Not sure where to get my guinea pigs from

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Chikoo

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I've been looking to buy guinea pigs for a while now. Done some extensive research. I've got the hutch, toys, hay, bedding and food etc. But I am just so worried as to where to get them.
Even though I've done my research i know getting a guinea pig is similar to having a baby. Everyone has a different experience.
My challenge is where to get them. I've seen some at pets at home near me. But looking at reviews I'm a little put off going there. I'm from Slough but don't see any rescue centres who have guinea pigs near me.
Does anyone experience of getting there guinea pigs from support adoption for pets. Which is situated inside pets at home.
As its my first time I don't want to make mistakes on where to get them.
Many thanks for your help.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. I have had piggies from the adoption center at pets at home. I felt better placed to do this after keeping guinea pigs a few years and becoming much more experienced. The one thing I have learnt is that often piggies are put in the adoption center because pets at home haven't been able to sell them (left over stock) which I don't agree with. You will often find that although they are fed and "health checked" they aren't handled regularly so can be difficult to work with. (My lily screamed in fear every time someone touched her and they admitted they only handled her to medicate her).

Out of the two I have had one has been a dream (obviously from a home where she was well handled) and the other is still terrified and occasionally screams a year on. We were also left with 3 out of 4 having ringworm after taking her in which has been difficult and expensive to get on top of.

Have you used the rescue locator in the top bar? Rescues are very hit and miss because there is nothing to stop anyone setting up and calling themselves a rescue. Also it doesn't guarantee the right knowledge (my local RSPCA for example doesn't generally have guinea pigs in but when they had one they suggested he stayed living alone!). The rescues on the locator are the gold standard and have high standard of care and rehoming policies. You are guaranteed a good bond between the pair and they will have been health checked. The other bonus is on going support from the rescue if anything happens.
 
Chikoo said:
I've been looking to buy guinea pigs for a while now. Done some extensive research. I've got the hutch, toys, hay, bedding and food etc. But I am just so worried as to where to get them.
Even though I've done my research i know getting a guinea pig is similar to having a baby. Everyone has a different experience.
My challenge is where to get them. I've seen some at pets at home near me. But looking at reviews I'm a little put off going there. I'm from Slough but don't see any rescue centres who have guinea pigs near me.
Does anyone experience of getting there guinea pigs from support adoption for pets. Which is situated inside pets at home.
As its my first time I don't want to make mistakes on where to get them.
Many thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

It is well worth travelling further afield for guinea pigs from a good rescue, just because it means that you do not have to worry about the usual pitfalls. You get a lot of extra service for your extra effort, like the assurance that you will adopt only piggies that are fully quarantined and healthy when they are put up for adoption, stably bonded, handled and properly sexed/guaranteed not pregnant, and as a starter you will not be matched up with guinea pigs that are require an expert home. You also get support during the settling phase and have the rescue to fall back on if you have problems and can no longer hang onto your piggies during the whole lifetime of any adoptees.
You will not get that from p@h where you will only get piggies that have been handed back to them as is. They are basically second-hand shop piggies and come with the same issues; many have not been handled/can be traumatised and the work is all left to you. If you feel insecure, then it is better not to start out with them.

Please be aware that good rescues require you to have a winter solution for your hutch (guinea pigs are not hardy and can also suffer a heat stroke from an unprotected hutch in full sun/in a head trap position. You hutch must also conform to minimal welfare standards and not be on a publicly accessible part of your property (risk of vandalism/theft). After all, when they invest a lot of money and care into bringing unwanted and neglected piggies back to help and teach them to trust again, they do want them to a place where they are safe and are getting the life that they deserve. If a good rescue asks you for changes, please comply because they are never made arbitrarily and there is always a geed reason (usually from very bad experiences) behind any requests. ;)
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
Hot Weather Management And Heat Strokes

There are several good rescues we can guarantee that you are in safe hands in the Surrey and Gatwick area that you should be able to get to?
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

You may also find our new owners' guide collection helpful:
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
I also agree with the above posts.

My current two guinea pigs came from
a recommended rescue nearly a two hours drive away (so nearly a four hour round trip) but they lady I adopted them from is very knowledgable and is still available for advise and support even 3 years down the line
 
Thank you very much for your advice. I'm glad I asked before going to get the guinea pigs. I will look into the rescue centres.

As a first timer I will probably need advice from the centre about the guinea pigs that I'll adopt.

I am very grateful for all your comments.
 
may l add that the piggies found in the adoption pen at P at H are also the spent breeding piggies from the breeding farm that is the sole surrplyer to P at H, that are used as back to back breeding machines. how do l know this? because the farm is near were l live. there is pen after pen of them in two fields .breaks my heart to see them.😥 please,please use a rescue centre, were you well get all the help you will need.
 
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