what do you think?

[Gaile]

Well,i went to a local Farm that i visit with the Toddler group i run!It really is a nice Farm lots of things to see and do.But in the guinea pigs pen which is about 10-ft square with LOTS of straw to hide under and little castles to also to hide in.There were baby guinea pigs running around,i told my daughter that it was maybe about 2weeks old.When a member of staff walked by and piped up "they are 2 days old",ok i thought but wasn't sure.I know guinea pigs are well developed when born but not that good!So just said nothing!But then noticed a guinea pig under the straw,so i lifted to see"her" and there were 5 babies that were 2days old!Later i returned on my own to the "petting area", the staff member was handing out the 2week old babys that i'd seen, to children to hold.So this was my chance to "ask"! I said "Are they 2weeks old" "yes" she said."Only i didn't see the little 2day babies until you had said!" Her face just stoney."so" i said "do you separate the boars from the sows,when the babies are old enough!" "Oh,no they all stay together because we bred to sell" I was so shocked,must have shown on my face!She then said "WELL it has worked ok for the last 10years" I walked away. What really annoyed me,was her attitude with me,when i was talking to my daughter and that the babies looked about 2weeks old.Yes,i know i do not wear a t-shirt that says "i have pet guinea pigs and look after them properly and do NOT breed for the money "(i don't breed at all,by the way!)Also annoyed that they DO NOT remove the boars and shouldn't the sows be in a separate hutches to see to their babies!Would that not cause in-breeding or other problems?Or I'm i just being tooo petty! Really hope that you understand this?

 

[Sian]

You're not being petty at all Gaile. This is terrible! >

Maybe you should report them to the RSPCA? I wonder if they would do anything about it?

 

[cavy love]

that's not petty, it's terrible. > :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: why do people go on like that? it's not fair on the animals, and that woman! arghhh that would make me sooo mad.

 

[PiggyLoon]

Oh no... thats really bad! >

I reckon they would have babies that were inbred cos they just let them breed. 10 years of potential inbreeding possibly!
I hate it when people think they know what they're on about but then back track on themselves like she did. :tickedoff:

Maybe they need reporting.....

 

[CobwebandPigpig]

That's so horrible.. those poor sows.. makes me feel ill. :'(

PiggyLoon & Sian are right, maybe someone should be checking up on things in an official capacity?

 

[teabag]

I would call up your local rspca branch and tell them what you've just told us and see what advice they offer. By the sounds of it though I don't know whether the rspca will do anything about it. Were the piggies in good health as far as you could tell? Any signs of mites etc? Cos that would obviously make the rspca take it more seriously...

 

[dazie]

What a awful situation! We go to a great farm park a few times a year they have a huge pen with piggies in all running freely. Last year we went on the last day of the season and they said if anyone wanted the guinea pigs they were going free to a good home :o :o there were 20 left at that time I didnt own piggies then but I was concerned they were just giving them away to anyone this year we will be going again and I will be taking a pet carrier or 2 if they say the same again we will be bringing home some and I will find them homes the proper way!!

 

[Gaile]

The guinea pigs were ALL in good condition! I jsut think that the mummy pigs should have some space to themselves with their babies. O0 I did phone RSPCA last year for another "petting farm" (not a very nice place at all) that had rabbits and babies in small hutches,very pregnant sows in with lots of other guinea pigs, in very over crowded hutches! :'( O0 The inspector phoned the next day and Thanked me for reporting the conditions of the poor animals. My friend who was with me,didn't think it was that bad,but once i pointed out the problems she finally agreed,but she has never had a pet before! For me it is vital that my pets have every thing that makes their life easy,good food,good hutches and freedom.Which all of you will agree, is the less that we do! Thanks for your support.