Pet Stores Red-eyed gpig at Petsmart that no one wants

[4boipigs]

This could be under many tags. I mainly want to complain, I guess? I don't work for a certain vet in a pet store anymore, but I still volunteer for a cat rescue that uses the adoption rooms in Petsmart. For the past month or more, I've noticed a large brown/white guinea pig with red eyes that hasn't sold. She's massive compared to the little babies that come in and get sold rather quickly. I'm not sure on her age, but she's definitely getting towards full size.

Last weekend, I asked the cashier what her story was. I was not surprised that the problem is her red eyes. People are phobic about any critter with red eyes. It scares children (I was literally told this), it's demonic, it's evil, it's the devil, it's mean. I asked what happens if she is here too long. She will either be put on sale, or they will put her up for adoption - in that case I think she becomes 'free'.

I was then asked if I was interested in adopting her. It's too bad I have males. I'm not interested in bringing home a girl when I have males.

I just don't get it. I had a red-eyed hamster and he had such pretty little ruby eyes. I also have a red-eyed guinea pig, who was likewise passed over at the rescue due to his red eyes. For me, that wasn't why I wanted him and it didn't matter. I was more interested in having a teddie!

Attached are pics of Gungnir the red-eyed piggie, and former hamster Rubedo.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

She is adorable. I would do it if I could swing it even though I have males. I would just house her in a different room, and with a friend of her own. I, like you, hate it when people won't adopt or rescue animals over silly foibles.

 

[spy9doc]

You know that there is a saying that "you can't fix stupid" . I have little respect for those who quickly fall back on such superstitions and never bother to educate themselves as to the truth.

I include pix of a couple of my ruby-eyed cavies in the past few years.....one Aby and one Texel. Eye color never mattered to me when selecting an addition to the family. I couldn't bond Maxx, the Aby, and rehomed him. Maya, the beautiful little Texel, was the only female I have had in the past 13 years. She chose me and when I took her home to Chester (neutered), it was instant love for them both. She was intact and obviously had heat cycles. Chester was neutered, but had no idea what the fuss was about. She would sashay by Chester with suggestive swaying and seem to say, "Come here, Chester, I'll show you what to do". In the beginning he was mystified as to what her dance was all about, thinking it was dominance-related, but eventually learned that it was something different. It was great fun watching them.

Max is the silver Aby, and Maya is the Texel. Both beautiful with their ruby eyes. I have also included a pic of Maya's left eye where you can clearly see her "pea eye". That's how I came to bring her home to Chester. Pea eye is a genetic condition so she couldn't be bred nor shown. Her owner gave her to me saying, "I just want her to have a good home".

 

[Sybris]

Aw, she's a cutie! I had a ferret when I was a kid that had red eyes too. My mom also said he looked demonic at first, which I still don't understand. Like, I get wanting an animal you think is cute, but I can't wrap my head around an eye color being a deal breaker, ever. On the contrary, we got our cat in particular because he was missing an eye and he stood out to us more. Very skittish, but quite the character! He carries around a stuffed toy from room to room.

In my area, it seems that small animals are in high demand. I walked through a pet store to just look at the animals, and there was only one of each gender guinea pig and a ferret, all clearly adults or just about to be adults. It was sad.