Want a Guinea Pig(s) Any way I can convince my parents to let me adopt a guinea pig in need of TLC??

[WillowFields]

So I was looking on Kijiji like I always am, I have a habit of window shopping, and I came across a guinea pig who is in desperate need of help he is being kept in roughly a 10 gal tank (I'm estimating by the pictures) MAYBE even a 5 gallon. He's on shavings with no toys, or hideys and is only being fed carrots D: (from what I see in the pictures and what they showed for supplies. I feel so bad! He took up the majority of the tank and I really want to get him out of there! When I presented my presentation thing with my sister back around Christmas they said once we moved I could probably get guinea pigs. Well we've moved and now they've basically backed out of their deal. I showed my mom the ad for the poor little guy and she said "Well, just hope someone who knows what to do gets him." I highly doubt someone who knows how to properly care for a guinea pig will get him! If I got him I'd build him a C&C cage and introduce him to a proper diet and he'd be on fleece, and have all those wonderful things! He'd be pampered, and hopefully would get a friend in the near future
SO my question: any idea how I can convince my parents to let me adopt this little fellow? Any ideas welcomed! And my parents know I'm a responsible kid, they just claim they don't want "those kind of animals around" they allow me to have fish (I have none currently because of the move) and they don't have an issue with our dogs.

 

[Levenn]

I would do the presentation again, but add a section for mis-treated animals, and how YOU would help them have a better life.

 

[MommaOfFour]

I think you're doing great already doing all your research and preparing for the day when you will adopt your piggy friend! I respect that highly especially since a lot of younger people these days just go with the motions, get an animal they think would be cute to have as a pet - before they even know what that animal's needs are etc. Very responsible! you should include that in your presentation to your parents and emphasize it! Leveen's idea is great too, good point!
Maybe you could get your parents (or at least one of them) to go to a shelter with you where they have guinea pigs so they can see them live and for themselves how cute the piggies are. they'd be able to observe their behavior, hold one etc and then you could tell them again how you would do anything you can to make them have a better life. I know for me personally, seeing a piggy in real life would get me sold on them faster if I didn't already have 2 piggies.
it sort of worked that way with my husband wanting a bunny for the longest time. I wasn't entirely sure but he kept bringing the topic up over and over again and he eventually took me to visit with a few baby bunnies and well...... couple hours later we went home with a bunny

Good luck with your parents! keep us posted

 

[shc1192]

So I was looking on Kijiji like I always am, I have a habit of window shopping, and I came across a guinea pig who is in desperate need of help he is being kept in roughly a 10 gal tank (I'm estimating by the pictures) MAYBE even a 5 gallon. He's on shavings with no toys, or hideys and is only being fed carrots D: (from what I see in the pictures and what they showed for supplies. I feel so bad! He took up the majority of the tank and I really want to get him out of there! When I presented my presentation thing with my sister back around Christmas they said once we moved I could probably get guinea pigs. Well we've moved and now they've basically backed out of their deal. I showed my mom the ad for the poor little guy and she said "Well, just hope someone who knows what to do gets him." I highly doubt someone who knows how to properly care for a guinea pig will get him! If I got him I'd build him a C&C cage and introduce him to a proper diet and he'd be on fleece, and have all those wonderful things! He'd be pampered, and hopefully would get a friend in the near future
SO my question: any idea how I can convince my parents to let me adopt this little fellow? Any ideas welcomed! And my parents know I'm a responsible kid, they just claim they don't want "those kind of animals around" they allow me to have fish (I have none currently because of the move) and they don't have an issue with our dogs.

I'm 20 but I live with my dad while I'm in college and since I live under his roof I abide by his rules, so, even though I had a job, when I wanted a guinea pig a year and a half ago I had to ask him before I could get one. I did a ton of research, like hours upon hours of research, and I put together a folder of information. I presented my case, explaining all the things I had learned and how I planned to take care of the guinea pigs and showing him pictures of the cage I would buy and showing him where in my bedroom it would go, and then I gave him the folder. He looked through it and decided I could get guinea pigs!
I would try something similar that really shows your parents you know what you're getting yourself into and reassure them that you will be taking care of the guinea pigs, not them. Be sure to try not to raise your voice or get too upset if they seem unsure or start saying no; they're less likely to change their mind if they get mad at you. Good luck!

 

[claudinehere]

I had a hard time too before I got to convince my parents to let me adopt guinea pigs! But what I did was that I told them how I would take care of them and how I would take all the responsibility in taking care of them. What my parents were concerned about was that I would get bored of the piggies soon and they would be left with all the dirty work. I assured them that this would not be so. I also showed them that I know how to take care of the piggies and I was so surprised that they didn't even know what guinea pigs looked like... all they knew was that they were kinda like hamsters and rats (I've owned both before). But when they saw what a guinea pig was and how fun and rewarding they could be as pets, they fell in love and let me adopt a pair

 

[Pawesomepet]

[MENTION=23592]shc1192[/MENTION] I feel you. I'm 20 and live with my parents and my dad is so hard to convince and when I say hard I mean HARD he really doesn't care much for small animals. But somehow how in the past two years I convinced him to let me have 12 guinea pigs 7 hamsters 2 rats and a bird when two and a half years ago I couldn't even have one hamster.

 

[Pawesomepet]

@willowfields Tell them and show them that you've done your research and that you will keep it in your room out of sight. I also agree with [MENTION=23592]shc1192[/MENTION]

 

[jukeboxcavy]

I was sort of in the same position (I'm also a 20 year old college student living with my parent). My mom wasn't very hard to convince one I emphasized to her that I'd be the major caretaker, I would pay for everything, and that they'd be in my room which has an air purifier. She hasn't complained and loves to see them every once in a while. I also have 4 hamsters in 3 cages (Robos in a 40 gal breeder tank and hybrid(?) dwarves in a bin cage each). It also helps if you explain how you'll organize your room if they'll be in there.