The following post was made by a GL member who's a long time rescuer in the Chicago area. A county animal control unit in the area called a local vet, who called the GL rescuer.
This is the rule, NOT the exception, when getting pet store guinea pigs. If you buy one, they order another from the same supplier. Adopt, don't shop!
The vet and her husband drove there and I started networking to find a place for as many as I could. Sadly only about 1/2 made it out. She wasn't in the home but as the animal control garage where there were 2 - 2 car garages full or guinea pigs. There were several that had severe URI's. Not sure if it's from the ammonia in the house or if they were truly ill but as we all know if they were truly ill that can spread fast. There were several lethal whites, several that had club feet and couldn't walk, nails embedded in pads, the silkies and peruvians had fist size matts all the way to the skin. I know it wasn't easy but they had a cargo van that was full when they left. I did find a couple groups to take some. We decided tonight to not transport the younger ones and give them time to get a little larger then we'll start moving them out. Char, thanks for the offer but for now we're good. we have lots of pregnant females and there are several roans. Both Julia and I are holding our breath to see what we get.....The really sad thing isn't the ones that had to be euthanized it's how gorgeous some of the pigs are and what a shame. She was selling them to pet stores for $5.00 each and feeding them some cheap feed so many are under weight. Keep me in your thoughts. Needelss to say Rose the hustler will be selling guinea pigs on street corners soon (just kidding). I'm sure my padded room will have guinea pigs and chickens in it....
This is the rule, NOT the exception, when getting pet store guinea pigs. If you buy one, they order another from the same supplier. Adopt, don't shop!