People Just Don't Understand....grrr

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Being quite a new guinea pig mum (nearly 9 wks now, not that I'm counting lol) I didnt expect some of the very hurtful and insensitive things to be said that have been!
Yes I do spend an awful lot of time money and effort on my boys but its not like my daughters want for anything and they spend nearly as much time as I do with our 3 boys!
My worst one was my brother her text me after seeing the pictures I posted on facebook saying they are rodents, disgusting etc so he then went and bought a new puppy and text me pictures to which I replied how cute here are my boys! and sent a pic the reply I got was "look better under my shoe the horrible things"!
there is my rant over for the day!
 
None guinea pig people seem to think I am some sort of freak for running a sanctuary for guinea pigs with extra needs. It seems to cause a lot of amusement. When I worked in a children's day nursery many of the girls there used to giggle about me, and would ask why people sent their poorly guinea pigs to me, and why didn't they just get them put down. These are people in a caring job, so surely they should have more empathy.

I popped into the library to ask if I could put up a poster to advertise my pet care business and was told they didn't allow businesses to advertise, just charities. I explained I had a charity too, and was asked about it. You could tell the guy was thinking, oh great we have the nutter here. At that point I should've just left, but instead I found myself explaining about the blind/deaf piggies. He looked very amused and said 'so what do you do for a blind guinea pig'? My reply was 'well I don't teach them braile'. By this point you could tell he really thought he had a serious nutter in his midst. I left then, but not before I told him I was off to Tesco to buy veggies for all my special piggies!

I was offered a voucher to raffle from a hair stylists and went in to collect it. The manager who had offered the voucher wasn't there and I had to explain what I was there for to the two fairly young stylists I could see one of them was struggling not to laugh and then suddenly she couldn't hold it in any longer and just burst out laughing. Very rude, but I just smiled and thanked them for the voucher.

Considering how hard I work, I could get very upset by the reaction of lots of people, but at the end of the day it is a bit strange I guess, to someone who doesn't have guinea pigs

If running a sanctuary for guinea pigs with special needs gives someone something to laugh about then at least I am putting a smile on faces and not causing distress.
 
People I know at work and outside of work have enough trouble understanding the vegan thing so the pigs are beyond their comprehension. I get lots of comments about how much money I spend on them which I could use to save up a deposit for a house but I just roll my eyes and ignore them.
 
Hi, I absolutely agree with everything said here. I don't think non- owners realise how rewarding and intelligent guinea pigs are (I certainly didn't), but that's no excuse for tactless, hurtful and judgemental remarks... especially when you're doing a good thing! I also think that you are setting such a good example to your children: teaching compassion and how to care for and nurture something that depends on you entirely. Surely that's worth any amount of money. And these are values sadly lacking in today's society. Your pigs are lucky to have you x
 
Oh awful! Anyone who doesn't understand real care for animals are not human, they are selfish that they say it is a waste of money, implying they would spend it on them self. Money caring for any animal is very worth spending, and seeing piggies so happy, with in other people's eyes (luxury) for saying they are pets, it is disgusting how people put a downer on people's care, of which these people spend their time giving their pets the best life they can. It is none of their business how you care for your pets.
 
I think the worst case I've had is from one of my vet's receptionists who said "you must really love this guinea pig" as she presented me with Peanut Butter's bill of $300 (about 150 pounds). Her tone implied she thought it was ridiculous to spend so much money on him. One of her other choice comments when she realised PB was coming in every month for his dentals was to ask "how long do these things live?" and you could see the dollar signs adding up in her head. PB has now been going to the same vet for 3 years so she's finally stopped with her stupid comments, but you have to wonder why she works where she does.

If it weren't for the wonderful vet, the other receptionist who positively loves it when PB comes in, and the nurse who understands perfectly as she spent $2000 on her male pet rat's surgery for a mammary tumour, I would have stopped going to this practice.
 
I must be quite lucky. All my friends and family understand how much my piggies mean to me and never question how much I spend on them.
One friend I have does annoy me a little bit because she thinks my piggies are substitute children! She once said to me "aaah, they're your babies, aren't they?"
I said "No, they're just my guinea pigs." Why anyone would want kids when they could have guinea pigs is beyond me! :hmm:
 
This attitude always annoys me, thankfully I've not had major vet bills for my pigs thus far, but my cat became very ill just over a month ago and I spent over £1000 on her to try to make her better, my mother was fuming but to me, my animals (especially my cat) are my world. Having the attitude that animals aren't worth money to make better is a disgusting attitude in my opinion, why let them suffer for the sake of money?
 
7squeakers. said:
I must be quite lucky. All my friends and family understand how much my piggies mean to me and never question how much I spend on them.
One friend I have does annoy me a little bit because she thinks my piggies are substitute children! She once said to me "aaah, they're your babies, aren't they?"
I said "No, they're just my guinea pigs." Why anyone would want kids when they could have guinea pigs is beyond me! :hmm:
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You are lucky; my mum was forever telling me "that they are just animals and not children" when I started having piggies again! And while my piggies admittedly fill the spot of having somebody in your life you can love unconditionally, they are still first and foremost guinea pigs and not furry baby dolls to compensate for a (non-existent) unfulfilled maternal instinct! :hb:

The rest I have learned to live with; it doesn't bother me anymore.

When I get funny reactions from a stranger, I ask pointedly if they have ever thought about what happens to all those piggies with a life expectancy of up to 7 years that small children get tired of within weeks and that their loving parents can't be bothered to go on caring for appropriately? That usually shuts them up pretty quickly! :box:
 
well if caring for another living creature in the best way possible is a crime then I am guilty and anyone who makes snidey comments are proberly very insecure and unhappy people and one of life's losers :lose:
 
My pigs come camping with me on the big fortnight family holiday as I don't really trust anyone to look after them for such a long period of time (especially as there are so many) Naturally, taking 10 guinea pigs away from home takes a lot of planning to make sure that everything runs smoothly and is as stress free as possible (I only have a teeny tiny car, packing everything while leaving carrier space takes DAYS!), so there's the first theme for "friendly family ribbing" sorted, but my uncle takes his dog along. Now for some reason, the dog has more right to be there than my piggies. Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against the dog, but if I heard "put those rats away, they're disturbing Rory" once, I heard it a thousand times! Why should the pigs be locked away all the time while the dog gets to roam freely? It's their holiday too!

The comments after I had to have George's eye out after a hay poke were terrible. The op cost nearly £100, and the number of people who said they wouldn't have bothered... it drove me mad! I get the same thing when my hamsters are ill.
With George, I didn't even have to think about it- if you choose to have an animal, you are agreeing to care for it, whatever happens.
 
Ahhhhgggg. People drive me nuts. Ok so I don't insure the piggies, but they do have a piggy bank, where I save for vets fees. But I would max out the credit card to care for them.
But I am very lucky, I work for a land based training provider, all animal lovers, many piggy owners - they all understand, piggies have even been to work for an afternoon!
The cats have a cat proofed garden!
 
Hands up who has heard 'But you can just get another one from a pet shop for £20, why are you so upset?' in some form?

Other 'favourite' ones include 'Isn't that like a big hamster?' 'That's a lot of money to spend on a rodent.' 'Oh, I didn't think they lived that long', 'I didn't think there were guinea pig rescues.', 'Oh, I had guinea pigs as a kid! I loved them!'
Hold for the best bit...
'We used to breed them, the babies were adorable!'
'Why would you want to do that? They're only rodents, it's not like they're proper pets. (re. Guinea Pig Secret Santa)' and 'Don't they eat guinea pigs in South America?'
I am very proud to be a crazy guinea pig lady when things like that get said.
 
PottyForPiggies said:
Hands up who has heard 'But you can just get another one from a pet shop for £20, why are you so upset?' in some form?

Other 'favourite' ones include 'Isn't that like a big hamster?' 'That's a lot of money to spend on a rodent.' 'Oh, I didn't think they lived that long', 'I didn't think there were guinea pig rescues.', 'Oh, I had guinea pigs as a kid! I loved them!'
Hold for the best bit...
'We used to breed them, the babies were adorable!'
'Why would you want to do that? They're only rodents, it's not like they're proper pets. (re. Guinea Pig Secret Santa)' and 'Don't they eat guinea pigs in South America?'
I am very proud to be a crazy guinea pig lady when things like that get said.
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Ive heard similar! Its got to the point that i dont even bother talking about them infront of some of my family as they just laugh or make nasty remarks
 
My late husband picked up 'one pig' from a local pet shop, because she was on her own. He took her to the pub with him and got water and lettuce for her. His friend said 'you didn't pay for that did you?'
 
Or the "they're boring pets, aren't they? They don't do anything!" Lol I could watch my lot all day! Fred and George have just discovered the new floor length curtains and are currently chasing each other through them. Boring? Never!
 
It angers me when people see small pets as disposable. I was met with the same comments from a work colleague and he got the short end of my temper as i really thought better of him. Suffice to say he apologised. Sometimes I don't think people are intentionally thinking that small animals aren't worth it, but they think it's big and hard to make comments like that. Like when people who don't have horses joke about them being made into burgers, and if you keep rodents and snakes they ask if you feed the rodents to the snakes. Some people just don't think, and it's that lack of thought which winds me up! *hugs* Kell, stuff the lot of them. You have your piggy friends here! :)
 
BertisKing said:
My pigs come camping with me on the big fortnight family holiday as I don't really trust anyone to look after them for such a long period of time (especially as there are so many) Naturally, taking 10 guinea pigs away from home takes a lot of planning to make sure that everything runs smoothly and is as stress free as possible (I only have a teeny tiny car, packing everything while leaving carrier space takes DAYS!), so there's the first theme for "friendly family ribbing" sorted, but my uncle takes his dog along. Now for some reason, the dog has more right to be there than my piggies. Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against the dog, but if I heard "put those rats away, they're disturbing Rory" once, I heard it a thousand times! Why should the pigs be locked away all the time while the dog gets to roam freely? It's their holiday too!

The comments after I had to have George's eye out after a hay poke were terrible. The op cost nearly £100, and the number of people who said they wouldn't have bothered... it drove me mad! I get the same thing when my hamsters are ill.
With George, I didn't even have to think about it- if you choose to have an animal, you are agreeing to care for it, whatever happens.
Click to expand...
If they by "guinea pigs are cheap to replace so why bother spending the money" then why don't you remind them that it doesnt cost anything to give birth to a child but we wouldn't adopt that attitude if a child was ill. Piggies have just as much right to be cared for and looked after as any other animal on this planet!
 
Davey-cavy said:
If they by "guinea pigs are cheap to replace so why bother spending the money" then why don't you remind them that it doesnt cost anything to give birth to a child but we wouldn't adopt that attitude if a child was ill. Piggies have just as much right to be cared for and looked after as any other animal on this planet!
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Very good point.
 
Adrianne88 said:
I get the same reaction from people! It's super annoying! I always hear, "she's just a guinea pig." I absolutely hate that. People think because they are so small that they don't even matter, but my guinea pig brings me so much joy and happiness and she's worth every vet bill! Mine has to go every month due to her neuro disorder and everyone just tells me to leave her alone. I refuse! She offers more love and comfort than some people do. I'm the same way with my dog. We're just animal lovers, we're rare and special people.:luv::D
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:nod: I agree we are rare and special people....go girl you tell them :gp:
 
BertisKing said:
Or the "they're boring pets, aren't they? They don't do anything!" Lol I could watch my lot all day! Fred and George have just discovered the new floor length curtains and are currently chasing each other through them. Boring? Never!
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They are better than TV !
 
MrsSuzy said:
Completely understand! I once had to leave a entering course I was doing earlier as Dahlia has a mouth sore and I had to get home to give her antibiotic and syringe feed. When I said it this woman started laughing but as I didn't know her I got really cross and she got it, lolol.

How is Oreo?
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Those lumps are still there bless him :( were on day 8 of antibiotics I think we're heading for an op, my lovely alex does not like going in the car I got him straight out and fussed him to carm him and tiddled on my twice ha ha I was soaked lol he doesn't normally tiddle like that so I knew he was scared my daughters thought it was funny XD x
 
shaz_dubz said:
Being quite a new guinea pig mum (nearly 9 wks now, not that I'm counting lol) I didnt expect some of the very hurtful and insensitive things to be said that have been!
Yes I do spend an awful lot of time money and effort on my boys but its not like my daughters want for anything and they spend nearly as much time as I do with our 3 boys!
My worst one was my brother her text me after seeing the pictures I posted on facebook saying they are rodents, disgusting etc so he then went and bought a new puppy and text me pictures to which I replied how cute here are my boys! and sent a pic the reply I got was "look better under my shoe the horrible things"!
there is my rant over for the day!
Click to expand...
Grrrr how nasty and hurtful :( I may of said hi and welcome to you already but if not welcome to this fab forum, we don't think anyone is mad or daft when it comes to piggies :)
 
furryfriends Excellent Adventure Sanctuary said:
None guinea pig people seem to think I am some sort of freak for running a sanctuary for guinea pigs with extra needs. It seems to cause a lot of amusement. When I worked in a children's day nursery many of the girls there used to giggle about me, and would ask why people sent their poorly guinea pigs to me, and why didn't they just get them put down. These are people in a caring job, so surely they should have more empathy.

I popped into the library to ask if I could put up a poster to advertise my pet care business and was told they didn't allow businesses to advertise, just charities. I explained I had a charity too, and was asked about it. You could tell the guy was thinking, oh great we have the nutter here. At that point I should've just left, but instead I found myself explaining about the blind/deaf piggies. He looked very amused and said 'so what do you do for a blind guinea pig'? My reply was 'well I don't teach them braile'. By this point you could tell he really thought he had a serious nutter in his midst. I left then, but not before I told him I was off to Tesco to buy veggies for all my special piggies!

I was offered a voucher to raffle from a hair stylists and went in to collect it. The manager who had offered the voucher wasn't there and I had to explain what I was there for to the two fairly young stylists I could see one of them was struggling not to laugh and then suddenly she couldn't hold it in any longer and just burst out laughing. Very rude, but I just smiled and thanked them for the voucher.

Considering how hard I work, I could get very upset by the reaction of lots of people, but at the end of the day it is a bit strange I guess, to someone who doesn't have guinea pigs

If running a sanctuary for guinea pigs with special needs gives someone something to laugh about then at least I am putting a smile on faces and not causing distress.
Click to expand...
XD Teaching them Braille....fab reply I would of said I did and waited for his reply lol. Keep up your great work and remember us on here fully understand why you work so had at your sanctuary. I hope to have a special needs piggy in the future (via a proper rescue) as I know I can give one of these lovely piggies lots of love and support.
 
Jen H said:
Hi, I absolutely agree with everything said here. I don't think non- owners realise how rewarding and intelligent guinea pigs are (I certainly didn't), but that's no excuse for tactless, hurtful and judgemental remarks... especially when you're doing a good thing! I also think that you are setting such a good example to your children: teaching compassion and how to care for and nurture something that depends on you entirely. Surely that's worth any amount of money. And these are values sadly lacking in today's society. Your pigs are lucky to have you x
Click to expand...
Very well put Jen, thank you x
 
BertisKing said:
My pigs come camping with me on the big fortnight family holiday as I don't really trust anyone to look after them for such a long period of time (especially as there are so many) Naturally, taking 10 guinea pigs away from home takes a lot of planning to make sure that everything runs smoothly and is as stress free as possible (I only have a teeny tiny car, packing everything while leaving carrier space takes DAYS!), so there's the first theme for "friendly family ribbing" sorted, but my uncle takes his dog along. Now for some reason, the dog has more right to be there than my piggies. Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against the dog, but if I heard "put those rats away, they're disturbing Rory" once, I heard it a thousand times! Why should the pigs be locked away all the time while the dog gets to roam freely? It's their holiday too!

The comments after I had to have George's eye out after a hay poke were terrible. The op cost nearly £100, and the number of people who said they wouldn't have bothered... it drove me mad! I get the same thing when my hamsters are ill.
With George, I didn't even have to think about it- if you choose to have an animal, you are agreeing to care for it, whatever happens.
Click to expand...
I know, no one would be able to care for my boys like I do so I dread the thought of leaving them should I go away so I would have to take them with me too I think or not go. I'm due another op in 5 years and my boys will be old fellas by then so I will really dread being away from them. Where did your piggies live while you were away? I'm going to start looking for pet friendly holidays...only no problem my Alex is not a fan of being in the car :(
 
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