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The Whole Anti Petstore Thing.

Pawz

Pawz

Adult Guinea Pig
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I'd just like to remind everyone that a lot of our newcomers to the forum have come into piggy ownership in the more traditional way. Be that pets at home, petco, petsmart etc..

Other members have taken store pigs over rescues due to not rescues in their area or those rescues lacking what they need.

I know we are a pro rescue forum, and many of our new members might turn to rescues for future piggies now they know they are out there....if we don't scare them all off! Most of us started out with guinea pigs from pet stores even if it was your childhood pet your parents purchased. In fact a lot of us were not even aware rescues existed when we first started out on the great guinea adventure.

What I am trying to say is, let's just sit back a bit and not be so quick to judge when someone mentions their pets are coming from/have come from anywhere but a dedicated rescue. It can be very intimidating to new owners who come here for advice and instantly feel jumped on and that they have done something terribly wrong. What matters is that they joined our community to learn and ensure their guinea pigs are living the high life and getting the best of care, please let's not make them feel demonized just because they started off on a different footing than some of us would have liked. We may make future rescuers of them yet!
 
So true.
3 months ago I knew nothing of rescues and the only thing that made sense was going to a pet store (lucky I was able to avoid purchasing a pet from there and use the classifieds instead).
I think if people took 10 minutes to learn about why it is discouraged to buy from a pet store they would spend there money elsewhere. It's the same type of people who'd purchase those tiny tiny cages from the pet store (I use to think like this). Researching before you buy really kills your ignorance.
 
My two came from a pet store, because there was no way I could leave them there. It was pretty much that simple, and if I had to do it again, I still would.

Should I? Probably not, but taking guineas home from say the adoption centre at p@h won't change anything and with B being like he is, they'd probably have been stuck in a cycle of being repeatedly returned, or worse.

I also don't drive, so rescues tend to be awkward to get to.
 
Mine didn't come from a rescue and I couldn't be happier with them. Yes there have been issues but I would not return them or swap them for any other piggies. I love them all and am very happy to have them.

I'll be honest, I have contacted a rescue recently and was not at all happy with them. Rescues are not all the same. There are some amazing ones out there and this forum does list some great ones but there are also places that slap the name 'rescue' on their FB page or website but are really no better than BYBs or pet stores.

There are thousands of guinea pigs out there that are looking for homes be it breeders, pet stores or rescues and all of them deserve a chance. It's not their fault the situation they have been bred into.

If you can rescue then great, fantastic but if you have got your piggies another way, like many of us have, then so be it. I wont judge :)
 
My four came from a store, although Willow and Bracken were in Pets at Home rehoming section because they had been returned. I have a few issues with the only rescue near me and all three of the others I found are a 2 + hour drive away, although my OH would be happy to do a 4 hour round trip there are home checking problems. I have taken in piggys twice before privately when the owners could no longer look after them but this time round I wasn't looking for pets. I'd had a six year break and wasn't intending to have anymore. I just fell in love!
I have never felt a second class citizen on the forum because my piggys didn't come from a rescue, everyone has always been very welcoming and friendly.
 
I 100% agree! I (like most on the forum) mention the idea of rescues but (as I stated in a recent thread though I can't recall the title) I can't moan and groan if they opt not to visit a rescue because none of my pigs are from one. Both my boys are from a breeder which some see just as bad or if not worse than a pet shop and yes I admit that it isn't the best place but I trust the man and I can 100% swear by the fact he doesn't just breed for profit like many breeders or have them in disgusting conditions. I will rescue piggies and this forum has definitely helped make that my next port of call when I feel it is right to bring a new piggy home but I don't regret getting Vinnie, Mo or Steve.

At the end of the day all guinea pigs deserve a home whether it's the ones who are needing a second chance in a rescue or those who need a home in a pet store/breeder.
 
I adopted my two sows from a rescue not for worthy reasons, but only because I did not want to run any risk and I preferred two sows already checked by a vet, coming home with a poo test and, above all, with the guarantee that they would eat correctly grass and vegs.
I went and fetched them by train and I travelled 3 hours, but I went to Bologna as a tourist, I visited the city and I didn't consider that lovely trip as a bill to be paid.
In my opinion the only disgusting thing is adopting/buying a piggie when we already know that we cannot be responsible of it100%; for example when its health depends on other family members' wallets. I judge badly the owner who adopts a pet thinking that it will be always healthy, that other people will eventually pay for it and especially when this "responsible" owner uses the forum only for crying "I have no money for the vet, mum is not paying, give me help and comfort pleeeeeeease!".:gd::gd::gd::gd::gd::gd:
 
Well said! I'm happy to rehome from rescues where I can, but rescues are reluctant to home rodents with snake keepers. Sometimes its just not worth the judgement and inquisition! Of the 5 piggies I have now, ive only paid for one..and boy has she cost me a pretty penny in vets fees which has sworn me off buying from stores. But thats my choice, its not my place to judge what others do. I'm sure people wouldnt be happy about where my other 4 came from but they were needing homes or were kindly gifted to me for companionship for my solo pigs so now they have a forever home and I love them dearly.

Chances are at least one new person will need a lot of advice or support with their pet store pigs, like I did with mine when I first joined here and in the year or so thats followed. Its in the piggies best interests that they get that instead of being chased off. The forum has a vast amount of infornation and knowledgable members that they may not get elsewhere. :tu:
 
I agree, I think there are many people using this forum who perhaps type out messages and hit send without reading them back through to see how they sound. I know opinions can be strong and feelings run high but no one is going to get the help they need if they feel that they can't be a member here. I have noticed the same with the mention of keeping guinea pigs outdoors.
 
Great thread. All 3 of my pigs and my hamster came from pets at home, I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them and they get the best care and treatment I can give them.
I think there's a bit of a stigma around these stores that people who buy their pets from there have no idea how to care for animals properly.
 
Great thread. All 3 of my pigs and my hamster came from pets at home, I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them and they get the best care and treatment I can give them.
I think there's a bit of a stigma around these stores that people who buy their pets from there have no idea how to care for animals properly.
 
I wholeheartedly agree. This forum is a place for getting information and chatting to like minded people in a friendly environment. We were all newbies once (I still am). Give advice - yes, but judgements - no. people make their own choices and everyone is here because they want to do right by their piggies.
 
Whilst I agree with most of the sentiments here, I have to say, I would prefer that if a member posted something that was 'finger pointing', in an ideal world - moderators would intervene to ensure the conversation remained on the 'back stage', it stops from people jumping onto the thread and re-iterating what has already been said and therefore the original poster not getting bombarded - it's that reaction that will put members off.

If I have said anything out of terms, this is how I would prefer to be told so.

Yes I say 'adopt don't shop', but I hope that the words I use are conveyed in a tone that suggest playfulness.

I am proud to say I have adopted, fostered, private rehomed, bought from p@h and yes they live outdoors.

I've experienced good owners/bad owners, good rescues and bad rescues - just as in life - there is always an opposite.
 
Hi @Squeakz I must confess I've not read all threads this weekend but I've also not noticed any particular posts or threads that have been flagged up or reported about this.
If you or any member (new or old) feel any posts are inappropriate or unwelcoming or overly judgmental please can you use the report button so that staff are alerted and we can deal as appropriate. It's difficult to moderate the forum unless people make us aware of a situation.
 
Yes we are a rescue friendly forum, the forum founders run a successful rescue/sanctuary and are still members on here. The main thing is that we are here to provide information and support to our members. It doesn't matter how you obtained your pigs as long as you give them the best life possible. All my pigs have come from different sources - one from a pet shop, four from family members who couldn't look after them, one was a freebie born from one of the family pigs, three from forum members, and two from BARC. We know some members are nowhere near rescues, we do have a piggy train facility to assist with transport if possible. At the end of the day, as long as the piggies get spoiled, it doesn't matter their origin, if they come from a rescue - winner winner chicken dinner, if not, spoil them all the same. I hope this topic doesn't descend into a slanging match between the rescue and non rescue camps. ;)
 
The forum is indeed pro rescue, but all are welcome here regardless of where they choose or have got piggies from.

We want to support rescues and spread the word that they exist, we didn't know anything like Guinea Pig rescues existed before joining the forum. So the forum plays a vital role in informing people of non traditional routes to get their piggies from so everyone can make a choice that fits for themselves.

Rescues do great work for Guinea pig welfare and we will continue to try and help promote the rescue route on the forum but appreciate that some people may not have access to rescues near them or choose not to go down that route for a particular reason personal to them. The forum is inclusive for all, so please if you see anyone getting jumped upon hit the report button. I don't think people mean to make people feel judged or uncomfortable but can get a little over zealous prompting the rescue message so I honestly don't think posts are every made maliciously but of course we don't want people feeling preached to.
 
Well I got my boys from a breeder, but if I would come across rescue piggy I would not hesitate to give them forever home. Just yesterday I saw pictures of two lovely pigs that are siting in their own poo and pee with no bedding, houses, NO hay!, and a cage that would not even fit a hamster( i believe that its 60x40cm) The owner wants to sell them because he doesnt have a time for them and is rude enough to ask high price for them and the tiny cage. I want to get them as far away from him as possible. I would post the pictures but i dont want any trouble from that...
 
rome_italy said:
I adopted my two sows from a rescue not for worthy reasons, but only because I did not want to run any risk and I preferred two sows already checked by a vet, coming home with a poo test and, above all, with the guarantee that they would eat correctly grass and vegs.
I went and fetched them by train and I travelled 3 hours, but I went to Bologna as a tourist, I visited the city and I didn't consider that lovely trip as a bill to be paid.
In my opinion the only disgusting thing is adopting/buying a piggie when we already know that we cannot be responsible of it100%; for example when its health depends on other family members' wallets. I judge badly the owner who adopts a pet thinking that it will be always healthy, that other people will eventually pay for it and especially when this "responsible" owner uses the forum only for crying "I have no money for the vet, mum is not paying, give me help and comfort pleeeeeeease!".:gd::gd::gd::gd::gd::gd:
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I agree but a child that's given a pet cannot be answerable or understand vets bills and certain things. I'm sure some come on the forum for help are geunine askin for help. I work with kids and parents think their child is the next word class footballer but the child can't wipe it bottom. I would give every penny I have to.help my piggies but I know a guy who put his dog down cos he was going on holiday.
 
David Pet Lover said:
I agree but a child that's given a pet cannot be answerable or understand vets bills and certain things. I'm sure some come on the forum for help are geunine askin for help. I work with kids and parents think their child is the next word class footballer but the child can't wipe it bottom. I would give every penny I have to.help my piggies but I know a guy who put his dog down cos he was going on holiday.
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You're absolutely right. We have had a few threads on here where it is apparent that a child has come on here asking for advice and I often wonder what their parents are thinking about all these new virtual friends offering advice.
 
Sometimes it's not necessarily what is being said outright , rather nuances of expression , in between the lines meanings .
Or vacating a thread when certain things get mentioned.

Nobody is ever going to report something like that , as you either accept it as the forum's philosophy or you go quiet and eventually move on.

The important thing to remember , even for those who would go to places like p@h only with a flamethrower , is that by going there it doesn't necessarily imply irresponsible owner or worse.

So , in your opinion , what should happen to all those beautiful animals that are there ?
Nobody should go get them and what would happen to them ?
Are you saying they should be sacrificed for a greater cause ?
Are you saying every revolutions needs martyrs ?

Whilst I see the predictable replies like "if nobody bought pets from there ,then they would stop breeding them " I'd like to know what should happen to those that don't get bought , in your opinion.
Because to be fair , I don't even know how to answer that , but won't pretend to take a moral stance when I don't have an answer for what I condemn .

I'm pretty sure this will come across as a pro-shop post , well it's not.
I'm just trying to say that there are people , like me , who never bought a pet in their life , always either rescued or took dying kittens from the street , that are in between the :

A) pet shop - irresponsible/ careless
B) rescue - responsible and appropriate
 
Well said.

My first piggy, Connie came from a friend of a friend whose children had lost interest. After researching, I realised that she would be happier with a friend so I brought Eliza from pets at home. I had no idea that rescues exited at that time but I wouldn't have changed her for the world. She lived until she was 6.5 with barely any health problems where as Connie had chronic bladder problems but I wouldn't have changed her for the world either.

My previous 5 and current 3 piggies have all been rescues. Some have had health problems, some haven't and I wouldn't change them them for the world either.

I would always recommend and support rescue as there are far too many waiting for homes but wouldn't slate anyone who has had their piggies from other sources.
 
This thread is so interesting and the subject has been on my mind for a while, since a particular post.
Unfortunately I've not had time to do any research so can't really contribute at the moment but a lot has been covered in CeiLondon's post.

I just don't go into pet shops with animals now as once I see an animal, I can't just think of them as "collateral damage" to be left for the greater good. ( Not that I would get any more as I'm at my max)

But I really don't like the idea of impulse buys and incorrect advice/ profit driven values which can happen at pet shops.

Maybe the key is pushing for strict regulation and licencing of animals and of the pet shops/breeders as well as promoting rescues.

It is far too easy to get hold of small animals, if you had to get them licenced like we had to with dogs years ago and maybe microchipped, it would allow a time for reflection and research. Don't know why we gave up dog licences!

We generally don't see cats and dogs sold in pet shops any more, thank goodness! But there are still issues with puppy farms, bitches being bred to exhaustion and unwanted pets, so I don't think its a black and white issue.

Goodness! sorry for the ramblings, I wasn't going to say much when I started!

This is a lovely forum, very supportive and I have learned a lot, I don't want to offend anyone or push forward my own personal opinion but I needed to get this out as I have felt a little undercurrent! :soz:
 
spock said:
This thread is so interesting and the subject has been on my mind for a while, since a particular post.
Unfortunately I've not had time to do any research so can't really contribute at the moment but a lot has been covered in CeiLondon's post.

I just don't go into pet shops with animals now as once I see an animal, I can't just think of them as "collateral damage" to be left for the greater good. ( Not that I would get any more as I'm at my max)

But I really don't like the idea of impulse buys and incorrect advice/ profit driven values which can happen at pet shops.

Maybe the key is pushing for[you] strict[/you] regulation and licencing of animals and of the pet shops/breeders as well as promoting rescues.

It is far too easy to get hold of small animals, if you had to get them licenced like we had to with dogs years ago and maybe microchipped, it would allow a time for reflection and research. Don't know why we gave up dog licences!

We generally don't see cats and dogs sold in pet shops any more, thank goodness! But there are still issues with puppy farms, bitches being bred to exhaustion and unwanted pets, so I don't think its a black and white issue.

Goodness! sorry for the ramblings, I wasn't going to say much when I started!

This is a lovely forum, very supportive and I have learned a lot, I don't want to offend anyone or push forward my own personal opinion but I needed to get this out as I have felt a little undercurrent! :soz:
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I echo a lot of that , my very humble and perhaps to many silly opinion is that if there should be any campaigning going on , it would have to be extremely strongly targeted towards breeding standards ( conditions , welfare , frequency and quantity) aimed at reducing the numbers thus in the long term one should achieve healthier pigs and people would be pushed towards rescues more .
And most importantly , rather than "fighting" people going to these shops , campaign to obtain selling standards.
Make these shops sell these pets under the right conditions , you can't just walk in and buy certain species .
You apply for one , you get info documents and questionnaires .
Are you suitable ? Yes great , here's your pets have a lovely life .

Only governments can impose and police this , there's no other way , shops and breeders are simply not going to impose it upon themselves.
But , as with everything , it's aaaaaalllllll about the £€$€$£...... MONEYSSSSS!
 
Honestly? I really don't care if people get a pig from a shop or from a rescue provided they're educated, understand what they're getting into and are prepared to deal with the fall out of an inevitable vet bill they didn't expect/deal with the pig correctly and with care and love.

HOWEVER, I have a real problem with the way breeders and unscrupulous owners are prepared to inbreed and keep animals in appalling conditions to make profit from lives. That bothers me immensely, not just with pigs but in all manner of pets available. I completely agree with @CriLondon and I would dearly love to see some form of legislation that ensured anyone selling live animals, not just pet shops, were forced to ensure they went to suitable, long term homes. The hassle of the process alone would put off most of the flakey, non-suitable people and that's half the problem dealt with immediately. Pets like pigs and other rodents are simply too readily available at the moment and it's really that which needs to change.
 
CriLondon said:
I echo a lot of that , my very humble and perhaps to many silly opinion is that if there should be any campaigning going on , it would have to be extremely strongly targeted towards breeding standards ( conditions , welfare , frequency and quantity) aimed at reducing the numbers thus in the long term one should achieve healthier pigs and people would be pushed towards rescues more .
And most importantly , rather than "fighting" people going to these shops , campaign to obtain selling standards.
Make these shops sell these pets under the right conditions , you can't just walk in and buy certain species .
You apply for one , you get info documents and questionnaires .
Are you suitable ? Yes great , here's your pets have a lovely life .

Only governments can impose and police this , there's no other way , shops and breeders are simply not going to impose it upon themselves.
But , as with everything , it's aaaaaalllllll about the £€$€$£...... MONEYSSSSS
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:agr: as in the many many years I've been around pet shops that sell animals seem basically the same and I don't think they are going anywhere soon:(
 
David Pet Lover said:
I agree but a child that's given a pet cannot be answerable or understand vets bills and certain things. I'm sure some come on the forum for help are geunine askin for help. I work with kids and parents think their child is the next word class footballer but the child can't wipe it bottom. I would give every penny I have to.help my piggies but I know a guy who put his dog down cos he was going on holiday.
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here a lot of people still get rid of their dogs before going to holidays and it is shameful (and we all judge very badly such owners, with public comments even online, we don't use any polite manners towards them, even journalists use the rudest manners towards them). I don't judge a poor child crying here because his stupid parents have put him in a great psychological sufference not paying for "his"beloved pet. But I judge those teenagers who feel so brave and so adult and responsible (?) only because they are able to go to the supermarket to buy a salad and some hay. And I judge even worse those parents who let their children surfing free the net asking strangers for helps they cannot get. Parents who spend money but pretend being poor, letting a child thinking he belongs to a poor family! I have read here incredible lies!
And I judge badly a stupid teenager who, after seeing and realising his parents' behaviour about the pet's bills, what is he doing at the death of his beloved pet? he goes and adopts another one! And are you telling me it is impolite to judge? shall we be friendly even with those ones who abandon piggies and rabbits on the road for "personal reasons"?
When I was 12 and I used to spend boring months at the village with my nan, I got a kitten and of course I was happy (because I have always preferred pets company rather than human company). Then I realised that nan and parents would not ever call any vet... my cat was only a cat, an animal... no doctors for him. I learnt the lesson and the next pet (a guinea pig) was taken when I was 33. NOT BEFORE.
Here parents don't think a child needs to feel responsible using an animal; a pet comes into a family for other reasons, not for this crazy wish of "deceiving" children feeling adults before time. Many adults buy a pet and do a great mistake and very often they don't think a pet is worth a vet bill. But I don't see any teenager going around vet clinics and saying "this is MY dog" or "this is MY hamster". Luckily here vets don't even speak with children. You need to be an adult for going to a vet. And children are spoiled with toys, holidays, activities and other things.
My daughters (20 and 16) don't even know the road for going to a vet and have no responsability at home for anything. Anyway they both have a credit card linked with the family bank account, they go on holidays abroad with this card, but don't consider themselves ready for adopting a child or a pet or anything else.
 
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Squeakz said:
I'd just like to remind everyone that a lot of our newcomers to the forum have come into piggy ownership in the more traditional way. Be that pets at home, petco, petsmart etc..

Other members have taken store pigs over rescues due to not rescues in their area or those rescues lacking what they need.

I know we are a pro rescue forum, and many of our new members might turn to rescues for future piggies now they know they are out there....if we don't scare them all off! Most of us started out with guinea pigs from pet stores even if it was your childhood pet your parents purchased. In fact a lot of us were not even aware rescues existed when we first started out on the great guinea adventure.

What I am trying to say is, let's just sit back a bit and not be so quick to judge when someone mentions their pets are coming from/have come from anywhere but a dedicated rescue. It can be very intimidating to new owners who come here for advice and instantly feel jumped on and that they have done something terribly wrong. What matters is that they joined our community to learn and ensure their guinea pigs are living the high life and getting the best of care, please let's not make them feel demonized just because they started off on a different footing than some of us would have liked. We may make future rescuers of them yet!
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So very true! I've always tried to "rescue" my piggies but in Scotland they are very few and far between. Sometimes I've managed to adopt from the SSPCA but only have occasional piggies which are snapped up before you can get there! I do therefore adopt from Pets at Home etc as they occasionally have ones needing rehomed. My most recent being a 7 year old sow.
 
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