Forming a pressure group

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Wiebke

Wiebke

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Several times a week we come across reports of inadequate/crass neglect care of guinea pigs in shops, pet villages and other places. Most of the times we are angry, because we feel we can't change anything.

One way we could achieve something would be if we formed a pressure group and bombarded the place in question with letters of complaint.

Anybody with me? Please sign up! It might also be worth to create a new "abuse" section to report causes in.
 
Yep I'm in! I've just come back from petshops. Emily my daughter wanted to visit and we had nothign else to do, it gave me a chance to see if they are keeping species seperate. I won't boar everyone as its the same old story, rabbits in with pigs, 10 boars in one cage (all babes but they were narked by it), staff not having a clue, fish confined to too small an area to be able to exsist comfortably.

Will ring the RSPCA in the morning but I'm not holding my breath!
 
The usual RSPCA response is to tell you to contact the local authority who issue pet shop licences.
 
Count me in! also would be interesting to get together to find alternatives for pet food/supplies/cages. So we can boycott the pet shops etc that dont promote animal wellfare. Ok the places are not going to go bust but its another way of showing your commitment to animal welfare. Just a suggestion.
 
Count me in too!

I was in "contact" with Mole Hall Wildlife Park near Saffron Walden, I wrote them a long letter about the state they keep their guinea pigs (they were letting them live almost entirely wild in the park!). Their reply was dismissive, as was expected, although the Park did close down a few months later due to the terminal illness of the owner. I breathed a sigh of relief for the guinea pigs then!

The only thing that does "bother" me about setting up this pressure group is that people who have not been to the place themselves don't have as strong a case, if you see what I mean. I'm a little unsure on lecturing (oops, advising) places who keep their animals badly when I've not seen the situation first hand for myself. People can be a lot more persuasive if they can "prove" that they've been in that place and witnessed these things themselves.

Having said that, it won't stop me from putting a few letters together.
 
You can always refer to the internet... Or if we can get enough people together to form regional groups.
 
I now have visions of a bunch of us forum people going undercover, taking photos of all the mistreated guineas in public attractions and parks, then sitting together writing a letter to the places we visit! I'd love to be part of any kind of pressure group, but it would be pretty cool to have regional groups who go out on such assignments.
 
I know what you mean. I think each case is an individual and would be treat in such away. for example some places may not know what they are doing wrong.
 
Still, it helps when you write that you have seen a picture of what's wrong on the internet, even if you are not from there...
 
I don't know how we can stop this maltreatment. Pressure groups are an idea, but I wouldn't have a clue how to go about orchestrating one. Another idea would be to take pets to primary schools and do a educational talk on them. Try and imform the young on the correct way of doing things. I know it was my mother who taught me from a young age on the correct welfare, treatment and compassion for animals and what she taught me stuck fast. It would all help for future pet owners. My other thought is that a parliamentary bill should be made (I don't know if thats the right way to put it) on purchasers when buying from a petshop should be at least required to fill out a questionaire on how to keep the animal. OK, it doesn't guarantee that they will follow what they know, but it would stop those who go out on a whim at the weekend with nothing else to do other than buy a cute novelty pet. Along with that pet shops must be required to give a free booklet on the safe and healthy upkeep of their pet. I can't for the life of me understand why this is not yet a requirement!
 
yes i'm definately in too.
I heard recently about some guinea pigs being kept at a school and passed from child to child each weekend to look after regardless of whether their parents knew anything about looking after them. Terrible!
 
Thanks Al, yes these lot have been banned and fined before for keeping reptiles in awful conditions and being ignorant about their care. There where boars there who were around 3 weeks old too. So, so tempted but its not the solution!

Will give the council a ring tomorrow!
 
Oh and I'm still chuckling at me saying boar instead of 'bore' I've boars of the brain! mallethead :(|)
 
Schools are certainly an area to look at. I know that Lynn and Karen from RAGS in Coventry are doing it, and I've been giving them pics for that.

One thing that irks me, is that any shops - so they sell small animals - should be compelled to check their breeders' conditions!
 
Yeah i defo agree one of the best places is to start at the core the breeders to be honest. I have in the past bought from pet shops just thinking of course the animals have been kept well, i think we all know otherwise.

Pets at home here try to clear there concious by doing awareness days. Not sure if they do them for Gunieas yet but defo do it for Rabbits. Lets be honest it always conicides with kids holidays and when the weather is nice. Its nothing to do with the animals welfare its a marketing ploy.
 
Yep was in Pets at Home yesterday and they had no pigs or bunnies, only giant rabbits which were stunning. One took a shine to Peter he was lovely. I feel they are too costly for people to afford and that worries me, what will happen to them?

The Chins were £150 for 2 and that is out of peoples price range. Animals at the mo are being snapped up, but it is the rescues who will have to pick the pieces up when the winter comes. :(
 
count me in

i am pleased to say muy local local store, which is a small family run one in the area after 30 years of trading have stopped selling animals and promoting rescues! so pleased! more should follow this example!
 
On the whole, I can't complain about my local p@h; some of the staff are animal lovers, and there's always hay and water. I am not familiar with other small rodents, so I can't say about their treatment.

But I had my wake-up call when i bought Minx and Mischief from a garden centre; Minx turned out to be pregnant (allegedly mixed gender transport, dates support that), and Mischief was a tiny bundle of fur, bones and nothing else apart from a BIG hunger. She was the most food obsessed piggie I've ever come across - and I'm sure her mum was overbred with a large litter. I have seen the occassional sibling/relative of Missy in regional shops, and they were always so much smaller than the other piggies.
 
Its so frustrating seeing animals with kids when the kids dont understand. My niece loves animals she is 8. When she comes to see me and my animals i let her feed, handle and clean up the poop of all the animals as they need to learn. But luckily she loves it.

And i do find the staff at P@h really friendly and caring for the animals. But do they ask where the animals come from? or even give it a thought.
 
Anybody else who's regularly upset wants join and try do to a bit more?
 
nat38 said:
I don't know how we can stop this maltreatment. Pressure groups are an idea, but I wouldn't have a clue how to go about orchestrating one. Another idea would be to take pets to primary schools and do a educational talk on them. Try and imform the young on the correct way of doing things. I know it was my mother who taught me from a young age on the correct welfare, treatment and compassion for animals and what she taught me stuck fast. It would all help for future pet owners. My other thought is that a parliamentary bill should be made (I don't know if thats the right way to put it) on purchasers when buying from a petshop should be at least required to fill out a questionaire on how to keep the animal. OK, it doesn't guarantee that they will follow what they know, but it would stop those who go out on a whim at the weekend with nothing else to do other than buy a cute novelty pet. Along with that pet shops must be required to give a free booklet on the safe and healthy upkeep of their pet. I can't for the life of me understand why this is not yet a requirement!
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I agree with this and I am now doing this. This is something that can be done by anyone who has the time and confidence not just rescues. I found a poster from cavy rescue on the internet. Check it out http://www.cavyspirit.com/poster.htm

I have emailed them to see if they are happy for me to print this and distribute around my area but its been 2 weeks now and no response.
 
Andrewpeel said:
Yeah i defo agree one of the best places is to start at the core the breeders to be honest. I have in the past bought from pet shops just thinking of course the animals have been kept well, i think we all know otherwise.

Pets at home here try to clear there concious by doing awareness days. Not sure if they do them for Gunieas yet but defo do it for Rabbits. Lets be honest it always conicides with kids holidays and when the weather is nice. Its nothing to do with the animals welfare its a marketing ploy.
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Pets at Home in filton have agreed to me running a guinea pig awareness day in the summer holidays It will be on the first Tuesday of the holiday. Lets just hope they don't kick me out lol
 
I wouldn't think so and wish you the best of luck!
 
Well done you must feel good about! Good luck let us know how you get on.
 
fi.cantillon said:
Pets at Home in filton have agreed to me running a guinea pig awareness day in the summer holidays It will be on the first Tuesday of the holiday. Lets just hope they don't kick me out lol
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fi.cantillon said:
I agree with this and I am now doing this. This is something that can be done by anyone who has the time and confidence not just rescues. I found a poster from cavy rescue on the internet. Check it out http://www.cavyspirit.com/poster.htm

I have emailed them to see if they are happy for me to print this and distribute around my area but its been 2 weeks now and no response.
Click to expand...

I have just checked the site you mention and the last post i found was in 2006! might be why you have had no response.
 
PiggiePal said:
yes i'm definately in too.
I heard recently about some guinea pigs being kept at a school and passed from child to child each weekend to look after regardless of whether their parents knew anything about looking after them. Terrible!
Click to expand...

Is this related to Toffee and Ginger? The two little (or not so little) sows I took home for a weekend?

Deanna xx
 
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