The Anti-Pet Store Generalization

[gemstone_dragon]

I'm going to start off by saying that I used to work at PetSmart.

I'm also going to say that the small animal manager at my store didn't know squat about guinea pigs. (i.e. He told me that my male couldn't get my female pregnant until he was two years old.)

But in the defense of pet stores...

If it weren't for PetSmart and PetCo, there wouldn't be any well-known places to get guinea pigs in my area. (I live in Tulsa, OK and I haven't been able to find any rescues that are dedicated soley to guinea pigs. If you go to the rescues that deal with all sorts of animals, it may take months to find a single guinea pig for adoption.)

Also, if you live in an underpopulated area (such as the small town where I used to reside in Pennsylvania) it's nearly impossible to find a guinea pig rescue. I'd never even heard of them until now. Even the humane society in my small town only dealt with cats and dogs to the best of my knowledge.

And if it weren't for the time I spent at PetSmart, I would have absolutely no interest in guinea pigs. The whole reason I got mine was because I saw one honey-colored cutie in the pig habitat and I started going in to visit him on my breaks. Eventually I bought "Gus" and then a week or so later, I bought his mate, "Maggie" from another PetSmart location.

Also, I've noticed that PetCo does adoptions rather then buying and selling animals from distributers. So even though it's a far cry from a rescue, they're doing their part in helping to find homes for unwanted guinea pigs.

I've noticed that pretty much everyone here seems to be anti-pet store, but you have to realize that just because there are rescues and organizations to help adopt out guinea pigs near you, doesn't mean they're all over. If you're all so interested in rescues, consider starting more of them instead of ragging on the pet stores who sell animals in areas where rescues are scarce or unavailable.

<3 ash

[gemstone_dragon]

Edit: I also wonder why everyone thinks it's such a terrible crime to give a guinea pig from a pet store a loving, attentive home just because they didn't come from a rescue. Pet stores are not going to stop buying animals from distributors regardless of what gets said about them, so why should we discriminate against guinea pigs that end up in pet stores? They didn't choose to be there and they deserve the same love and care and attention that a rescued pig does.

[fourbwabbys]

I live in Tulsa, OK and I haven't been able to find any rescues that are dedicated soley to guinea pigs

Look beyond where you live.
Here's one in Kansas Guinea Lynx :: Topic - Rescue Blues and Thanks

How about driving a little? People in your area have droven 6 hours to get a pig in a different state. It's just being lazy that you say you can't find one near you. Where there are petstores, there are homeless pigs, you're just not looking hard enough.

such as the small town where I used to reside in Pennsylvania

Again, maybe not in your town but there is a huge guinea pig rescue in NJ that always has 200+ pigs. While looking for another member in PA, I found 10 guinea pig rescues in the area. Take the drive.

Eventually I bought "Gus" and then a week or so later, I bought his mate, "Maggie" from another PetSmart location.

Classic pet store mis-sexing.

Also, I've noticed that PetCo does adoptions rather then buying and selling animals from distributers. So even though it's a far cry from a rescue, they're doing their part in helping to find homes for unwanted guinea pigs.

Ha! They don't do rescue. They just take in the pigs that people dump off after the 14 day guarentee. They can't legally re-sell them. So they are forced to give them up for free. The have NO adoption application at all. They give them to anyone who walks into the door.

And do you look 10 feet beyond that free pig. *Voila* Pigs for sale! They sell pigs and try to 'cover it up' by 'rescuing'. It's all a load of crap.
They preach rescue rescue! Yet SELL the animals that so desperately need homes! How hypocritical is that!

[fourbwabbys]

Pet stores are not going to stop buying animals from distributors regardless of what gets said about them, so why should we discriminate against guinea pigs that end up in pet stores?

It's a business. They don't get sales, they don't sell it anymore.

[MCR_Rox]

A few weeks after I bought Skunky, I saw some guinea pigs on Petfinder that might be considered near me. I'm in a really small town in PA, too, but there are still places that are kind of near me where my mom might've been willing to travel, but I have no room for another piggy.

[SoCalCavies]

Ugggh! I have to jump in here, too...

I AGREE! I AGREE! I AGREE! Fourbwabbys is right on the money with this one.

I won't bother reiterating what was already said, but I will add that Gemstone_dragon said several things that I took notice of, such as:

Originally Posted by gemstone_dragon

If you go to the rescues that deal with all sorts of animals, it may take months to find a single guinea pig for adoption.

SO WHAT?! What's wrong with waiting, so you don't fatten the pockets of people who don't care one iota about an animals' welfare?

Originally Posted by gemstone_dragon

Also, if you live in an underpopulated area (such as the small town where I used to reside in Pennsylvania) it's nearly impossible to find a guinea pig rescue.

NEARLY impossible? Sorry, but that makes it "possible" in my book!

Originally Posted by gemstone_dragon

Even the humane society in my small town only dealt with cats and dogs to the best of my knowledge.

"To the best of [your] knowledge?" How about finding out for sure?! Put a little effort into it.

Originally Posted by gemstone_dragon

And if it weren't for the time I spent at PetSmart, I would have absolutely no interest in guinea pigs. The whole reason I got mine was because I saw one honey-colored cutie in the pig habitat and I started going in to visit him on my breaks.

Oh, so great for the poor pig that had to sit there for God knows how long, just so you could obtain some "interest?" Please.

Lame, lame, lame.

But the truest statement of all that was made my Fourbwabbys was about how it's a business. I'm afraid you are either a little naive, or just downright lazy, but if a product isn't bought by a consumer, it won't last long!!! Anyone who even buys a product in a petstore is perpetuating the cycle. It's as simple as that. Do it if you want, but you can't ever claim that you didn't know better now!!!

[VoodooJoint]

Another problem with petstores is that they supply unaltered animals to anyone, even someone like you Gemstone, who thinks it would be fun to breed more animals.

You are breeding two animals that you know nothing about. You do not know their genetics, you do not know their health background, you do not know their likely longevity.

With someone like you supporting petstores why would we think in any way that what they do is good?

Where there are petstores there are animals in need of adoption. Partly because they sell to impulse buyers and partly because many of the buyers breed, just like you.

[MCR_Rox]

You've joined recently, and haven't read enough on pet stores, yet. You should keep reading about them before buying ANY animals.

There is a page on Index of / that tells you a lot about pet stores.

Do you believe in the stuff they say about care, too?


You need to read before you do something.

Bold stuff is where it was edited.

[OSUCavies]

I personally think it is sickening that you intentionally bred your guinea pig. If you worked at a petstore and know that there are many endless amounts of guinea pigs out there that need homes (regardless of where they come from, shelters, rescues, PETSTORES), then why on EARTH would you want to breed your guinea pig? Why would you want to RISK HER LIFE just to have a couple of cavies that you can gawk at and think are "soooooo cute".

As harsh as this may sound, you do not deserve to own any pets.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

A loving and attentive home is one that breeds the guinea pigs? Where do you think most of their pigs are ending up? If they don't die from URI or mites first.

[MCR_Rox]

Maybe this person is just trying to get attention or something.

[OSUCavies]

She'll probably dump the babies in a PetDumb or PetNo once they're born. Either that or she won't separate the females from the males after three weeks and end up with even more baby cavies.

....Ugh.

[gemstone_dragon]

Ok, who in their right mind wants to travel for 6 hours just to get a guinea pig for their 7 year old daughter who is probably sick anyway from a rescue when you can drive half an hour to a pet store and buy a healthy one? I'm sorry to break it to all of you, but guinea pigs are not the center of everyone's worlds. I love animals and I have a very big heart when it comes to them, but you're not being realistic. I dare you to go ask your mothers if they would've driven you 6 hours and 2 states away to rescue a guinea pig when you were a kid instead of buying one from your neighborhood pet shop. I'm willing to bet that they'll tell you they had so much to do as a parent that where they get your pet is the least of their focus. I think you all are being very selfish in telling me that I shouldn't have my 2 guinea pigs because they were from a pet store. I love my babies and I don't regret buying them for a second. And no, stores will not stop selling animals just because one or two people don't buy them; they'll continue to sell for the hundreds that do.

I AM NOT AGAINST RESCUES

If there's a rescue near your home and you don't have to take drastic measures to get to it, by all means give your love to a guinea pig in need. But if there's not, I'm not going to tell people they have to drive across the state to get an animal they're not even sure they want.

If you people are all so interested in adopting guinea pigs instead of breeding them, I suppose you're also against having children and opt to adopt them instead...You know, since there are so many HUMAN BEINGS that are in foster homes and adoption agencies that need good homes. So obviously if you feel this strongly about an animal, you must feel the same way about your own kind...Right?

[gemstone_dragon]

Originally Posted by OSUCavies

She'll probably dump the babies in a PetDumb or PetNo once they're born. Either that or she won't separate the females from the males after three weeks and end up with even more baby cavies.

....Ugh.

Well thank you very much for assuming you know me and how I'll act. I thought this forum was for a heated discussion, not a person-bashing. None of you know me. None of you know how I treat my animals. None of you know anything about me at all. And I'm guessing that none of you would expect me to reply to this post while crying, but guess what? I am. I've never been so hurt by strangers for voicing my opinion. When I joined this site yesterday I though it was a Godsend. I thought I would make some new friends and learn more about my pigs. But since I've been here, no one has been nice to me, everyone that has replied to my posts has belittled me, assumed the worst about me, and done everything they can to make me feel like trash just for stating my opinions. I now believe that all your manners and kindness have been lavished on your animals and you've reserved none for anyone else. This is not a ploy for attention. This was me, Ashley, trying to have an adult conversation with some new people that I would've liked to have gotten to know. But as it turns out, this website was just a big waste of time. No one has ever made me feel so horrible.

And not that anyone cares, but I plan on separating the males and females just like everyone tells me to and if I can't afford to keep all the babies, I plan on finding them good homes. Not that it's anyone's business anymore.

I sincerely regret coming here and I hope you treat your other new members MUCH better then you have treated me.

[OSUCavies]

WHAT? You think a RESCUE guinea pig has more of a chance at being sick as compared to a PETSTORE pig that has been in a disgusting BREEDING cage?!

Ignorance. Pure ignorance.