Pet Store Guinea Pigs

WWDrew

WWDrew

Junior Guinea Pig
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Dec 11, 2021
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I just wanted to share. I went to the pet store for supplies and they’re 3 male in different cages because they don’t get along and have been surrendered to the pet store. I just found it sad because they have been there for over a month in these small cages. That’s what happens when they’re no small animal rescues in the area.
 
It's sad. I was in the pet store the other day and there were 2 adult males who were surrendered together, plus one 5-week-old female who was all alone, the result of an unwanted pregnancy. Hopefully they will find good homes. My pigs are pet store pigs because rescues are hard to come by in my area and the one that is available always offered pigs in pairs already bonded (because we have pigs of different ages we are always looking for a solo pig to bond with an existing pig. We don't have the floor space for three.) I keep thinking of the little girl all alone, I've always wanted to be able to rescue and if I was in a position to take her I 100% would. But, like I said, we don't have space for 3. I hope she goes to someone else who has another pig at home and doesn't end up alone her whole life. :(
 
The plight of small animals, completely at the mercy of humans - it’s a source of heartache for me if I dwell on it. I wish I could rescue more, or help in some great way, but I can’t. At least tho, we can all look after the critters in our care, to the best of our ability and donate what we can, when we can.
 
When we were looking for pigs some years ago and browsing the adoption section of the Pets at Home website, there were so many single boars that had been returned because they "couldn't get along with their cage mate". I'm sure a lot of those were just bickering and the owners thought it was more serious than it was. We didn't adopt them because we didn't think there was much chance of getting two of them to live together. Knowing what I know now, I would be inclined to adopt one, get him neutered and find him a girlfriend.
 
I've adopted a couple of "unsociable" "aggressive" boars at different times over the years, both surrendered after fights. In both cases they were labelled and sold as unable to live with others.

Unfortunately I've seen the same kind of language used around boars from certain rescues. Cage size is a whole other rant. So, I'm not against pet shops selling pets exactly, I'm against people who don't know what they're doing homing animals.

In my case I didn't know enough to question the judgement of "professionals" at the time of those adoptions... I thought I was being kind by giving a loving home to otherwise overlooked pigs. I should of course have looked into it and it's a source of shame that I didn't, and I think about the happiness I denied my boys every time I watch Harry rumbling after his ladies. I'm glad places like this forum exist to help others avoid mistakes like this.
 
Our lovely Milo is a pet store piggy that I was told hated all the other pigs and was unbondable. He had been on his own in the 'adoption' area of PAH for months.

He is in fact the most laid back piggy we have. We had him neutered and he is now husboar to Pol and Maude (both born in rescue). Milo does like to rumble strut to our other piggies when they are in the adjacent run but has never shown any aggression towards our other boar. Sad that some piggies get labelled as 'bad' by people who don't have the first idea about piggy behaviour.
 
I also would never have considered neutering such a small animal until one of our pigs had a couple of urolith surgeries and did really well, I think I overestimated the risks. So in future I would definitely consider that option.
 
My mum adopted a single boar from the pet shop adoption section. The pet store said he was about 2 years old, but the vet has said he’s more likely about 3. My mum got him neutered and he’s now living with a sow and they’re both really happy together. No idea if he spent his whole life on his own before he was surrendered for adoption, but he’s living his best life with his piggy wife now. It’s a bit sad to think about all those single boars who are labelled as must live alone but actually are suitable for the right piggy.
 
Comet and Blitzen ended up in the rescue section of pets at home, I suspect because Blitzen could be bitey. Very, very bitey. Saying that they got lucky, whoever paired them originally knew what they were doing, which is...odd...as far as pet shop piggies go. Considering pet shop pigs end up in a house with children Blitzen wouldn't have stood a chance.

He was a sweetheart really, though. Just needed patience.
 
Our previous pigs were from the Pets at Home bargain bin. They were a lovely bonded pair of boars, I've never seen two animals so obviously fond of each other. No idea what the circumstances were that caused them to be given up and I often wonder. Their loss, our gain!
 
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