Hi there sedilney,
Where about in the Philippines are you located? I lived out there for 3 years, so I have a reasonable gage of the guinea pig situation out there. Unlike Europe and America you're unlikely to find rescue shelters for guinea pigs out there, as you'll probably know. There's a different attitute to animals out there than to elsewhere.
If you really would like a guinea pig, you can buy them from Bioresearch stores in S&M malls etc. You know where I mean?
HOWEVER, having had a guinea pig in the Philippines I suggest you give serious thought before getting one for the following reasons:
- Supplies are hard to come by and when you can get them they are more expensive than over here in Europe as they are often imported.
- You'll find rabbit pellets quite easily, but not guinea pig ones. Sometimes they are in stock, sometimes they are not. Same applies to woodshavings. I used rags instead, you know the mixed fabric off-cut ones from the market? Really cheap.
- As piggies need hay this is a bigger problem I came across. I couldn't get hay, only if the stores had it occasionally. I'd fed my piggy grasses from around my province area, BUT make SURE it is not from where any roaming dog (as there are many), nor turkey, chicken or other animal has urinated!
- One the good side there's plenty of pechay to feed your guinea pig!
- Buying cubes I found easier than in the UK. I went to my local ACE hardware store in Megamall. I got a pack of 4 cubes for P999, which as you'll know is rather expensive in Pesos!
- Coroplast, I couldn't find either, so I used lino, again from ACE hardware that was fairly cheap.
So there is a lot to over come if you are thinking of having a piggy in the Philippines, it's not cheap by local standards that's for sure. And I was often greeted with "Guinea pig? What's one of those?" When going to the local pet store looking for food.
Send me a PM if you'd like any help or advice.
Hope this helps.