Quick Question . . . (currently fuming)

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*Nibbles&Nugget*

*Nibbles&Nugget*

Adult Guinea Pig
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I was just wondering if someone could answer a question about female piggies. Is it true that when they are close to mating they pull out all the fur on the back of their neck so it is raw and bleeding? I seriously doubt it but I think I had better check before I go off bang! :)>>>

Will give the full story when I get home but I am currently on my phone!

Amy
x
 
None of my sows pull their fur off at any time, and since they are all entire females who go through season's I'd say that if they were going to do it as routine then they would have...so no it's not true
 
No! What on earth! If they are doing that there is a real problem.
 
The closest we have got is when Astro is being rather amorous (he is a boar without bits) and he nibbles just behind the neck which results in some fur loss. He doesnt break the skin and they are proper love bites. It does result in later scratching which does break the skin. Is this something similiar?
 
Right, the sordid tale was on a local highstreet when I went shopping today and you haven't heard the worst of it.

A mobile farm unit was there. They had a display set up and it was pretty exposed considering how cold it was, I was wrapped up but still it was freezing and the gazebo over them offered very little protection. They had lambs, goats, ducks, duckings, chicks and chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. In the pen I paid the most attention to there were six rabbits and three guinea pigs. Yes, together. The rabbits were climbing all over one poor piggy and the other two were hiding under a pile of hay and straw. As I arrived they began to pack the animals away. I know that sounds a cruel way of putting it but the way they were packing they was cruel. You know those industrial carton things that supermarkets put bread in? It was like one of those with a lid. I watched then begin putting them in. After three rabbits were in I expected another carrier to appear but she just kept loading so all the guinea pigs and all the rabbits were in there together. Then she moved off to pack another crate leaving them so I got a better look. You couldn't really see the guinea pigs because they were under the rabbits and crammed against one another. Then one piggy caught my eye. A sad looking, tiny black and tan rex. As it wriggled I saw the back of it's neck. A bald patch about the size of a couple of two pound coins, spotted with blood. I immediately spoke to one of the handlers to ask whats wrong. Without even looking at it the man lifted the box into the air and rammed it in the van before says, "yeah they are girls, they do that when they are mating". Even so, would they really be allowed to show an animal in that state?!

I tried to point out I had seen a rabbit pulling on the fur of the piggy in question (a few of them were clambering over and pulling at the all the piggies fur, I assume they were attempting to groom them but I have no idea about anything bunny) but he just ignored me and got in the van. I was so angry I was shaking. I'm just working out what to do next. As they were packing away there was no chance to get photographic evidence but I have found the website and I will contact the council as well I think.

It just annoys me so much. I was so caught up with them, I didn't look at the other animals but my brother said they weren't in a great condition either. It is just beyond belief.

Grrrrr

Amy
x
 
Oh my god Amy. That is totally disgusting and cruel. Those poor piggies. I cannot believe they are crammed in to the crates with the rabbits. They will be so squashed and in so much pain. I am so angry and upset. :(
 
piggyfan said:
Oh my god Amy. That is totally disgusting and cruel. Those poor piggies. I cannot believe they are crammed in to the crates with the rabbits. They will be so squashed and in so much pain. I am so angry and upset. :(
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I know, I even felt sorry for the rabbits who seemed pretty crammed together themselves! I'm still shaking with anger. Need to calm down a bit before I contact anyone.

Amy
x
 
How can people be so cruel? Stupid ignorant fools. I really hope they can be reported and something done. Good luck with it all.
 
This is what I have sent, I tried to cover everything:

Today (15/04/2013) I was on the high street in [I've taken out the town name], on a shopping trip. I do visit often and when I do I usually really enjoy myself. This time however I have come away very angry.

A mobile farm unit was there which caught the eye of my family and we went for a closer look. It is a great idea and as we are animal lovers we were pleased to see it. (I do not know whether you organised it or one of the shops did but I assume you licensed it) Although they were packing away we still got a look at the animals. There are three issues that bothered me:

Firstly, they had six rabbits and three guinea pigs in a pen together. It is stated on the RSPCA website and a well known fact to animal lovers that a single kick from a rabbit can kill a guinea pig and they have completely different dietary requirements so should not live together.

Secondly, when they were packing the animals the carriers they used were far too small and crushing them together so the rabbits were actually standing on the guinea pigs.

And finally, I noticed one of the guinea pig's had a large bald patch the size of two two pound coins that was raw and spotted with blood. Part of this issue comes from the way I was spoken to when I raised my concern. The man was very dismissive and told me that guinea pigs pull their own fur out when they are mating, I know this to be a lie because I have kept guinea pigs for many years and also because I saw the rabbits pulling out the fur. (The rabbits were grooming them but overly so creating bald patches) When I tried to say more the man walked away.

I was shocked and disgusted by the rudeness. Even if it were true that the bald patch was due to natural causes then it still isn't right for the animals to be shown. I am shocked with the way my concerns were dealt with.

They not only let their company down, and the animals welfare down but they also let you as a council down. Unless I have assurance that this has been dealt with I feel I will be unable to return to shop there with my family and we will go elsewhere.

Please let me know what you will be doing.

Thank you.
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Hopefully something will be done. Still cross though.

Amy
x
 
Well done to you for contacting the council, I just hope that they act on your information now.
Did you leave contact details, so they can let you know the outcome. Those poor poor animals!
 
sharonS said:
Well done to you for contacting the council, I just hope that they act on your information now.
Did you leave contact details, so they can let you know the outcome. Those poor poor animals!
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Yep, I've left email and mobile numbers on the form so I'll update you when I know what's going on.

Amy
x
 
That is disgusting. grrrr I really hope you get a positive response from the council. Maybe the RSPCA should be notified too?
 
Good for you writing the letter. It made me sad to read this post, poor piggy x
 
*Nibbles&Nugget* said:
Yep, I've left email and mobile numbers on the form so I'll update you when I know what's going on
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I've never seen this behaviour ever in any of girls I've had. That naivity really really grinds my bones! RSPCA need to investigate, at the very least they are denying the animals vet treatment. Good on you for reporting it, hopefully some lives will be saved. x
 
Right, I finally got a reply. Just so I don't get the forum in trouble I am blocking out the company name, location of the show and names of people:

Dear Amy

As promised, I directed your e mail to the promotions company through whom I had booked the ------------ for last Friday in --------- town centre, and they in turn contacted the --------- company who provided and managed the event on the day.

I hereby copy their response to your allegations regarding the animals and the way, you allege, you were spoken to:

Many thanks for your email, I can confirm I have now had a chance to speak to my colleagues regarding the matter mentioned below

Both ----- and ------- genuinely are unable to recall any in depth conversations with anyone regarding the welfare of the animals, however if they have offended and did not offer a full enough explanation regarding the points raised , I can only apologise on behalf of my company

We do take the welfare of our animals very seriously and always ensure they are well cared for, with regards to the size of the carrier we do feel that this an adequate size for the number of animals , however we do take feedback and suggestions very seriously we will ensure that the animals are transported in 2 separate carriers in the future

I did personally check on the animals upon their return and I can confirm they are all in good health.

Having checked the guinea pig there was a very small mark and as a precaution we have put this guinea pig on its own in a separate pen and will give it any treatment if required.

I trust this goes some way to reassure you, and you are content that, your comments have been taken seriously and that measures are being put in place to take the guinea pigs and rabbits in separate carriers in future, and that the animal you saw that may have been harmed, is being looked after.

As Town Centre Manager behind this event for -------- I also thank you for your opening comments regarding the staging of events such as these in the town; we do try and offer a diverse range of events, free for all the family to enjoy throughout the year, to bring shoppers into the town and to enjoy it for longer and I trust that this one upsetting event – which is now being dealt with from various angles will not deter you from visiting and enjoying ----------- Town Centre again in the future

Assuring you of our best attention at all times
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I still don't feel completely satisfied with this but I don't quite know where to go from here. Any suggestions? I think they are saying they are only separating the rabbits and guinea pigs during transportation instead of permanently. I suppose it's better than nothing but I do not feel it is good enough. Also I KNOW the mark was not small (particularly in proportion to the little piggy) but at least the poor thing might be getting treatment for this.

What should I do next? Email the council back? RSPCA? It's hard to know who can make the biggest difference. I did tell them I did not appreciate the dismissive way I was spoken to but that was not as important to me as the animal welfare issues.

Amy
x
 
I reported a pet shop for having male and female piggies together at 7 weeks, had a row with the owner and emailed our local council.
Took me a time to find the right dept. but there is an Animal Welfare dept. and I forwarded it to them. They rang me the next morning to get more detail and were checking for any previous issues as complaints can get shops licenses revoked to sell live pets.
There had been nothing previous but this is now on record...
You have done what you can but could your email have gone to the wrong dept. ? Just a thought. If you look at the Council website for your area, there should be a list of services and whom to contact.
 
I would file my concerns with the RSPCA. You are in a good position because you have seen the animals, observed their behaviour, living conditions all in a public place (which is even worse because they are conveying to the public that it's acceptable for animals to behave and look like they did), and when you did confront a coordinator on their state of health, they showed a complete lack of understanding or acknowledgement on the matter. If you went to the RSPCA with all of the information you have, there would be something seriously wrong with them if they weren't to investigate. X
 
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Personally I'd avoid going to the council at all costs, it's all politics and the matter would get covered up to save face x
 
Whatever the situation, if it was raw and bleeding then the guinea should have seen a vet. There are a few possible causes, including mange, which is contagious - and can be fatal if untreated. Good on you for contacting the council - let's hope they respond!
 
Now that you've done your bit with the council I'd contact the RSPCA. The people involved obviously don't give a toss because of their response, and councils generally can't get massively involved/won't, because it's all money and politics. However, because you've got the emails from both sides, saw the conditions of the emails and the carriers, it's likely the RSPCA would have a look around and if they aren't satisfied, either give the people involved a warning that they need to sort it out and will be checked on in the future, or take matters in to their own hands and remove animals from the possible situation. More likely the first option, but I really would let them know.
 
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