Tired of People...all of them.

[Drawingwords]

I needed a place to discuss this with other cavy people and people of different mindsets. I am insanely angered and confused and hurt because of today.

As you know, I was looking for a young male for a companion to Peanut as he will be 3 weeks on Wednesday. I found an ad on Craig's list and decided the guy sounded like he wasn't a breeder, of guinea pigs anyway, and drove around looking for guinea pigs. Went to the SPCA and there were 2. Mean and a lot older than my husband wanted for the baby. I accepted his wish and went to this guy.

As I walked on the porch, there was questionable paraphanalia. Plastic bins with prices on them for different reptiles. The guy was looking out the door and invited us in but told us to stay there in the living room. First thing I saw was a tank, reasonably sized, with about 50-75 red-eared turtles in it. Okay, so it was a red flag. After talking to this guy, he admitted that he breeds reptiles for his cousin's pet store. He also breeds his own rats for the snakes he raises. All 100 OF THEM! No, he does not breed guinea pigs he said. They don't sell fast enough and this was an accident.

Anyway, my husband said we should take one of the males and we did. The man said he was 2 months and he is more like a month. He still has a visible embellical cord mark. On the way home, I find he probably has lice. A tiny spot of hair was missing, since he is an abby, it's harder to see. He's quarantined in the kitchen and will be going to the doctor on Monday.

You know what sucks? I really wanted to do the right thing this time and get one from a rescue, since there are none near me, yea I'd have to drive and I was at least willing to meet someone half way. What really sucks...I walked into this situation and here are 5 pigs that are obviously going to be snake food. So, lets just put this into perspective. Even if someone else "bought" them and got rid of them and I bought them, they would still be rescued. I didn't go to this breeder to support breeding or because I wanted a certain kind. Yea, my husband and I wanted one we didn't think was ugly and had a nice personality. This guy is beautiful and he is sweet. I feel bad about it. I feel terrible because I made a decision that went against everything this site has talked about and other sites. Yet, I couldn't sit there and know these creatures were going to feed other creatures. I also feel like I can't trust anyone anymore. I have heard bad things about some rescues. Just tonight someone else I met off of Craig's list was complaining of a rescue near her and the conditions they are kept in. There are probably breeders lurking on this site all of the time, some hidden under false pretenses. I'm sick of not being able to trust anyone and freaking out because no matter where I get a pig it might be sick, it might have been beaten. I don't want to feel like garbage because I in reality, did support this arse and his stupid habit.

You will all tell me how terrible I am and how I should have gone to someone on the forum which I did but I thought "Hey, they're closer and they sound legit." Well, now I'm a silly goose. I know there have been debates on this on a million other threads but until you step into that situation and it slaps you in the face, you wouldn't know what you would do.

Leo is now in the kitchen, in a wonderful home, eating good food and getting awesome care. If I'm an awful person, I don't care because I have given this animal a wonderful home.

 

[PrayerWarrior]

Did you give the person money for Leo?

 

[punkygizzylover]

I'd feel happy because you took this lucky little pig out of a bad situation!

 

[PIGGYMAMMA495]

Unfortunally, no matter what we do to try to stop him he seems to smart to stop. Obviously he is a sneaky person to put them as adoption under craigslist. I hope you can post his link to his add so we can all flag it.
Even if we all went and got the pigs from him, he is in it for the wrong reasons and will continue to breed. You did save a piggy from being snake food, but it's sad that the other ones will all be eaten or sold to a petNo in the end. I hope Leo does well and is okay and I hope to see pictures of him. Make sure you tell the person he came from when you go to the vets that he has mites or lice so that he knows, not that he will necessiarly do anything about it but it might dawn on him to get them other pigs treated.

 

[Susan9608]

It sounds like you're rationalizing your actions. But what are you trying to achieve with your post here?

Do you want people to justify your actions by saying you were right and good to pull the pig out of a bad situation, that certainly you couldn't have left him to become snake food?

Or do you want the satisfaction of knowing that you were right when people come to "jump" on you for doing something that you knew was wrong and that perpetuates the very behavior we're trying to eliminate?

I'm sorry, but your whole post just smacks of emotional manipulation.

If I'm an awful person, I don't care because I have given this animal a wonderful home.

Yeah, that's the way most people feel when they do something like this ... hopefully some day there will be enough people who *do* care and who will do the right thing when the time comes so that we can keep situations like this from happening in the first place.

 

[charlie23]

I think you have done a good thing i recently got a new gp from a vet who it was handed into. You are giving a lovely animal a lovely home. Somebody needs to take in the ones that are being bred by breeders or god knows what will happen to them!

 

[VoodooJoint]

Somebody needs to take in the ones that are being bred by breeders or god knows what will happen to them!

Are those "somebodies" also going to take in the ones the breeders create to replace the ones they sold? How about the ones after that? and after that? If people keep buying from the breeders then the breeders will keep breeding and you aren't helping anything you are only making the situation worse.

 

[DinnyPids]

I think the pigs that are already in a rescue are and will be safe from harm- someone will eventually come to adopt them. Yes, some people will criticize you for not going to a shelter or rescue but the fact remains that you saved a pig. I wouldn't be ashamed of that. Best of luck to your new boar. I'm really happy that you got Peanut a friend.

 

[VoodooJoint]

I think the pigs that are already in a rescue are and will be safe from harm-

Except for the thousand or so that are euthanized in over crowded shelters each year. But who cares about them?

Why don't we all run out and buy from breeders so we can help the overpopulation problem get worse and worse. Maybe we can get the numbers of guinea pigs euthanized raised up to that staggering 5 million each year mark. Over 5 millions dogs are killed in shelters and rescues each year but people keep on buying from breeders. I guess they think the dogs in shelters are safe too. Or maybe, like most people, they just don't care.

There is a quote by George Bernard Shaw that I find appropriate here
"The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them but to be indifferent towards them: That is the essence of inhumanity"

Indifference and apathy are dangerous things. They seem harmless enough but they create untold amounts of suffering. Deluding yourself into thinking that one poor action doesn't matter (if done for a good reason) has effects that can cause great suffering and death--bringing me to my favorite quote of all time by Albert Schweitzer, "Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight".

Now do the animals a favor and watch the following video and see where your type of thinking leads. Be sure to have your speakers on http://www.brightlion.com/InHope/InHope_en.aspx

 

[suzilovespiggie]

Did it ever occur to you, when you found out this man is a breeder to call the aspca and have him checked out? Having that many animals, I am sure there are some health issues. The GP you took has lice and it appears other health issues loss of hair). It is sad the GP's there are going for food. If this man has 100 snakes that is what he is breeding them for food. My opinion is if he can sell a few as "adoptions" he makes a few bucks. This man should be put out of buisness. Buying anthing from him keeps the cycle going. It was the same as buying from a petstore. When you buy shelter animals die. And it keeps the breeding cycle going. We on this site are trying with everything we have to stop that cycle. Your actions will not be condoned here.

 

[Drawingwords]

Did it ever occur to you, when you found out this man is a breeder to call the aspca and have him checked out?

Having that many animals, I am sure there are some health issues. It is sad the GP's there are going for food. If this man has 100 snakes that is what he is breeding them for food.

Yes, after I talked to him and as in the car I thought about calling the SPCA. And telling them what? That he is a breeder? It's wrong but it's not against the law. This guy has his butt covered because I told him the sliders were illegal a couple of years ago and then he brought up the recent laws. If he is breeding for a business and/or feeding them to snakes, then unfortunately there isn't much any of us can do. I'm realistic and as much as I'd love to have his place shut down, the animals weren't in bad conditions as far as PETA standards go. Also, I didn't see the downstairs. I can call up and tell them what I saw and see if he has a permit. That is one thing that he could get arrested for. He's in a different county than the SPCA I know of. I'm not sure if they have jurisdiction but I will call tomorrow.

As for the last quote..that's why I did it. And you don't know me or where my heart is so I don't think anyone has the right to condone anyone.

 

[terramama]

I have to agree with Voodoojoint! There are way to many animals out there in shelters. If we buy animals(of any kind) from breeders then we are a part of the problem. Having said that- I know it is hard to turn your back on animals in need-I would have ended up with all of the guinea pigs, and then ended up calling the local Animal Control. Probably not the best, but Animal Control can't always control what happens to the animals after they are removed from the "owners" home. In my area we have one no kill shelter, when I call Animal Control(and I have had to before), I request the animals to be sent to this shelter, the Animal Control Officer happens to know me, and respects my wishes. Good luck with your new piggy. Maybe you should make that call to the ASPCA or Animal Control now!

 

[Drawingwords]

We don't have an animal control. We have cops with guns and an officer that would rather sit at his desk. And I will call after I have him at the vet so I have documented "proof" to show the officer.

 

[Jennicat]

As a rescuer, the attitude that rescue pigs are "safe" is what makes it a tad more difficult to do what we're trying to do. I only have room to take in a certain amount of pigs, and I usually have a waiting list sitting for me to run out and pull the next available pig in the shelter.

But until someone comes along and adopts the "safe" pig, I have to watch the pigs on that list be euthanized or given to unknowledgable homes because I don't have room.

 

[camende]

Personally, I would have walked away. I know there are too many piggies in rescues waiting for forever homes. I have adopted multiple piggies. I have driven as far as 4.5 hours ONE WAY for a piggie.

I'm curious if you even considered a rescue and which one. I know there are rescues in NJ and PA. Most rescues would be willing to meet you half way if they knew that the piggie would go to a good home.

With my most recent adoption, I asked if someone could meet me closer since my closest rescue is 4-5 hours away. I ended up only driving 3 hours each way. Still, I know, that is farther then most people are willing to drive but knowing I was helping to save 2 piggies was worth it for me. (I always think of adopting as saving 2. I adopt one and then it frees up another place in the rescue so another piggie won't be put to sleep)

I agree with Susan, I am not sure what the purpose is in your original post. If you want us to tell you "its ok", I think you are posting on the wrong site. This is an anti-breeding, Pro-rescue site. Those of us who rescue are never going to tell you its ok to buy from a breeder. I don't care if he wasn't breeding GP's. He was still breeding. Like I said at the top, I would have walked away.

 

[Drawingwords]

But until someone comes along and adopts the "safe" pig, I have to watch the pigs on that list be euthanized or given to unknowledgable homes because I don't have room.

You euthanize pigs? I thought the point of a rescue was not to kill animals.

 

[camende]

Drawingwords, I think you misunderstood Jennicat's post.

There is limited room in a rescue. Much as the rescues would like to save every guinea pig, They can't take in guinea pigs unless the ones the rescue are adopted. Once a guinea pig is adopted from a rescue, the rescue then has another spot that can be filled by a guinea pig in need.

Basically, there are just too many guinea pigs in need of homes then there are rescues and foster homes.

 

[charlie23]

So the ones in the rescues are getting euthanized and the ones not sold by breeders are getting drowned dumped and fed to snakes. Im torn which pigs do I rescue.

 

[Jennicat]

You euthanize pigs? I thought the point of a rescue was not to kill animals.

No, you misread my post. Shelters euthanize pigs. I can't go and pick them up to get them out of there until someone adopts from us and frees up a space. Until that happens, I get to sit and watch the "list" (since we keep an eye on all the local shelters) and watch and wait for the next pig to disappear because I didn't have room for them.

Or even worse, get adopted by some of the shelter adopters. Most of them here don't even screen, a few give them away for free. I know there are several reptile owners that "adopt" a ton of the small animals as a free food source.

 

[Janelle]

When I was calling around shelters out here looking for a male (before I realized that I was bringing home a female), I was talking to a place that had a male. I asked them what all information I'd need to bring with me to the shelter. She said, "Nothing, really. We're not as particular when adopting out these guys as we are with our dogs and cats." I was surprised by this. What makes one animal more important than another? I wouldn't even have had to fill out applications at this place.