Thanks for the criticism. COMPLETELY unnecessary.

[blackarrow]

I have absolutely no doubt that it's incredibly difficult to take proper care of certain pets in certain cultures/countries/economic conditions. If there was some sort of requirement that people keep pets, it would be harsh, as you say, to criticize people for their inability to meet certain standards. As there is NO requirement that people have pets, I have no such concern about harshness. If you can't take care of ANY animal the way it should be cared for, for whatever reason, you have no business having it. It really is that simple.

[blackarrow]

Originally Posted by TallulahBear

Do you guys want to know why this thread has resurfaced from back in April? I think Fridzolone is looking to argue for the sake of arguing.

I don't think I agree with you, and even if it were true, the question she raises - to what degree might how difficult or expensive it is to provide proper care, excuse failure to provide proper care? - is an important one.

[Paula]

Originally Posted by TallulahBear

Do you guys want to know why this thread has resurfaced from back in April? I think Fridzolone is looking to argue for the sake of arguing.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but it's hardly your judgment to make, and as has been noted, the argument is a valid one.

[MissSofi]

Originally Posted by Paula

Hello? This...

What was the Point of this "Hello?" besides to be demeaning...I understand the point of the rest of of your post but that was really rather tacktless

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by MissSofi

What was the Point of this "Hello?" besides to be demeaning...I understand the point of the rest of of your post but that was really rather tacktless

Do you realize what you are pointing out was said months ago in April? I don't understand what it has to do with the conversation that is currently taking place. If you are jumping on the "mods are so mean" bandwagon, Paula wasn't even a moderator at that point.

[blackarrow]

Originally Posted by MissSofi

What was the Point of this "Hello?" besides to be demeaning...I understand the point of the rest of of your post but that was really rather tacktless

In addition to what Ly said, I guess I found it to be a pretty mild reply to someone who came on a board actually entitled Guinea Pig Cages, talked about how her cage was too small, then told people to zip their lips about the subject!

[Ash-Ro060708]

Originally Posted by poopysmom

Sometimes, you have to live in another place to understand the mentality of the people there. I am not trying to criticize anybody. So please just hear it from my experiences.

Your whole post was very well said!(I didn't want to quote the whole thing)
It seems like most people on here think everyone lives in a large house and is with-in a mile of an animal shelter, hardware store, sign shop, organic veggie market, vet, etc, so if you can't get something for your pigs, your a terrible person.

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

If people were completely honest you would realize that this rarely happens. Space is not usually an issue as the cages can easily fit on top of a dresser with a little creative support. That leaves plenty of space underneath for the needed storage. Most people who say space is an issue are using it as an excuse. IF space really is that tight then they are unlikely to get a pet and if they do they will usually banish the poor thing outside.

Money is not really a problem either. I made my cage for under $7. I used recycled materials that are easily available just about anywhere and if not then there are easy substitutes that can be used. If I really tried I'm positive that I could have made my cage for under $1 or possibly even free. I am continually amazed at what people throw out. A lot of trash you see on the side of the road can be repurposed and kept out of a landfill.

I live in rural Manitoba Canada, my cage cost over $100CND to build(and I did shop around) including the grids, wire shelf lid, cat litter boxes for kitchens and bed areas and fleece(not including the taxes and the gas to drive over an hour and a half to get to the city to buy the stuff), and by some people's standards my cage is still "too small".

The top of my cage is set up for my cats to lay on, and under my cage I store my guinea pigs' floor time things, fleece, newspapers and cleaning stuff. I do not have one unused square foot in my house, it's either walking space or a couch, table, shelf, appliance or something else that needs to be on the floor(dog bed, dog kennel, food dishes, etc). I don't have any dressers or unused tables sitting around to put a cage on top of.

I rescued my guinea pigs from my sister, they were living in a large plastic dog kennel(maybe the same floor space as a 1x2 C&C cage) for a couple months before I finally took them from her. Even though her[my dad's] house is large enough for a huge cage, once the original glass and wood homemade cage fell apart, she was "too busy" with school and partying to fix it or build a new one, so she put them in the kennel and pretty much forgot about them. If I didn't rescue them when I did, most likely they would both not be alive right now.


I think some people on here make way too many assumptions about how everybody else lives.

[GizzyandMe]

Originally Posted by Ash-Ro060708

It seems like most people on here think everyone lives in a large house and is with-in a mile of an animal shelter, hardware store, sign shop, organic veggie market, vet, etc, so if you can't get something for your pigs, your a terrible person.

I think I am one of the most rural people on this site and I feel that if I can manage it then anyone who really loves their Guinea Pig can!

I live on a farm 128km/80miles from the nearest town (which has a population of less than 1000 people)
The closest vet to me that knows what a Guinea pig is is 209km/130miles from me in the next larger town (aprox 10 000 people)
I order my guinea pig food through the mail and have to order enough to get it mailed and then wait 10 days for delivery. The post office is 65km/40 miles from my house.
I pay for a 1kg/2.2pounds pack of food R257 which is exactly 10% of my salary!!!
I drive 128km/80miles to get Gizzy fresh vegetables.
Gizzy is on free range till her cage comes which I had to have specially build as we do not have the grids here at all and Coroplast I have to order from Cape Town 800Km/500miles and as I am not ordering bulk will have to go pick it up.
So far Gizzy's cage is costing me a full months salary (which is why we do not have it yet)

So I understand 100% how hard it is to find the right stuff and to be able to afford it and to make room for your Guinea pig but the fact remains, if you can not give them what they need, why not try and re-home them to someone who can?

[gooberific]

Originally Posted by MissSofi

What was the Point of this "Hello?" besides to be demeaning...I understand the point of the rest of of your post but that was really rather tacktless

Something you should or will learn in writing classes or public speaking... is called an "attention grabber" in layman's terms.

[Paula]

Originally Posted by Ash-Ro060708

It seems like most people on here think everyone lives in a large house and is with-in a mile of an animal shelter, hardware store, sign shop, organic veggie market, vet, etc, so if you can't get something for your pigs, your a terrible person.

Originally Posted by Ash-Ro060708

I think some people on here make way too many assumptions about how everybody else lives.

There are many people for whom supplies and other items for their guinea pigs (and other animals) haven't come easy - they've had to hunt and scour and get very creative in their searches for cage materials and other necessities, but in the end they've managed, even if it took longer than it might have for some others. And they've found a way and done it without sacrificing quality or space for their pigs, and that's because they realize these animals depend solely on them to meet their needs and that they should now do what's best to make sure those needs are met.

Like I've said before, I think there are some people that make excuses for keeping their pigs in pet store cages, for buying animals from pet stores, etc. But the reality of the situation is that it comes down to a simple choice.

I certainly appreciate that not everyone lives in an area where they have easy and abundant access to the things that are recommended for quality care. But that it's hard to do isn't an excuse that holds for very long, and the animals most certainly aren't going to care what the reason is for not having their needs met.

[MissSofi]

Originally Posted by gooberific

Something you should or will learn in writing classes or public speaking... is called an "attention grabber" in layman's terms.

I know what an attention grabber is but I'm sure the rest of the post would have gotten sufficient attention without that bit of attitude. This is just my opinion however.

[MissSofi]

Originally Posted by Paula

There are many people for whom supplies and other items for their guinea pigs (and other animals) haven't come easy - they've had to hunt and scour and get very creative in their searches for cage materials and other necessities, but in the end they've managed, even if it took longer than it might have for some others. And they've found a way and done it without sacrificing quality or space for their pigs, and that's because they realize these animals depend solely on them to meet their needs and that they should now do what's best to make sure those needs are met.

Like I've said before, I think there are some people that make excuses for keeping their pigs in pet store cages, for buying animals from pet stores, etc. But the reality of the situation is that it comes down to a simple choice.

I certainly appreciate that not everyone lives in an area where they have easy and abundant access to the things that are recommended for quality care. But that it's hard to do isn't an excuse that holds for very long, and the animals most certainly aren't going to care what the reason is for not having their needs met.

I very much agree with this! Have a Cerebral Palsy, limited transportation, and a fixed income. But no matter how painstaking it can seem to be (it takes me about a couple hours at times to clean out my girls cage and it feel like i have just run a marathon) There's always a way to make proper care work, and it's well worth it . :)

[MissSofi]

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

Do you realize what you are pointing out was said months ago in April? I don't understand what it has to do with the conversation that is currently taking place. If you are jumping on the "mods are so mean" bandwagon, Paula wasn't even a moderator at that point.

No I didn't realize the thread was that old, I should have checked the dates, that was my mistake. I have absolutely no problem with any of the mods whatsoever.You guy's in general do great job, and I did notice that Paula wasn't a moderator.

[Peggysu]

Originally Posted by Ash-Ro060708

It seems like most people on here think everyone lives in a large house and is with-in a mile of an animal shelter, hardware store, sign shop, organic veggie market, vet, etc, so if you can't get something for your pigs, your a terrible person.

I don't think most people on here think anyone lives in a large house and in a city with access to everything. I myself live in rural California and for me to find things can be difficult, yet I've managed to do it. My piggie vet is a good 40 minutes away. I also live in a small one bedroom appartment. I don't make a lot of money, but I manage to budget my income so that I can take care of my pets properly and save money as well.

I also believe that if someone can't afford to take care of their pets properly that maybe that individual should not have them in the first place.

[fridzalone]

Originally Posted by Ash-Ro060708

Your whole post was very well said!(I didn't want to quote the whole thing)
It seems like most people on here think everyone lives in a large house and is with-in a mile of an animal shelter, hardware store, sign shop, organic veggie market, vet, etc, so if you can't get something for your pigs, your a terrible person...

I think some people on here make way too many assumptions about how everybody else lives.

I think it's not about how big your house is, or how easy you can get your supplies, I think it's about the prosperity of every places are totally different.

And it makes the way people think are different (i prefer to call it unique). So I don't think people on here making way too many assumptions, because people believe in what they see, and it's normal.

Originally Posted by Ash-Ro060708

top of my cage is set up for my cats to lay on, and under my cage I store my guinea pigs' floor time things, fleece, newspapers and cleaning stuff. I do not have one unused square foot in my house, it's either walking space or a couch, table, shelf, appliance or something else that needs to be on the floor(dog bed, dog kennel, food dishes, etc). I don't have any dressers or unused tables sitting around to put a cage on top of.

I find this one is the main space problem that I usually found with another pig owners. And even if they have table, usually they put something above it. And when they have to put the cage above that table, it means they have to make the cage solid, so they can put those "something" above the cage. And it means more cost.



Thanks everyone for replying my opinion. I'll try my best to help another pig owners in my place to meet the minimum requirements or at least to get close to it.

[distancel]

Originally Posted by blackarrow

I think it's not wise for people to get guinea pigs if they have too little space or money to be able to take care of them properly.

I have to agree.

I'm not exactly rolling in cash but I have enough to get by. However if I am ever a little short of cash my pets come first. It's just common sense. I can go without, they should never have to. If they have to go without then I don't deserve to have them.

This sounds a little harsh but people using the excuse 'I can't afford it' is just silly. If you can't afford it, don't have a pet.

And oh yes this is actually an old thread, sorry if I shouldn't be adding anything to it.

[s.edwards]

My Lyra was a 'surprise" from my husband. We were newly married and I told him about the piggy I had when I was little who died of scurvy because I didn't know any better (RIP Squeakers). He decided to get me a piggy as a gift and got the largest petstore cage (maybe the same size of a 1x3 CC). We then rescued a female so she wouldn't be alone. We found his site and started saving for a CC cage. We got them a 2x5 and soon after I became ill and lost my job. I have been sick for a year and still cannot work but we make sure they have what they need. We buy veggies at local farmer markets to save money and it is extremely difficult but I make sure their cage gets cleaned. My parents have to help will all my medications but my animals will not suffer for it. We decided to get them so if someone has to go without it will be my husband and I, not the animals. As their owner it isa my duty to care for them and there is no excuse. It may take me a long time to clean them, or we may have to eat noodles to make sure they have food but so be it. I feel horrible that I cannot clean them as often as I'd like but they are clean, well fed, have hay and have veggies. Its part of CHOOSING to be a responsible pet owner.