
I got 2 cavies about 3 months ago. I was over the moon, researched extensively on the net, bought a book and generally got overexcited. I rescued 2 cavies from a pet store where they were living in horrible conditions. I was fully aware that Casey was pregnant when I got her and I wanted to save the babies as I knew there was a good chance they would have serious issues if born into that environment. There were about 15 other guinea pigs as well as several rabbits in a small, dirty encolsure. There were only shavings on the floor and they only had dicey rabbit pellets and soiled water. Casey had 2 babies: Pie (totally black) and Claudia (PEW albino). Unfortunately, Clauds got sick a couple of days after birth. We did everything we could but she didn't make it.

The low-down:
Now I have three piggies: Casey, Tigger (neutered) and Pie (neutered). I have a 1.5 square metre cage and I love all my babies to bits. They get the Belgium Cavia Nature pellets and fresh water every day, as well as unlimited Timothy Hay. Their cage is in a heated room (its winter over here in RSA) on a table. They have all the toys recommended (toilet rolls and ping pong balls and cavy chewy sticks and paper bags etc.) and have daily 'Pig Time' where they run around and receive their veggies for the day: usually something like lettuce, carrots, parsley etc. I also cuddle them individually at some point in the day and often they take turns to 'do my day' with me for an hour or two.

My Question:
Seeing as there is all that extra space in the cage, I thought that I should rescue another female guinea pig. My main reason is that if I have the extra space I can use it to provide a cavy in need with a good home where it will be loved and cared for.
I don't mind the extra costs and am always fully prepared and acknowledge the possibility of health conditions which may require quite a large amount of money.
What do you think?

[Nicolene]

Hey Jen, I'm a Namibian-Californian If you can get another piggie I'd say do it! I can only imagine what the pet store looked like... I wonder, can you even find piggies at the SPCA? If you can, I would suggest that! This site is VERY anti pet store, I'm sure they will make that clear to you soon, but I don't know what the guinea pig availability is in SA.

I don't mean to pick at your post, but I can't give my piggie parsley as it has too much calcium in it and mine is on a low calcium diet to prevent stones. You can try cilantro (it's coriander leaves) when your piggies are older. It's just an FYI.

We're getting our second piggie on Sunday, but my husband wants every piggie he sees! haha We may end up with more than 2 too. I told him we can foster, that way he'll see his share of piggies.

Let us know what you decide.

[3Piggles]

If you really think you have the space, money and time, definitely get another cavy. I'm sure Casey is ecstatic to be out of that horrible environment. Is Tigger the other pig you saved from that horrible place. I hope the place has been shut down since, so they can't hurt any more animals.

[brindyzoeycandy]

First off, I just wanted to mention that you supported the pet stores by purchasing their pets.

Second, if you want another cavy, get one. Just make sure to adopt instead of the pet stores. Not sure of the availablity of piggies in South Africa but I'm sure there is a rescue somewhere.

[cavy_lover_jen]

The thing about guinea pig owning in south africa is that you can't find most things. A pet store was literally the only place I could get them. There are no rescues. I phoned every single animal rescue organisation in my city, even those in other cities and none of them had/have had guinea pigs. I searched on the internet, asked around, looked for people who were trying to rehome their guinea pigs but nothing. They aren't popular over here yet. Alot of people don't even know what they are. (Or the only reason they know is because of G-Force). I know that I supported the pet store. I normally go out of my way to shop at pet stores that don't sell animals but the truth of the matter is that in RSA you can't even buy hay in any pet store. You have to go to a "specialised" one. (ie: one of the few that sell guinea pigs. There's no such thing as a pet store that sells guinea pig supplies but not guinea pigs and I am not exagerating.) There is one store that I know of which I buy their food and supplies from and doesn't sell animals. I have to travel about 40 minutes to an hour to get there. If I was in a position to adopt, I would. I just can't. I'm fairly sure that in that pet store Casey's babies would have died, and Casey wouldn't exactly be in a great state of health either. When I see something like that I can't hold out. I practically burst into tears in the middle of the store. I needed to save them.
PS: Hi Nicolene, yes, the parsley causes problems for my cavies if they eat too much. I normally feed them a bit each once a week as a treat because they love it so much. They seem to be just fine with this arrangement. Thanks for your replies so far!

[cavy_lover_jen]

If you really think you have the space, money and time, definitely get another cavy. I'm sure Casey is ecstatic to be out of that horrible environment. Is Tigger the other pig you saved from that horrible place. I hope the place has been shut down since, so they can't hurt any more animals.

I also get so aggravated about this but I gave them a piece of my mind and I'm sure other did too. They've been treating their animals a bit better, ie: seperating guinea pigs and bunnies, putting together same-sex guinea pigs, I haven't seen the same no-water issue again and generally their other animals' conditions also look a bit better. Its not enough but it's a start. I also think it should be shut down...

[3Piggles]

I have the same problem, only our pet stores such as PetCo and PetSmart didn't even carry any for over a year. I don't go in those stores anymore because they sell snaked and I'm terrified, but last time I was there at either they were only carrying surrendered pigs, not new ones. Our rescues don't handle pigs. I was lucky to find Morty at one as he was stuck in a tiny cage. The surrounding states have rescues, some with lots of pigs, but I have very bad arthritis in my hands and can't drive a couple of hours each way without help, which is rarely available. We don't even have any in our state on Craig's list. I found Molly at a family pet store that doesn't carry pigs. She had been abandoned at their store. I went in for something else and saw her. We don't have any breeders. The closest ones I know of are in Maine and upstate New York.

I,m glad you found pigs and you all get to share a great life together. I don't even want to think what would have happened to Molly if I hadn't taken her, as she had a rinovirus and skin fungus. Dog/cat people don't know what to do or even how to recognize cavy problems, and aren't too dedicated to a lone guinea girl abandoned at their back door.

[Ly&Pigs]

Purchasing in a petstore does not equal rescuing them. It doesn't matter the conditions. You can call it whatever you would like, but it's nothing more than a purchase.

Do you have 2 males living with one female? If so, that's not a good idea. They will fight over her. Females should always greatly outnumber the males.

1.5 sq. meters is approximately 16.1 sq. ft., so you'd have the room but if you plan on purchasing another pig at the petstore, I would not do it.

What kind of "chew" sticks are you giving? Most petstore cavy treats are bad and should be avoided at all costs.

[brindyzoeycandy]

I agree with Ly&Pigs. She is right; you can't have two males and one female. (Just took notice of that) EVEN if they are both neutered. Probably the best thing to do would be to put the two males in one cage, ADOPT another female cavy and put the two females in a seperate cage.

I googled and found lots of rescues in South Africa that have Guinea Pigs.

[cavy_lover_jen]

Hi Brindyzoeycandy, I would really appreciate it if you could tell me a guinea pig rescue in Johannesburg. If there are any I am just not finding them (and the rescue Wheeks and Squeaks/Pink Paws has only just started and they don't have any rescues yet). Thank you so much! (Forgot to add that getting another female was also to balance out the males).

[brindyzoeycandy]

I searched under city of Johannesburg and I looked and saw there were about five SPCAs. Have you called them? Only one had a link and it was broken.

Here is a complete list of all the Animal Rescues in Johannesburg:
city of johannesburg - Animal Welfare and Rehabilitation

I'm pretty sure some of them have guinea pigs.

[cavy_lover_jen]

I searched under city of Johannesburg and I looked and saw there were about five SPCAs. Have you called them? Only one had a link and it was broken.

Here is a complete list of all the Animal Rescues in Johannesburg:
city of johannesburg - Animal Welfare and Rehabilitation

I'm pretty sure some of them have guinea pigs.

Hi, I am absolutely aware of animal rescue centres in my city and even ones in surrounding cities. I have phoned 12 animal rescues so far (some that aren't even on that list) and absolutely none of them even accept guinea pigs. I even phoned DARG - an animal rescue centre on the other side of the country - if they were aware of any Gauteng-based animal rescues which take guinea pigs. (DARG is one of the only ones that I could actually find who took piggies). They said that they didn't know of any. I was not lazy in my research. I spent ages combing the internet, and there was nothing. I would love to adopt a cavy but it just isn't going to happen. So what is your position of me getting a cavy from a pet store? Rescue a cavy in need (yes, the cavies there are IN NEED) and give her a life where she is loved and cared for by someone who actually knows what she is doing, or forget about it and move on?

[brindyzoeycandy]

I'm glad you tried to find rescues and I can see that you are/were trying to find pigs.

However, you purchasing from a pet store, regardless of the conditions, is not rescuing. You are only supporting them and giving them more money to get even more cavies in. What happens when the next one goes in? And the next, and the next, and the next? You are only funding the pet store to get even more cavies to be taken poorly care of.

[Sirene]

What about local classified ads? I'm not sure what the SA equivalent of Craigslist would be, but I'm sure there are people looking to give away unwanted pet guinea pigs.

I've just seen that Johannesburg has a Craigslist, but there were no guinea pigs on it today. I've found this, though:

Guinea pigs: Two female, with large For Sale Johannesburg Quality Classifieds | Junk Mail

and this:

Two gorgeous female Guinea pigs, FREE For Sale Johannesburg Quality Classifieds | Junk Mail

[cavy_lover_jen]

What about local classified ads? I'm not sure what the SA equivalent of Craigslist would be, but I'm sure there are people looking to give away unwanted pet guinea pigs.

I've just seen that Johannesburg has a Craigslist, but there were no guinea pigs on it today. I've found this, though:

Guinea pigs: Two female, with large For Sale Johannesburg Quality Classifieds | Junk Mail

and this:

Two gorgeous female Guinea pigs, FREE For Sale Johannesburg Quality Classifieds | Junk Mail

Thanks so much for your reply and taking time to look. I only have space for one more piggy and I don't want to seperate a pair... That is a really good idea, though, I hadn't thought of that. I was thinking of irresponsible breeders etc on this that's why I wasn't really thinking but I now see the 'free to a good home' ad which I can respond to (If there's a trio or so on). Thanks again!

[Sirene]

No problem! I adopted my two little guys from someone on Craigslist, so that's always the first place I look . Doing so has the added advantage that you will probably be giving a good home to a pig in need!