I need some advice...

[PowerPig]

I am not an expert on Guinea pigs by any means, I've got none at the mo as my last one died recently, but mine were kept indoors on fleece and lived a pretty good life, ranging in a large conservatory a lot of the time.

I am concerned on behalf of someone I know who has just started breeding pigs. She has two banks of five hutches in her garage, which isn't attached to her house, and only has an up and over garage door, which is only open for about two hours a day. It has no electricity, so she has a couple of those battery operated stick on LED lights. The guinea pigs are therefore in near total darkness for 22 hours a day.

A friend bought two pigs from her last week, ones that didn't fit into her breeding programme, and they are so used to being in the pitch black that they will only eat at night when she puts her hutch cover on.

There are over 20 pigs being kept in this manner, and she's ordered five more hutches to keep even more.

Now I'm not a breeder, but I think this is cruel. I'd appreciate any thoughts from you guys, as a pig lover myself I'd never ever have kept my pigs like that...
:...

 

[Vixxy]

I would agree with you! I would take the bull by the horns and tell her! If she doesn't see reason then I would report her to to RSPCA.

 

[piggyfan]

That is so upsetting for the poor piggies. Why dont you call the rspca and ask for advice?

 

[PowerPig]

I will have to. I mean, I don't know much about the health of pigs, but I am pretty certain if they're anything like us they'll start getting rickets, a thing on the news last week about captive monkeys said they can get it...
I think she'll know who grassed though. I bet I can expect a pretty rough ride in the playground as I drop my son off.

 

[Connie]

I would suggest you talk to them first. If you explain the sittuation in detail, they may say theres nothing they can do. In which case theres little point in them paying her a visit and causing trouble for you.