Frustrated with small cages

[Hbrown226]

Do you ever just get so frustrated when people KNOW their guinea pigs aren’t living in the proper spacing but they just don’t care to upgrade them? I was over at a family friends home this afternoon for a lunch (I live in the states and restrictions are mostly lifted) and they have guinea pigs. They have 5 sows living in 2 cages they connected. I did the math. The 2 cages connected are the bare minimum for 2 guinea pigs not 5. They told me they originally had 2 Midwest cages for them and hated how flimsy they were so they went to petco and liked the lids on these cages better. I asked if they knew the spacing requirements for 5 pigs and they said yes but their girls seem happy so they don’t need a bigger cage. It aggravates me endlessly seeing people just be totally okay with their pigs living in subpar conditions.

 

[Siikibam]

I’m lost for words really....the best thing you can do is give them the information. Whether they follow it or not is up to them, you’ve done your part. A difficult one though.

 

[Hbrown226]

I’m lost for words really....the best thing you can do is give them the information. Whether they follow it or not is up to them, you’ve done your part. A difficult one though.

You know I commented early on someone’s post about Facebook groups and I can pretty easily let it roll off my back when they don’t take advice online. But seeing it in person really gets to me. My heart hurts this evening for those girls.☹

 

[Sweet Potato]

I don't see how people can just be fine with it! I had to keep my boys in a 2 tier pet shop cage for the first year of their life as I was uneducated when I first got them and wasn't able to upgrade until we moved house. It killed me knowing I wasn't able to provide for them properly. I considered giving them up, I spent hours planning the cage I was going to give them and I gave them floor time whenever I could. Just accepting it and moving on with my life when I knew they deserved better was never an option. (and now they love their 3x4 C&C cage with a 3x1 loft)

 

[rp1993]

It’s so frustrating! I have a piggie Instagram and someone messaged me asking where my c&c was from, I told her where I got all the bits from etc and why I changed from the furplast 120 (after 6 weeks of having them) and she just said, well c&c cages are not right for me so I’ll stick with what I have now! Why ask!

 

[Laura-Mae]

Aw man, I know what you mean... It's one thing for them to just not know any better, y'know? Or like... If they do know better, they should at least make plans to change even if they can't right at the moment. But outright saying "no, they seem happy" or "no, i like this better," just... I don't get it either. Some people don't think about putting their animal's needs first, and it's really a shame. I'm sure they love them and that's great, but they need proper care, too!

 

[Hbrown226]

I don't see how people can just be fine with it! I had to keep my boys in a 2 tier pet shop cage for the first year of their life as I was uneducated when I first got them and wasn't able to upgrade until we moved house. It killed me knowing I wasn't able to provide for them properly. I considered giving them up, I spent hours planning the cage I was going to give them and I gave them floor time whenever I could. Just accepting it and moving on with my life when I knew they deserved better was never an option. (and now they love their 3x4 C&C cage with a 3x1 loft)

I bet they love all that space! There is a difference between uneducated and willfully ignorant. I know so many pet shops reassure owners about cages far to small and it can trick new owners into thinking they have enough space. But these people just don’t care that their girls share 2 tiny cages

 

[Hbrown226]

It’s so frustrating! I have a piggie Instagram and someone messaged me asking where my c&c was from, I told her where I got all the bits from etc and why I changed from the furplast 120 (after 6 weeks of having them) and she just said, well c&c cages are not right for me so I’ll stick with what I have now! Why ask!

Id definitely rather waste my time telling them in hopes they make changes than not tell them! But I do get it’s frustrating.

 

[Hbrown226]

Aw man, I know what you mean... It's one thing for them to just not know any better, y'know? Or like... If they do know better, they should at least make plans to change even if they can't right at the moment. But outright saying "no, they seem happy" or "no, i like this better," just... I don't get it either. Some people don't think about putting their animal's needs first, and it's really a shame. I'm sure they love them and that's great, but they need proper care, too!

Bingo! If they are willing to be educated and make changes then that’s understandable. Although I think everyone should do research before getting an animal I do know that sometimes people impulse buy and pet stores are misleading. My first pig was an impulse PetSmart purchase but I went straight home and did as much research as I could. I just wish people treated their guinea pigs better.

 

[Sweet Potato]

I bet they love all that space! There is a difference between uneducated and willfully ignorant. I know so many pet shops reassure owners about cages far to small and it can trick new owners into thinking they have enough space. But these people just don’t care that their girls share 2 tiny cages

yeah I thought I knew what I was doing because we had guinea pigs growing up and they were kept like that but I quickly learned after getting them it wasn't ok. It was just too late to get an appropriate cage for a while. I have since learned the joy of pet research and now I have a plethora of knowledge on how to keep not only the animals I have but many animals I will probably never be able to own. I just don't get how anyone can have a pet and not want the world for them when they give us so much love and are so dependant on us.

My Aunt is similar to these people as she has a lone piggie and basically said "I know she's going to die sooner now she's alone but I never really wanted her anyway so I'd be happy to not have to care for her any more". I was a little less tactful and screamed "of cause she is going to die a long slow death from heartache and depression why don't you just stop feeding her and cleaning her out if you've already given up on meeting her needs" I have since been getting my dad to give her information on local rescues and I think about her poor piggie regularly but there is really little else I can do.

 

[Bill & Ted]

yeah I thought I knew what I was doing because we had guinea pigs growing up and they were kept like that but I quickly learned after getting them it wasn't ok. It was just too late to get an appropriate cage for a while. I have since learned the joy of pet research and now I have a plethora of knowledge on how to keep not only the animals I have but many animals I will probably never be able to own. I just don't get how anyone can have a pet and not want the world for them when they give us so much love and are so dependant on us.

My Aunt is similar to these people as she has a lone piggie and basically said "I know she's going to die sooner now she's alone but I never really wanted her anyway so I'd be happy to not have to care for her any more". I was a little less tactful and screamed "of cause she is going to die a long slow death from heartache and depression why don't you just stop feeding her and cleaning her out if you've already given up on meeting her needs" I have since been getting my dad to give her information on local rescues and I think about her poor piggie regularly but there is really little else I can do.

You you get your Auntie to give her up to you or a rescue, poor little piggie. I can’t understand these people either, you’ve have by instinct got to give them the very best you can for them x

 

[Claire W]

It makes me so sad to see piggies living in conditions like that but all you can do is educate and it’s up to them whether they take your advise or not. Sadly, There is no more you can do

 

[Hbrown226]

It makes me so sad to see piggies living in conditions like that but all you can do is educate and it’s up to them whether they take your advise or not. Sadly, There is no more you can do

Sometime it’s just hard to not take it personally. I hate the common attitude of it is just a Guinea pig that they gave me. They deserve to be happy and well cared for

 

[Claire W]

Sometime it’s just hard to not take it personally. I hate the common attitude of it is just a Guinea pig that they gave me. They deserve to be happy and well cared for

I hate when people say ‘it’s just a guinea pig’

 

[artcasper]

All you can do is try and educate people! a friend had rabbits for over a year in a too small cage... eventually they got an upgrade after lots of hints from me....