Flags Good post for a change

[PeanutnCookie]

I don't really know if this goes in this category, but oh well...

Finally a good post for a change. (broken link removed) If the poster is on this website, thanks for posting about C&C cages and leashes and wheels. I hope you are not a breeder, or we will have to flag you.... At last there is some good in the world!!

 

[pinky]

$30 raises a red flag for me. Rescues usually charge around $25 so I wouldn't be surprised if it was a breeder.

 

[AmberCalzone]

The rescue I applied to volunteer at has an adoption fee of $30 for a single pig, and $50 for a pair. So $30, for me personally, doesn't raise any flags.

 

[Pawesomepet]

Breeders around me sell theirs for 10$ to 15$ so the cost doesn't really seem alarming to me.

 

[pinky]

The rescue I applied to volunteer at has an adoption fee of $30 for a single pig, and $50 for a pair. So $30, for me personally, doesn't raise any flags.

That's my point. People rehoming on craigslist usually charge less. Reputable rescues usually charge $25 or so.

 

[LoveMyHerd]

Prices definitely will vary.
Backyard breeders by me usually sell their pigs around $10. They don't care about the pigs and only think of them as money making machines. Real breeders (the ones who actually take good care of their pigs-not that I support them either!) sell their pigs from $30 to $40. I personally am not sure about this person because they referred people to this site. I wonder if they have seen the forum's mission and bias?

 

[AmberCalzone]

I admit I'm tired, so I suppose that's why I'm missing your point Pinky.

If they don't charge enough, they're a backyard breeder.
But if they charge too much (the same as a reputable rescue), it raises 'red flags' and makes you think they're... also a breeder?

 

[pinky]

The best way to decide about an ad like this would be to contact the person rehoming them and ask questions. Breeders are getting smarter when listing and you'll find that they often refer to "accidental litters" or offer info on guinea pig care to sell their guinea pig. I'd assume that a rescue would have a link to their website or info about it when doing a listing and someone rehoming an accidental litter would state that in their ad.

 

[pinky]

I wanted to mention something I recently read in an ad about rehoming guinea pigs. I think the fee was $25 each or both for $40. They were asking for a check payable to a local rescue instead of money for themselves. That's someone I'd feel comfortable adopting a guinea pig from.

 

[pinky]

I emailed her and she said she has the babies' parents and the mother's parents, too. One of the guinea pigs was shipped from Canada. I'd assume she is a breeder.

 

[AmberCalzone]

Thanks for looking into it

 

[PeanutnCookie]

O wow, seemingly good on the outside, bad on the inside....... I'm glad I posted it, flagging away!

 

[CavyHouse]

I've been charging $25 per piggy for the last 9 years. But recently I looked online at several other rescues and they were all charging $30. I think all rescues need to fundraise to make ends meet - even with $30 adoption fees. We've had two recent surgeries that were each a few hundred dollars. I pay for all of our extra expenses by boarding piggies and it's a lot of work. So I've been going back and forth about raising the adoption fees to $30 (in fact, I did that last week but keep waivering about it) Petco and PetSmart charge $38 or so (if I remember right).

I don't think $30 should raise any red flags.

 

[joys_cavies]

I've been charging $25 per piggy for the last 9 years. But recently I looked online at several other rescues and they were all charging $30. I think all rescues need to fundraise to make ends meet - even with $30 adoption fees. We've had two recent surgeries that were each a few hundred dollars. I pay for all of our extra expenses by boarding piggies and it's a lot of work. So I've been going back and forth about raising the adoption fees to $30 (in fact, I did that last week but keep waivering about it) Petco and PetSmart charge $38 or so (if I remember right).

I don't think $30 should raise any red flags.

Actually the pet Co near my mom charged $47. It was really sad but I'm glad I didn't get that pig cause he obviously had a URI and other problems we couldn't afford but I told my friends mom who worked there part time and it got sorted out. I just don't know what happened to him but that's a lot for a guinea pig

 

[pinky]

I've been charging $25 per piggy for the last 9 years. But recently I looked online at several other rescues and they were all charging $30. I think all rescues need to fundraise to make ends meet - even with $30 adoption fees. We've had two recent surgeries that were each a few hundred dollars. I pay for all of our extra expenses by boarding piggies and it's a lot of work. So I've been going back and forth about raising the adoption fees to $30 (in fact, I did that last week but keep waivering about it) Petco and PetSmart charge $38 or so (if I remember right).

I don't think $30 should raise any red flags.

I think $30 or more is acceptable for rescues to ask but I think it's excessive for a rehoming fee in this area. I'm sure it varies by area, though.

 

[CavyHouse]

I talked with a reptile rescuer a few years (5 years?) back to see what they thought rescues and private owners should charge in order to make it uneconomical for snake owners to buy guinea pigs for snake food. It was either $20 or $25 that she recommended to keep the piggies safe - and this was probably 5 years or so ago. So whenever people ask me for advice on rehoming piggies, I tell them to always advertise them at least for $25. I tell them that they can always waive the fee later (or donate it to rescue) if they really don't care about the money and just want the piggy to get a good home. This is in the San Francisco bay area. It could vary in other areas.

 

[pinky]

Ironically, this is a craigslist ad that's up right now here in the Chicago area:

(broken link removed)

 

[pinky]

I talked with a reptile rescuer a few years (5 years?) back to see what they thought rescues and private owners should charge in order to make it uneconomical for snake owners to buy guinea pigs for snake food. It was either $20 or $25 that she recommended to keep the piggies safe - and this was probably 5 years or so ago. So whenever people ask me for advice on rehoming piggies, I tell them to always advertise them at least for $25. I tell them that they can always waive the fee later (or donate it to rescue) if they really don't care about the money and just want the piggy to get a good home. This is in the San Francisco bay area. It could vary in other areas.

Guinea pig feeders sell for $5 here. We recommend no one lists them for less than $10. If they are selling the cage with the guinea pigs, we suggest they charge enough that they won't use the guinea pig as a feeder and sell the cage for profit.

 

[pinky]

Guinea pig feeders sell for $5 here. We recommend no one lists them for less than $10. If they are selling the cage with the guinea pigs, we suggest they charge enough that they won't use the guinea pig as a feeder and sell the cage for profit.

I reread this and want to clarify that we recommend no one lists guinea pigs for less than $10....

 

[PeanutnCookie]

I reread this and want to clarify that we recommend no one lists guinea pigs for less than $10....

(broken link removed) They have them listed as $5 each. (Breeder by the way, please flag) Sorry that they aren't following the rules...