In fact, I've been working (still working) on my Cafe Press store. But this section is done: (broken link removed)
Try wearing one of these to the next show! Or think of a creative use for the bumper sticker!
And don't forget, every purchase of one of my Cafe Press items helps support this site and the Cavy Spirit rescue.
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Sure breeders can rescue.
Half of their brain is in the right place. That means there is hope for them. A little.
This is a very good question, because I suppose I'll need to put a little summary of why this is a problem on each description of my cafe press items for those that don't see it.
Here's my attempt at a condensed version. Rhetoric removed.
Pets, including guinea pigs = Significantly Overpopulated
Significantly Overpopulated = Death in Shelters
Significantly Overpopulated = Death outdoors from being 'set free'
Significantly Overpopulated = Death from neglect by poorly educated and poorly screened
buyers.
Significantly Overpopulated = Death by breeding from people who view animals as stock (acceptable losses in pursuit of a standard or look)
Significantly Overpopulated = Death by breeding from backyard breeders who think breeding is fun, cool or educational
Significantly Overpopulated = Death by breeding from accidents, either missexed pairs or stupidity
Breeding Guinea Pigs =
NO standards of practice, care, education, policies, etc. NONE. Only standards of looks.
Being a 'show breeder' =
NOTHING. You can be one of the worst caretakers of guinea pigs on the planet and the associations will support you and back you up.
Breeding = INCREASED POPULATION
Increased Population = More DEATH
Increased Population = More pigs needing rescue
Being a rescue = KNOWLEDGE and understanding of the pet overpopulation problem
Being a rescue = Desire to change the pet overpopulation problem
Being a rescue = Resources to care for rescues and advertise and promote them for rehoming
Being a rescue = Commitment to finding good, qualified homes and being a source of education and training.
OVERPOPULATION = NOT ENOUGH HOMES FOR THE EXISTING POPULATION
And IF there are enough homes, but the problem is matching them up, then the Pet Trade Industry MODEL IS BROKEN.
In either case, BREEDERS ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
Breeders who rescue = Pet stores who rescue = Basically, free stock
Breeders who rescue and Pet stores who 'rescue' might have a few different policies, but on the whole, it's the same place, with the general look and feel and education and screening and
OPTION of BUYING their primary stock.
What really, really angers me to no end, is the
bait and switch. A breeder who rescues advertises a rescue pig for adoption.
Adopter comes in and goes home with a breeder pig--knowingly or unknowingly. It's a slap in the face to those who really do rescue and it's a moral sin in my opinion against lives of the rescued animals.
I have
PROOF of this happening from both ends of the spectrum. An example from a deluded rescuer who breeds (we have one in my neck of the woods) and an example from one of the most highly revered and vocal breeders who rescues in this country. And this particular breeder was sliding down the slippery slope of advertising her culls as rescues. No potential adopter walking through the door who WANTS to adopt a rescue pig will know the difference.
THEN, there is the aspect of the BREEDER educating the ADOPTER. What a joke. Even if you make the very wrong assumption that all breeders are good breeders and know what the hell they are doing,
AT BEST, regarding breeding and the pet overpopulation problem, they have to say,
"DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO!"
So, as is typical, you get some family with kids in to ADOPT and they see the breeder setup and potentially the cute babies popcorning around and probably the display of ribbons from shows. What do you think is going to happen?
Well, so much for a short summary. Obviously, it's one of my hot buttons. Breeders who rescue: :yuck: