Breeder Alert!

[SDRB_TP]

But I don't think the SPCA could do anything about it. I mean, at least the cagse are clean (in the pics) and he seems to be a hobby breeder, not a mass breeder. There are a lot worse breeders out there.

I still don't like this, but it's not the worst . . .

Just because there are worse breeders out there, doesn't mean that nothing should be done. They are still in gross conditions.
If those babies didn't pick up their feet, they could trip up and break a leg.
It is totally irresponsible and dangerous for adult pigs, let alone newborn babies!

___

Best regards,
Isabella, Tallulah, Penelope & Lily.
x

 

[SDRB_TP]

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the concerns shown on those poor pigs!

We've been informed kindly by SPCA that they'll be looking into the matter!
Hopefully the guy will get fined and his pigs all confiscated, neutered/spayed and would be up for proper homes in no times!

Yayayayayayayayayayayayayayayay! |) |)

Do give us updates if you get any?!

___

Best regards,
Isabella, Tallulah, Penelope & Lily.
x

 

[sharonS]

If he is a hobbiest breeder, and it is a real hobby, then he would know how to care for and house these piggies properly. How can he give anyone advise on living arrangements, when his own are so terrible.

 

[CiaraPatricia]

What's the difference between a mass breeder and a hobby breeder? This breeder is selling off the babies and earning a profit from it.

They could have jumped out before and tumbled to their death, but I do not think he is going to reveal that information in his little business blog. Wouldn't make a very good impression on would-be buyers, would it?

Breeding is never fine to begin with. First, there are already so many unwanted cavies residing in rescues and I do not see the point of adding to the population when we could adopt and rescue those pigs first. Second, one in every 5 sows is killed due to complications from breeding. I wonder how many of his sows have been killed during the process.http://www.cavyspirit.com/breeding.htm

I mean mass breeder as in someone with a huge amount of guinea pigs, breeding them to supply to pet shops, etc. Usually in terrible conditions.

I just meant that 6-8 months is ok medically for them. Some websites say that breeding after 6 months will kill them, but that's really not correct. Also I really don't believe that 1 in 5 sows die. I've never heard any evidence of that. I know someone who has been breeding for the past 15 years, and sadly just lost her first sow last week because of complications. I know it is always risky for them to give birth, just saying that the 1 in 5 thing seems to be a huge exaggeration . . . you know how if people say things on the internet and then other people repeat them and then everyone believes they are the truth.

 

[CiaraPatricia]

Sorry CiaraPatricia - To me, he has so many babies for sale every single month and I'm sure he's more of a mass breeder. If he's just a hobbyist, I won't be so fedup about him.

Tell me about it - Improper diet, improper housing - How's it a hobbyist breeder?

To me, anyone breeding and selling babies every single months are considered mass breeders whom breed with only moneys in their mind.

Maybe he is a mass breeder then I was just going by what he said that he breeds a small amount of them . . .

I agree that I don't like their conditions at all . . .

 

[CiaraPatricia]

Just because there are worse breeders out there, doesn't mean that nothing should be done. They are still in gross conditions.
If those babies didn't pick up their feet, they could trip up and break a leg.
It is totally irresponsible and dangerous for adult pigs, let alone newborn babies!

___

Best regards,
Isabella, Tallulah, Penelope & Lily.
x

Yeah hopefully the SPCA can do something, but often they can't if he is not breaking any laws

 

[Pepperdog]

A hobbiest breeder would to me be someone who bred one sow a year, maybe two but not to produce lots of litters and not to supply a constant supply of babies - no matter how small the amount, one litter a month is a lot of litters to find homes for.

Imagine he had 10 female dogs and was producing a litter of pups a month to sale - wouldnt we think that it was a puppy farm or something more than a hobby breeder?

 

[CiaraPatricia]

A hobbiest breeder would to me be someone who bred one sow a year, maybe two but not to produce lots of litters and not to supply a constant supply of babies - no matter how small the amount, one litter a month is a lot of litters to find homes for.

Imagine he had 10 female dogs and was producing a litter of pups a month to sale - wouldnt we think that it was a puppy farm or something more than a hobby breeder?

That's true.

I guess there are two types of "hobby" breeder. One whose hobby is breeding, and one whose hobby is actually looking after the pets properly but also enjoy raising a few litters . . .

I only say hobby breeder because I can't imagine people making any money from guinea pigs unless they have looooads and they're very badly looked after. Just because they cost so much to look after, I really don't know how you'd make money. But maybe they do, I just dunno how!

But there seem to be plenty of people who breed animals for show and selling and do it for a hobby, make no money, but just enjoy it, but the animals aren't in very good conditions :{ I really don't get why it would be enjoyable unless you looked after the animals properly!

 

[Pepperdog]

no I wouldnt want to breed unless i could guarantee the health and welfare of any animal I bred and that they had a guaranteed place in the world after they were born - and this is not just for piggies, any animal.

 

[CiaraPatricia]

no I wouldnt want to breed unless i could guarantee the health and welfare of any animal I bred and that they had a guaranteed place in the world after they were born - and this is not just for piggies, any animal.

Yeah same here. I would never do it if they weren't going to be in good conditions either, I just don't see the point . . .

 

[ghostbusterbunny]

I only say hobby breeder because I can't imagine people making any money from guinea pigs unless they have looooads and they're very badly looked after. Just because they cost so much to look after, I really don't know how you'd make money. But maybe they do, I just dunno how! !

Rilenceny, would I be right in saying that in your country guinea pigs are still relatively rare so if he's breeding the 'rarer' (long haired, otherwise fancy piggies) he could be asking for more money than we'd expect?

Those conditions are horrible.

 

[CiaraPatricia]

Rilenceny, would I be right in saying that in your country guinea pigs are still relatively rare so if he's breeding the 'rarer' (long haired, otherwise fancy piggies) he could be asking for more money than we'd expect?

Those conditions are horrible.

Yeah I was thinking he might be charging quite a lot for them. Still though, with the amount that pregnant or baby guinea pigs eat I guess if you fed them really cheap food and used cheap bedding and all, and gave them no fruit or veg, he might make money, yeah. I can't imagine making loads though.

 

[ghostbusterbunny]

My god. I've just done the currency conversion. The male pigs he was selling for $100 - if that's in Singapore dollars that's £50. And he is selling his 'designer girls' for anywhere up to almost £100 on his website. That guy is making an absolute fortune off the backs of these poor guinea pigs.

 

[CiaraPatricia]

My god. I've just done the currency conversion. The male pigs he was selling for $100 - if that's in Singapore dollars that's £50. And he is selling his 'designer girls' for anywhere up to almost £100 on his website. That guy is making an absolute fortune off the backs of these poor guinea pigs.

That's a lot! I'm surprised people pay that much.

In Ireland guinea pigs in pet shops are like 20-30 euro. Ones from breeders are usually about 15-20 euro. I know a breeder from a forum who breeds fancier ones and they're maybe 30-50 euro, but I know she spends a lot looking after them and also rescues a lot of animals . . . but never seen other ones for that much, we don't get manyh breeders here, so £100 is really shocking! It does make it seem like he's after money.

 

[emzies guneapigs]

he is disgusting! ive just left a comment on his site n liked that facebook link
emzie x

 

[worldangel]

We have reported him to SPCA and I have personally written to AVA and ACRES (an organization involved in stopping a puppy mill over here recently). ACRES has replied that guinea pigs are not really their business and has forwarded my e-mail to SPCA. AVA responded saying that it is not really illegal to sell pets online, which made me kinda mad because what's the difference between selling it in a shop and selling it online? He is breeding them, making them live in poor conditions and earning money all the same!

SPCA has assured us that they will carry out investigation but knowing the way things go over here, it will most likely get swept up under the carpet and forgotten as time goes by.

We have also been writing to STOMP, a site that is linked to one of the national newspapers here but so far, the story has not been published. zzz

 

[worldangel]

I mean mass breeder as in someone with a huge amount of guinea pigs, breeding them to supply to pet shops, etc. Usually in terrible conditions.

I just meant that 6-8 months is ok medically for them. Some websites say that breeding after 6 months will kill them, but that's really not correct. Also I really don't believe that 1 in 5 sows die. I've never heard any evidence of that. I know someone who has been breeding for the past 15 years, and sadly just lost her first sow last week because of complications. I know it is always risky for them to give birth, just saying that the 1 in 5 thing seems to be a huge exaggeration . . . you know how if people say things on the internet and then other people repeat them and then everyone believes they are the truth.

As long as there is a risk to pregnancy and giving birth, I would rather not take it. There are too many abandoned guinea pigs as it is without the need to add to them.

Plus guinea pigs come into the world fully or almost-fully grown, imagine the tax on the mother to give birth to them! I know I would not want to put my Ginger and Coral through the stress of it all.

This guy is definitely not providing a good condition for his pets to live in. He also has the tendency to sell of sows that he has bred before to a customer for lower price. And who knows if the customer is another breeder?

 

[CiaraPatricia]

As long as there is a risk to pregnancy and giving birth, I would rather not take it. There are too many abandoned guinea pigs as it is without the need to add to them.

Plus guinea pigs come into the world fully or almost-fully grown, imagine the tax on the mother to give birth to them! I know I would not want to put my Ginger and Coral through the stress of it all.

This guy is definitely not providing a good condition for his pets to live in. He also has the tendency to sell of sows that he has bred before to a customer for lower price. And who knows if the customer is another breeder?

Yeah of course it causes them stress and is hard for them. Just some sites exaggerate how dangerous it is, which annoys me because I'm weird like that rolleyes I mean it's a natural thing, to be pregnant give birth, but still causes a huge strain on an animal or person, and they should really be looked after really really well if they have to go through all that. But we all know that a lot of them aren't looked after probably and are overbred

 

[worldangel]

Yes. The only time I will tolerate pregnancy in guinea pig is if I buy one from a pet store or from someone and I found out that she is pregnant. After that, I will do all I can to prevent her from getting pregnant again.

This breeder is something else as he happily bred them, without knowing the complications or deformities that his action could cause. I doubt he knows or cares that some of the guinea pigs might have bad genetics and should not be bred. Otherwise pigs with deformities or a lethal guinea pig might be produced, which is something that should be avoided altogether.