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  • Thread starter Belas.human.mom
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Belas.human.mom

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Messages
64
Okay, so I just joined this site, and we've only had our guinea pig for a little over a week. While I re-homed Bela from someone who decided they didn't want her after 2 weeks, I did get in touch with the original woman who had her. The woman stated she was never bred and that at the time she had 4 female guineas 3 of which she re-homed (that's how Bela ended up at my friends house). She kept a younger female (who she apparently bred because it gave birth yesterday), any way my question is this: since she had the babies and I expressed interest in getting another female guinea pig am I in some unspoken, unwritten rule breaking the guinea pig code of ethics by getting one of the new guinea's when they are ready? I have searched local shelters around here (in a small country town) and I have not come across any guinea pigs, the ones at our local Petco look terrible (TERRIBLE). Being new to the whole guinea pig world, what is the ethical, reasonable, responsible alternative to finding a female guinea pig??? I am in no way trying to start a don't do this/don't do that war, I just don't want to do all the wrong things...
 
Does she have other pigs she's intentionally breeding or was this an accidental pregnancy? Is it possible she thought she had four females but had a male (or males) by mistake?

I would get more information from her before deciding. If she's intentionally breeding (which sounds like she'd be your garden variety BYB) then no, you wouldn't want to encourage or support her. If she has an accidental litter or thought she'd want to breed and decided not to, you aren't supporting something that's nefarious and more or less a cruel cycle that will go on and on.
 
She only has the one guinea (who gave birth) now, she re-homed the other 3. I don't know what she had all I know is she told me Bela had never been bred. I even just now went to check and make sure Bela was in fact Bela and not well... a Bob. If she is breeding I don't want support that cycle. I had inquired about getting a female from her but she has since decided to just keep the 3 babies born yesterday (her kids all begged to keep them). I wish I knew more, but to be honest I am so glad we have Bela. In just under two weeks we have already ordered her grid panels to build her big cage, my husband took measurements and we rearranged furniture and he spent all day Wednesday building a wooden platform to sit the (roughly) 4ftx2ft 2 level cage. She is getting daily veggies and exercise. She has unlimited timothy hay access. I told my daughter if we were going to get a pet, then we were going to do things right by the pet (I see pets as no different than my children). I would love to give another guinea pig the same opportunity Bela has, I just want to make sure I go by it the right way.
 
Agree with paula. Have you tried Petfinder.com? How about searching craigslist for your local area? Many people here will travel as far as 3-4+ HOURS away to adopt a guinea pig then to support a breeder or a pet store. Please also make sure you buy your supplies from a store that does not have live animals for sale either. There are many great places to buy amazing animal supplies that go directly towards saving more animals. Like kleenmama's for hay and pellets...
 
I agree with @Onetwo. A few months ago, some members even created a "piggy-train" and volunteered to drive a special needs piggie named Grace from Illinois (I think?) to DC! :) That's how dedicated some members here are!

EDIT: The locations are from Kansas to DC, a 20 hr drive each way. Excuse my error :)
 
I "acquired" my guinea pigs because my friend bought a pregnant guinea pig from PetSmart. It was an un-intentional pregnancy and I took two of the guinea pigs from her because #1 she didn't have the time/space for them and #2 I didn't want them going to a shelter if she couldn't take care of them.

I'd like to point out - if she did have an accidental pregnancy, then one of the four guinea pigs she had was probably MALE, which means you could have a male and not realize it OR you might have a pregnant guinea pig on your hands too!!

I agree with Paula, get more info about the situation before deciding. If she's not going to charge you for the baby, then she's probably not a breeder and it's probably safe...
 
Oh my. I did indeed text her and asked if she bred the guinea pigs. She stated she did but was "getting out" of it. I will not be condoning her actions, therefore I will not be getting a guinea from her. I will wait until the time is right for our next guinea until then she will have a wonderful place waiting on her...
Thank you.
 
A few months ago, some members even created a "piggy-train" and volunteered to drive a special needs piggie named Grace from Illinois (I think?) to DC!
Please keep in mind, that while this was an awesome thing pulled off by a group of very awesome and dedicated volunteers, this type of long-range piggy train is not recommended because of the stress involved for the animals.
 
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