Help! What do I do?

[Fujiko]

I don't know what to do...I need help and guidance.

I'm always tempted to look at the classified ads for free guinea pigs. I should have known I was looking for trouble. I called one up in Bismarck ND to inquire (I live 200 miles away in Fargo). I don't know why I am so shocked, but I am. And disgusted, too, for that matter. Here's why:

This lady has two adult gp's, one male and one female. NEITHER of them are altered. This pair just had babies ABOUT a month a go OR SO (who knows?), and she thinks there are a couple of them. They are all living together...OUTSIDE! I know most of you aren't familiar with ND (and who would want to be? heh) but the summers are hot and sticky and the nights can get pretty chilly.

This lady said she had to give them away because her daughter was allergic. I didn't even try to tell her to separate the males and the females because I could tell from the sound of her voice she wouldn't have given a rats behind anyway. By now all the girls are probably pregnant again anyway.

I am so ANGRY! I can't believe someone would treat animals this badly...I mean, you hear about neglected animals all the time, but...I've never seen it myself, never encountered it myself. I feel so naive. And I am so angry, so very, very angry. And disturbed, sad, and I feel so helpless. :ashamed:

I want so badly to drive right over there and take them all home, but the logistics of it...

I would hardly have room in my two-bedroom apartment for two more cages. It would be tripling my herd. And I can't afford to get more than one male neutered (getting one neutered would be pushing it). And if the females are pregnant again, I can just about imagine what a vet bill would be for emergency piggie obstetrics. I bet they all have fleas and/or mites from being outside.

I don't know what I can do. I can't NOT do anything. Call me a bleeding heart, whatever, but I can't just turn the other way. NO LIVING BEING DESERVES TO BE TREATED THIS WAY. please, please please, tell me what to do! :weepy:

 

[ibrakeforbugs]

If I were you I'd report her. Tell a local shelter or something what's going on, and they can go pick them up. Then they can treat them and find good homes for them. It's impossible to save all the cavies out there by personally giving them all homes, there's just too many. But you can let the right people know about the situation.

 

[Cherryrosed]

I agree with ibrakeforbugs. Report this person to a local shelter and have them help you in this. If you can't take them in yourself, you need to find someone who can. Poor, poor cavies. This is so sad.

 

[Skyenoir]

She THINKS there are a few babies? She doesn't know for sure? Doesn't she ever go out there and feed them and look in the cage? What the heck is that all about? I don't know how you couldn't know how many guinea pigs you have, that is so completely neglectful it is sick. Report her, definitely. Hopefully they can do something about it. Sounds like she would be the perfect person for someone to get "snake food" from. She wouldn't care who she gave the pigs to. All those free guinea pig meals she is giving away...how sad.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

I would report her to the ND local authorities and see if there are shelters nearby that will go pull the pigs. Maybe you can post this on guinealynx too and there may be a rescuer or member there that live close enough to pull the pigs.

 

[porkchopsmom]

You are right about her not caring to seperate the boys from girls if she doesn't care if they are outside and probably not being properly fed and watered. Please call the shelter in that area. Maybe they know about a rescue that could help.