way before Christmas I got bashed about getting a baby Guinea pig from a "breeder" well not long after that I went and looked around a rescue and got. 2 piggies. My god there was loads of piggies needing homes! I couldn't believe it.now I totally understand why I got bashed! Now I realize I'm 1000% rescue only. People on this forum where harsh but now I totally realize/understand!
A few Months ago I had to give a fair few of my piggies to a rescue. I felt bad my health went down hill very fast and I felt I couldn't give them the attention they needed.now a fair few of thepiggies have found homes. And I'm happy they will get well looked after.
I now have 6 piggies. That's enough that I can afford and spend time with.
Thank you for the people who did bash me because now I have totally realised now.
I 1000% support rescue/adoption and will never get from a breeder again nor will I buy from a pet shop. Going to a rescue has made me realize all the piggies that need forever homes.
I hope that the bashing was not TOOO harsh! We try to be polite, after all!
But I am very glad that you have found out for yourself where we are coming from and why we are rather passionate about rescue guinea pigs! It is not something you can be lukewarm over...
Rescues are the ones that are picking up the pieces of a consumer society where pets of any species are far too often treated just like any other children's toy that has fallen out of favour. They also take in all those neglected and often pregnant piggies when deliberate or unintentional breeding or hoarding has gone out of bounds.
As long as there is no strict law, law enforcement and control re. registering/licensing of breeders and rescues, breeding and rescue welfare (so far, it is all about breeding standards, but not care) and import of bred babies for sale in this country it is often a fight against windmills for those rescues that aspire to a good standard of care at all levels and stages. It is very important to support them by adopting, fundraising, educating etc. to help cover the rising vet and feed cost to cope with the steadily rising numbers of unwanted and neglected piggies and other pets.
Many rescues also offer sponsorships for those guinea pigs that are too frail or old to be adopted out. "Godparenting" a permanent rescue resident is something that you can do from anywhere in the world, even if you haven't got rescue access where you are. I have two of them, an old lady (the last of a succession of them) and a little sanctuary boy. They are my Christmas/birthday presents from friends, who have in turn got their own sponsorships from me. It doesn't cost much, but it can make a difference and it gives a face to your donation.
When I started on this forum, a large rescue action with hundreds of piggies was something of a lifetime event for a rescue, now it happens all the time. Nowadays, rescues are nearly always full to bursting. For each piggy that you adopt, not shop, you give another one a chance at a safe and happy future. If nobody is adopting, then rescues can't take in any more guinea pigs in need. And the bulk of all rescue intakes are now no longer wanted shop piggies...
The irony is that rescue piggies from a good standard rescue are actually the safest piggies to acquire, as they are healthy, properly sexed, guaranteed not pregnant and usually carefully bonded - that is something that commercial breeders that breed for sale or shop cannot and will not provide until they are forced to by law. You are not doing something good, you are decidely getting the best service back which comes with a lifelong guarantee on top!
It is important that you look only after as many guinea pigs as you feel you can care for at any time. Knowing your own limits is important. There are always so many more that you would love to adopt and make happy...
PS: Wiebke's Tribe 2012 - all adopted and all precious... and giving you a good average of the kind of piggies ending up in rescue!
7 of them were unwanted children's pets (some of them in bad state, others not), 3 were from uncontrolled breeding/neglect situations, 2 were dumped breeder sows, 1 was an unbondable fallen-out boar and one was an accidental surprise baby
