We went for a day out today to a local family tourist attraction. They had guinea pigs in the small animals section. All the indoor piggies were clean and healthy, although housed with rabbits and on thick straw..
Sadly there were 2 runs outside with a sleeping compartment attached that were in very poor condition and the occupants weren't great either. To start with the runs and adjoining sleeping compartment was resting on shingle. These didn't sit flat on the shingle and were covered at the bottom with wire mesh. I just visualised the poor piggies feet and legs being torn to pieces, if not broken, attempting to walk along the wire as the shingle was at least an inch below the wire at some points.
There were no water bottles, just bowls and the food bowls consisted of uneaten oats oats and more oats.
In one run was a guinea pig and rabbit together. The rabbit was sitting on the guinea pig licking it's eyes. On inspection the guinea pigs eyes looked sore and the parts below the eyeball that should be white were grey, red and bloodshot. This upset me as it so I decided to bring it up with the manager. Needless to say I got a very frosty reception and was told that they had lived together for 3 years and there was absolutely noting the matter. Am I wrong.... can somebody please advise me ?
She told me that these two runs housed the guinea pigs that were not able to be handled by the public as they were too jumpy. Yet she pulled the pig with the sore eyes out of the hutch and thrust him in my arms. He made no attempt to run and just cuddled up to me. When I brought up the subject of the poor food quality she snatched him back.
What do I do now is the question I ask myself. Can anybody please advise me as I don't want to go into this like a bull in a china shop, despite wanting to.
Many Thanks
Claire
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Sadly there were 2 runs outside with a sleeping compartment attached that were in very poor condition and the occupants weren't great either. To start with the runs and adjoining sleeping compartment was resting on shingle. These didn't sit flat on the shingle and were covered at the bottom with wire mesh. I just visualised the poor piggies feet and legs being torn to pieces, if not broken, attempting to walk along the wire as the shingle was at least an inch below the wire at some points.
There were no water bottles, just bowls and the food bowls consisted of uneaten oats oats and more oats.
In one run was a guinea pig and rabbit together. The rabbit was sitting on the guinea pig licking it's eyes. On inspection the guinea pigs eyes looked sore and the parts below the eyeball that should be white were grey, red and bloodshot. This upset me as it so I decided to bring it up with the manager. Needless to say I got a very frosty reception and was told that they had lived together for 3 years and there was absolutely noting the matter. Am I wrong.... can somebody please advise me ?
She told me that these two runs housed the guinea pigs that were not able to be handled by the public as they were too jumpy. Yet she pulled the pig with the sore eyes out of the hutch and thrust him in my arms. He made no attempt to run and just cuddled up to me. When I brought up the subject of the poor food quality she snatched him back.
What do I do now is the question I ask myself. Can anybody please advise me as I don't want to go into this like a bull in a china shop, despite wanting to.
Many Thanks
Claire
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