Pet Shop Vs Shelter

[happy_piggy]

Should a guinea pig be adopted from a pet shop or shelter? My opinion is that it doesn't matter. All guinea pigs need a loving, caring home whether they are from a shop or shelter. I have heard people say shelters are better, but I'm not sure about that. My 2 boys are both from a pet shop and they are great. What are your opinions?

 

[Swissgreys]

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this.
Sometimes the pig that needs you the most (or you need to the most) will come from the perfect source - a local, responsible rescue.
And sometimes that just doesn't work out.

I live in a place where rescue pigs are few and far between, and rescues can be picky, and most have a waiting list.
This means that most people here who want guinea pigs buy from breeders or pet shops.
Is this better or worse than getting a rescue pig?
There isn't a clear answer, because I would like to adopt but can't, which should be a a good thing really.
But even if you an adopt you might not find a pig that works for you.

I think it is better to look at the home you can offer, and the care you give your guinea pigs.
If someone makes a guinea pig happy, then the source becomes less important.

 

[happy_piggy]

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this.
Sometimes the pig that needs you the most (or you need to the most) will come from the perfect source - a local, responsible rescue.
And sometimes that just doesn't work out.

I live in a place where rescue pigs are few and far between, and rescues can be picky, and most have a waiting list.
This means that most people here who want guinea pigs buy from breeders or pet shops.
Is this better or worse than getting a rescue pig?
There isn't a clear answer, because I would like to adopt but can't, which should be a a good thing really.
But even if you an adopt you might not find a pig that works for you.

I think it is better to look at the home you can offer, and the care you give your guinea pigs.
If someone makes a guinea pig happy, then the source becomes less important.

I agree. There are no shelters within 500 miles of where I live, but many pet shops.

 

[Veggies Galore]

Should a guinea pig be adopted from a pet shop or shelter? My opinion is that it doesn't matter. All guinea pigs need a loving, caring home whether they are from a shop or shelter. I have heard people say shelters are better, but I'm not sure about that. My 2 boys are both from a pet shop and they are great. What are your opinions?

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this.
Sometimes the pig that needs you the most (or you need to the most) will come from the perfect source - a local, responsible rescue.
And sometimes that just doesn't work out.

I live in a place where rescue pigs are few and far between, and rescues can be picky, and most have a waiting list.
This means that most people here who want guinea pigs buy from breeders or pet shops.
Is this better or worse than getting a rescue pig?
There isn't a clear answer, because I would like to adopt but can't, which should be a a good thing really.
But even if you an adopt you might not find a pig that works for you.

I think it is better to look at the home you can offer, and the care you give your guinea pigs.
If someone makes a guinea pig happy, then the source becomes less important.

I think both of you should read the "about us " section of the page.

 

[happy_piggy]

I think both of you should read the "about us " section of the page.

Why?

 

[Veggies Galore]

Why?

it says ...

We are a 'Rescue Friendly' forum and 'Pro Rescue' in our ethos.
We try to spread the rescue word and let people know that they can get healthy, bonded piggies from a reputable rescue instead of more traditional routes such as breeders or pet shops. However it is appreciated that not all have rescues close to them or simply wish not to use a rescue. Anyone is welcome here regardless of where they get their pigs from so please enjoy your time here.

 

[happy_piggy]

it says ...

We are a 'Rescue Friendly' forum and 'Pro Rescue' in our ethos.
We try to spread the rescue word and let people know that they can get healthy, bonded piggies from a reputable rescue instead of more traditional routes such as breeders or pet shops. However it is appreciated that not all have rescues close to them or simply wish not to use a rescue. Anyone is welcome here regardless of where they get their pigs from so please enjoy your time here.

Oh. I think pet shops and rescues are both great.

 

[3Tyger]

I currently have 4 guinea pigs; 2 are from a rescue and 2 were bought as babies by my OH from a garden centre when I was devastated by a bereavement of losing my 4yr old girl piggies Topaz & Amber. I love all of my guinea pigs equally, wherever they are from.

I am in the UK and my view is that it is always better to rescue wherever possible. The UK lacks regulation around breeders of animals and pet shops. So yes, all guinea pigs need a home, but there are terrible breeders out there whose only focus is the money and i would rather not fund them. And also if i take in a rescue piggie it gives that rescue centre the space to take in another animal in desperate need.

As somebody who has owned a mixture of rescue and shop bought piggies i can honestly advise you that as a pet owner you are likely to have less problems with a rescue piggie than a piggie from anywhere else - especially if you are getting a new piggie as a friend for a piggie you already have.

Because if the introduction goes pear-shaped the rescue will advise and take back their piggie if necessary and you can try another 1 that is more likely to work. Also, a rescue piggie will usually have been checked over by a vet and it will be fit and healthy at time of adoption and you will know that it is definitely the gender that you were told.

Some shops are better than others, but compared to a rescue piggie a shop bought piggie is less likely to have seen a vet, more likely to be a different gender than it was sold as, and quite often the inability of shop staff to sex them correctly means that the females sold are often pregnant. Some shops even have notices displayed saying they can't guarantee the genders of the pets sold.

I flat out refuse to buy live animals from somewhere that can't gaurantee the gender, as in my view this definitely generates unwanted guinea pigs and contributes towards animals potentially suffering or being surrendered to rescues who are already overwhelmed.

My shop-bought piggies came with a gaurantee of their gender and a guarantee that they weren't pregnant, which is the very minimum that I would accept. The only reason all my piggies aren't from a rescue is because me & my OH are far more impulsive when going through a pet bereavement than we usually are. But we're always totally committed to our new pet and willing to shoulder all the responsibilities that comes along with it.

 

[happy_piggy]

I currently have 4 guinea pigs; 2 are from a rescue and 2 were bought as babies by my OH from a garden centre when I was devastated by a bereavement of losing my 4yr old girl piggies Topaz & Amber. I love all of my guinea pigs equally, wherever they are from.

I am in the UK and my view is that it is always better to rescue wherever possible. The UK lacks regulation around breeders of animals and pet shops. So yes, all guinea pigs need a home, but there are terrible breeders out there whose only focus is the money and i would rather not fund them. And also if i take in a rescue piggie it gives that rescue centre the space to take in another animal in desperate need.

As somebody who has owned a mixture of rescue and shop bought piggies i can honestly advise you that as a pet owner you are likely to have less problems with a rescue piggie than a piggie from anywhere else - especially if you are getting a new piggie as a friend for a piggie you already have.

Because if the introduction goes pear-shaped the rescue will advise and take back their piggie if necessary and you can try another 1 that is more likely to work. Also, a rescue piggie will usually have been checked over by a vet and it will be fit and healthy at time of adoption and you will know that it is definitely the gender that you were told.

Some shops are better than others, but compared to a rescue piggie a shop bought piggie is less likely to have seen a vet, more likely to be a different gender than it was sold as, and quite often the inability of shop staff to sex them correctly means that the females sold are often pregnant. Some shops even have notices displayed saying they can't guarantee the genders of the pets sold.

I agree that pet shops tend to mess up with some animals. There are about 4 pet shops near me and I only trust 1 or 2. The pet shop my piggies are from only sell boys, so they don't mix. They also have a vet assured promise with each animal. I have had good luck with my pets there, so I continue to trust them.

I flat out refuse to buy live animals from somewhere that can't gaurantee the gender, as in my view this definitely generates unwanted guinea pigs and contributes towards animals potentially suffering or being surrendered to rescues who are already overwhelmed.

My shop-bought piggies came with a gaurantee of their gender and a guarantee that they weren't pregnant, which is the very minimum that I would accept. The only reason all my piggies aren't from a rescue is because me & my OH are far more impulsive when going through a pet bereavement than we usually are. But we're always totally committed to our new pet and willing to shoulder all the responsibilities that comes along with it.

 

[Wiebke]

Oh. I think pet shops and rescues are both great.

Hi and welcome!

We recommend to use a good standard rescue whenever possible not only because that is a worthy deed, but also because that is the safest place to get guaranteed quarantined/healthy (i.e. mecically cared for) and correctly sexed/not pregnant guinea pigs from. Sadly that is not an option where you are in the US Midwest, @happy_piggy - there is no good rescue listed for your state nor anywhere within your wider reach.
Most of the shelters in your state are not ones that provide medical care or that are particularly piggy savvy, but then, neither do most pet shops with adoptables - but where you are, choosing between a shelter and a pet shop adoptable is doing as much as you can in terms of rehoming second-hand guinea pigs, and that is a very laudable aim! Many US shelters have a killing policy if animals can't be found a new home/safe place within a certain space of time, but the animals are often not in the best of nick, so it can be a very expensive and steep learning curve. I know that rescues in other states do their best to pull guinea pigs out of euthanising shelters whenever possible, even across state lines.

Unfortunately that means that it is pretty much a toss up for you where you get your guinea pigs from. Look for piggies that speak to your heart; as you so rightly say, every guinea pig has a right to happiness!
I would strongly recommend to sex any piggies upon arrival, and if you can afford it, please have them vet checked for mites, fungal and respiratory illnesse since you do not have that guarantee from a shop or shelter.
Here is a sexing guide: Sexing Guinea Pigs: How to Sex a Guinea Pig
Here is our information starter kit for new owners; it does also contain a link to recommended US vets.
" Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

 

[happy_piggy]

Hi and welcome!

We recommend to use a good standard rescue whenever possible not only because that is a worthy deed, but also because that is the safest place to get guaranteed quarantined/healthy (i.e. mecically cared for) and correctly sexed/not pregnant guinea pigs from. Sadly that is not an option where you are in the US Midwest, @happy_piggy - there is no good rescue listed for your state nor anywhere within your wider reach.
Most of the shelters in your state are not ones that provide medical care or that are particularly piggy savvy, but then, neither do most pet shops with adoptables - but where you are, choosing between a shelter and a pet shop adoptable is doing as much as you can in terms of rehoming second-hand guinea pigs, and that is a very laudable aim! Many US shelters have a killing policy if animals can't be found a new home/safe place within a certain space of time, but the animals are often not in the best of nick, so it can be a very expensive and steep learning curve. I know that rescues in other states do their best to pull guinea pigs out of euthanising shelters whenever possible, even across state lines.

Unfortunately that means that it is pretty much a toss up for you where you get your guinea pigs from. Look for piggies that speak to your heart; as you so rightly say, every guinea pig has a right to happiness!
I would strongly recommend to sex any piggies upon arrival, and if you can afford it, please have them vet checked for mites, fungal and respiratory illnesse since you do not have that guarantee from a shop or shelter.
Here is a sexing guide: Sexing Guinea Pigs: How to Sex a Guinea Pig
Here is our information starter kit for new owners; it does also contain a link to recommended US vets.
" Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

Thank you for sending the links! I did a lot of research on the pet shop I got my boys from and they have a vet assured promise. They also only get boys(I also checked there gender myself) I felt confident getting them from that store and so far we have had no problems with them

 

[3Tyger]

It's so interesting to learn about how things work for guinea pigs across different areas and countries. And yes, every guinea pig does have the right to happiness

 

[Lorcan]

I wouldn't call most pet store piggies "adoptables" though - most times you're buying an animal, like you would from a breeder. Maybe I'm just picky about word choice but that's not adopting an animal to me? I've always personally held that adoptions come via rescues.

I've always preferred adoption, personally, but I also think as long as the animal is looked after and well cared for, where it came from isn't the worst idea. It's like people with dogs. Some will want to adopt a rescue every time, some prefer to go to a breeder for personal reasons. Neither are my place to judge.

 

[AlbiePercy]

Albie is a pet shop piggy and when his companion died, we rehomed Percy from a Facebook free-ad. Ollie and Remy were later "adopted" also from Facebook. I live in rural Australia. My nearest rescue is 500km away. Although my piggies didn't come from the traditional animal rescue, I still believe that I'm giving them all a much better life than they would have otherwise. Especially Ollie and Remy who have come so so far health and socialisation wise since we got them.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I wouldn't call most pet store piggies "adoptables" though - most times you're buying an animal, like you would from a breeder. Maybe I'm just picky about word choice but that's not adopting an animal to me? I've always personally held that adoptions come via rescues.

I've always preferred adoption, personally, but I also think as long as the animal is looked after and well cared for, where it came from isn't the worst idea. It's like people with dogs. Some will want to adopt a rescue every time, some prefer to go to a breeder for personal reasons. Neither are my place to judge.

This was my thoughts exactly. When it comes to pet shops you are buying not adopting. It's nothing against the piggies, after all its not their fault some breeder is putting their mum through back to back pregnancies for the sake of profit. That said in the UK our pets at home stores have an adoption centre to support rescues. I got Daisy from there after her owners were no longer able to keep her. I prefer rescues though I am lucky to have several not too far away

 

[TheCavySlave]

We got ours from a shop, because my sister and I had waited years for a pet. And I'm not sure we have a rescue nearby...Generally, rescues tend to be better as you're adopting rather than buying.

This was my thoughts exactly. When it comes to pet shops you are buying not adopting. It's nothing against the piggies, after all its not their fault some breeder is putting their mum through back to back pregnancies for the sake of profit. That said in the UK our pets at home stores have an adoption centre to support rescues. I got Daisy from there after her owners were no longer able to keep her. I prefer rescues though I am lucky to have several not too far away

That sounds horrible, the poor mother pig! Is it forced impregnation?

 

[Wiebke]

Second-hand pet shop piggies are still bought and not properly adopted, like those from a full rescue, but there are large parts of the world where they are virtually the only way to do your bit towards animal welfare, unless taking your risk on the free-ads or in shelters without vet care - they are basically what we call "pounds" in the UK.
Good resues in he US, Canada and Australia are far and few in between and usually located in large urban areas, and so are piggy savvy vets. Compared to them, we are awash with guinea pig rescues in the UK, and even here we have no recommendable piggy savvy guinea pig rescues in the whole of Scotland or Ireland, and only two in Wales.
500 miles is about the distance I live from my family in Switzerland; or you get from London nearly to Inverness in North Scotland.

The other aspect to take into consideration is that vet care in the US, Canada and Australia is much more expensive than in the UK (although we are starting to catch up when it comes to using exotics/"supervet" clinics); there are much fewer good vets and getting an appointment can take days. Not so many people can pay upfront up to $1000 dollars for an operation (like a neuter in New York City, for example!) that may cost less than £100 here in the UK, nor do they necessarily have the experience to deal with neglected guinea pigs from a shelter or from the free-ads where people are often amazingly economic with the truth when it comes to getting rid of an unwanted pet.

Rescue is and remains our forum aim, but we have at all times to be aware that it is not possible for everybody and we also have to respect that the wish to "adopt" and "rescue" is not any smaller because of the lack of options. It is the gesture that makes all the difference in some guinea pigs' lives, and that is the important thing! it is one of the reasons why we ask our members for their general location, so we can help them find the option and solution locally.

 

[Swissgreys]

it says ...

We are a 'Rescue Friendly' forum and 'Pro Rescue' in our ethos.
We try to spread the rescue word and let people know that they can get healthy, bonded piggies from a reputable rescue instead of more traditional routes such as breeders or pet shops. However it is appreciated that not all have rescues close to them or simply wish not to use a rescue. Anyone is welcome here regardless of where they get their pigs from so please enjoy your time here.

I fully understand and appreciate this, so I am slightly contused as to why I need to read this section of the Forum Ethos (again).
In what way did my post not align with the Forum ethos?

I always suggest rescue as the first call for finding the idea pig, however I am also aware that not everyone (myself included) has access to a reputable rescue.
Constantly questioning where people get their pigs from, and drawing attention to it when they don't come from a rescue doesn't help people to become better owners.
Offering support, understanding and encouragement does.