Cavvy shows?

I’ve just remembered this too, when I was on the hunt for another piggy following a failed bond (the rescue close to me weren’t able to offer us a piggy and our current piggy had essentially gone into acute pining), I was put in contact with someone who rescued piggies and also bred them (I didn’t know this part yet) and I came to learn that they participated in guinea pig shows and one of their, shall I say ‘specialities’ was breeding guinea pigs with the satin gene (horrible gene which can lead to osteodystrophy) as the shiny coat it gave them was more favoured in shows despite it causing a whole lot of health problems and shortened lifespan. I almost cried when I found out people purposefully bred that nasty gene into piggies. It just shows the complete lack of care for the animals, they just want to win. It’s so cruel and unfair.
 
I think I mentioned in my above post. Selective breeding and the resulting genetic characteristics is by far not an issue limited to one species.
I actually have uni students across different modules (breeding and genetics, welfare developments and current issues in international animal industries) carrying out a lot of research into the consequences of selective breeding. And lot of the issue lies with the poor, unsuspecting owners who are buying animals for particular traits, without being educated as to the health implications the breed will suffer (this is in horses,dogs, small animals). I myself had a paper published on “designer dog breeding and it’s effects on welfare”. It is also actually one of the main aims of the international strategy this year for the FEI (international equine federation) to explore how to better educate the general public.

so sorry if it seemed as though I was ranting earlier. It’s just a topic (one of many) that I feel strongly about
 
Little Ones said:
I’ve just remembered this too, when I was on the hunt for another piggy following a failed bond (the rescue close to me weren’t able to offer us a piggy and our current piggy had essentially gone into acute pining), I was put in contact with someone who rescued piggies and also bred them (I didn’t know this part yet) and I came to learn that they participated in guinea pig shows and one of their, shall I say ‘specialities’ was breeding guinea pigs with the satin gene (horrible gene which can lead to osteodystrophy) as the shiny coat it gave them was more favoured in shows despite it causing a whole lot of health problems and shortened lifespan. I almost cried when I found out people purposefully bred that nasty gene into piggies. It just shows the complete lack of care for the animals, they just want to win. It’s so cruel and unfair.
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Shows like that should be banned . . Horrible evil .. scum. . My view.
 
VickiA said:
As @Lady Kelly has pointed out discussion about showing (and breeding) are banned in accordance with the forum’s terms and rules.

However, an informed discussion on the topic every now and then does no harm, as part of the forum’s ethos is to educate owners in the interests of their guinea pigs.

Breeding and showing tend to go hand in hand, with commercial and hobby breeders (“the fancy”) selectively breeding to achieve breed standards. As part of the rescue we have seen the appalling conditions some piggies have been forced to endure and the lack of attention to welfare of the guinea pigs by the breeders. Conditions at shows are far from conducive to healthy happy piggies and piggies are bought and sold as breeding commodities or discarded for failing to meet breed standards.
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I agree @VickiA that a healthy discussion is helpful. Rather than closing off reasoned discussion it allows us to learn and not feel judged by a negative approach.
This has been a good discussion too, polite and respectful. @Livvysquish came asking for our opinions and was open to the points made which is a sign of of a very caring person.
Now I really think we need a lot more pictures of those piggies @Livvysquish who are really gorgeous, please
 
Little Ones said:
I’ve just remembered this too, when I was on the hunt for another piggy following a failed bond (the rescue close to me weren’t able to offer us a piggy and our current piggy had essentially gone into acute pining), I was put in contact with someone who rescued piggies and also bred them (I didn’t know this part yet) and I came to learn that they participated in guinea pig shows and one of their, shall I say ‘specialities’ was breeding guinea pigs with the satin gene (horrible gene which can lead to osteodystrophy) as the shiny coat it gave them was more favoured in shows despite it causing a whole lot of health problems and shortened lifespan. I almost cried when I found out people purposefully bred that nasty gene into piggies. It just shows the complete lack of care for the animals, they just want to win. It’s so cruel and unfair.
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Your post has reminded me once again that sadly anyone can call themselves a rescue. There are unfortunately a number of so called rescues who are associated with breeders. They take unwanted breeder stock - this can be of either sex who have failed to provide litters with the desired traits; piggies who are past their prime breeding years; old stock or sub prime stock. We have even heard of rescues being funded by online auctions of breeder stock. Effectively these “rescues” enable the breeders to keep on with their breeding activities.

The rescues that we recommend on our approved rescue locator are not associated with breeding. We do not believe that any rescue should be directly or indirectly involved with or enable breeding activity.
 
When I was going to get piggies I asked around where I should get them. I wanted somewhere reputable (I hadn’t found here yet). A family friend is a vet who had a contact that sold guinea pigs. He wasn’t a breeder, he “just sold stock that didn’t make the grade for shows”. I phoned him and chatted and just didn’t feel brilliant about it and so started some proper research and found here (phew). A bit later I explained to the vets wife why I had gone elsewhere and she was aghast that I had an issue with it. She said it was really lovely to go because he had sheds full of pigs. Made me even happier with my decision to go rescue! But his hobby of showing pigs led to sheds full of “excess stock”...
 
Tigermoth said:
When I was going to get piggies I asked around where I should get them. I wanted somewhere reputable (I hadn’t found here yet). A family friend is a vet who had a contact that sold guinea pigs. He wasn’t a breeder, he “just sold stock that didn’t make the grade for shows”. I phoned him and chatted and just didn’t feel brilliant about it and so started some proper research and found here (phew). A bit later I explained to the vets wife why I had gone elsewhere and she was aghast that I had an issue with it. She said it was really lovely to go because he had sheds full of pigs. Made me even happier with my decision to go rescue! But his hobby of showing pigs led to sheds full of “excess stock”...
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I shake your hand. Well done.
 
Always hearing about breeders that call themselves rescues and the things they do horrifies me, I’m glad to be able to look at my two boys and know they’re safe and loved
 
My Cinnamon and Treacle were from a show, some friends of mine are involved in the breeding and showing side so I went to a local one to see what the fuss was about and saw them sat in the sales pen and I felt bad for them, they were very scared. Poor things only lived for a year in my care :( I went to another one last year as it was apparently one of the countries largest and again, I'm nosy, I like to have opinions on things based on personal experience, I ended up getting roped into a bit of stewarding the pigs from show bench to their pens for my friend and yeah.. it was nice to see people I knew but I would never make any of mine put up with that sort of thing.

I also can't wrap my head around this need to breed animals with shorter and shorter faces which is happening now with guinea pigs. It didn't work out well for dogs, cats, rabbits and horses, so why are we continuing with more species? At least 3 of mine are or were brachycephalic, with deformed skulls that cause breathing issues, blocked tear ducts and the potential for dental issues. Its incredibly frustrating.
Guinea pigs are already beautiful without turning them into pugs.
 
Merab's Slave said:
I agree @VickiA that a healthy discussion is helpful. Rather than closing off reasoned discussion it allows us to learn and not feel judged by a negative approach.
This has been a good discussion too, polite and respectful. @Livvysquish came asking for our opinions and was open to the points made which is a sign of of a very caring person.
Now I really think we need a lot more pictures of those piggies @Livvysquish who are really gorgeous, please
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Awh thank you 😊 I was a little scared to post as I know its a sensitive topic but I'm glad I educated myself.
 

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