This thread is understandably heated because of the original post -- the needless death of far too many guinea pigs due to outdoor housing and the idiot breeder who let it happen again.
It is impossible not to be outraged at this tragedy. This thread did NOT start out as a quiet discussion of the pros and cons of outdoor housing--we have plenty of those threads on this forum. Let's put the reactions in the context of reality.
And as the original author and out-spoken activist of the new cage size standards that have been adopted AROUND the WORLD, I can tell you with absolute clarity that that change did NOT come about by tip-toeing around the issue with people who ALL had tiny, too small cages. EVERY SINGLE PERSON who was a guinea pig enthusiast and even the 'experts' who you all know and love for very many years FOUGHT me incessantly about my "overstated" requirements. The current minimums were just fine, thank you very much. WHY????????? Because they had kept guinea pigs forever; that was the cage size that THEY had, and they were just fine with it, thank you very much, and shut up.
That was what I dealt with for years. But, I persevered on many forums and on many fronts. I created the C&C cages and slowly, as they were adopted and more and more independent testimonials started to appear in various places, over the years, the TRUTH of what guinea pigs really need for proper care has been adopted everywhere. It took over a DECADE.
However, if I had gone along the advised path of being nicey nicey to not hurt the feelers of those who stubbornly refused to accept the fact that they were not correct in their own caging, then nothing would have changed. "Oh, yes, well, sure, what you are doing is just fine, this is just better." Ho hum -- would have been business as usual.
Now, I'm not saying that we should be rude to people, not at all. But, I'm also not willing to back down from what we know is better for the animals. It is fact, not opinion.
Do I think the folks in the UK who house their pigs outdoors are bad pet owners? I don't know. Some yes, some no, the variations on their real intent, their view of their pets, what they do and how they do it, all factor in if I were going to assess someone personally.
Do I think this breeder is an idiot? Yes. Very very rarely do I think that. But in this case, most definitely. Inexcusable. Stupid. Shameful.
If we have some new members who are so outraged at our reactions on this thread that they need to leave, so be it. As you know, there are several forums that focus on UK members where outdoor housing is not only condoned, it's encouraged. Not everyone is going to be happy or find value in every online community. We don't claim to be the home for everyone. I absolutely do want members to try to be respectful of one another. No question.
But, not to the extent of having to white wash a travesty such as this in order to maintain some status quo.
It's these kinds of things that should serve as a wake up call to those who house outdoors. Instead, when confronted with the fact that this can happen, those who are posting pretty much dig their heels in even more. It's to be expected. It's human nature. HOWEVER, for every person posting on this thread there are many, many more reading it. The points will NOT be lost on everyone. Highlighting it here, regardless of those who may feel persecuted because they feel the need to defend their housing choices, does expose the issue to many and helps enlighten others who we do not know.
Don't know what else has been said on this thread as I haven't read in to it but I don't want people to think I'm adding to it lol 
