See so many pigs getting rehomed recently

[rp1993]

I’m so frustrated, I have seen so many pigs getting rehomed on Instagram recently from people who had had their pigs for several months, as well as small rescues taking in 10+ piggies (or rabbits) at a time. I really hope this isn’t going to be a trend as things start to open up and become more normal!

 

[weepweeps]

I hope not too. I’ve heard that many pets are sadly going to be rehomed once people have to go back to the office.

 

[My Piggies]

In Queensland right now, none of the guinea pig rescues can take surrenders because they are all at full capacity. It's really sad and I wish people would stop adopting guinea pigs they can't take care of.

 

[h.h.lovecraft]

Blame the big pet shops and backyard breeders .No offense to people who work in them but how anyone can help sell an animal and not know where they are going , is beyond me

I think that played a big part, but I'm sure some previously adopted animals are getting returned as well. Animal shelters were getting overrun with requests and while they surely did their best to pick good homes, it's inevitable that some of them are being returned considering the mass influx of adoptions that occurred. I saw an article about how a shelter in Germany got 500 requests to adopt in one week. My local shelter even made a post about thinking long and hard about getting a pet before you apply for one due to the influx of inquires they had received.

I will never understand how you can take a living being into your home and get rid of it simply because you don't want to deal with it anymore. I know situations pop up and pets have to be rehomed sometimes, but this "rehoming now that corona is over" mentality is so heartless! I could never and I don't understand how people can. These types of people must have such warped views of pets.

 

[Siikibam]

I think unfortunately this may continue for a little while yet. People may have, on ‘impulse’ adopted or taken on new pets. Now that life is getting back to some semblance or normality, they perhaps realise they’re not the pets for them. Or perhaps they got them for the children who’ve now lost interest. It’s a real pity if that is the case.

 

[My Piggies]

I agree. It is just such a shame that they are still being bred and sold in pet shops to people who have no idea what they're doing, when there are so many piggies in shelters and rescues who need homes

 

[Siikibam]

I think shops won’t stop because the demand always seems to be there. That’s how those things work

 

[My Piggies]

Yeah. People should do their research and maybe the shelters and rescues wouldn't be so full. People think of guinea pigs as starter pets, when they most certainly aren't - I don't think there is such thing as a starter pet, they all require hard work and love.