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There's no shelters or rescues nearby, but I really don't want to get one from a pet store. What should I do?
Where to get guinea pigs
- Thread starter AfternoonNarwhale101
- Start date
tatals
Junior Guinea Pig
Where are you from, @AfternoonNarwhale101? Aside from rescues, you could try PetFinder or some adoption group on Facebook, for example.
Veggies Galore
Senior Guinea Pig
This link will help you about adding your location
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...cation-and-creating-an-avatar-picture.107444/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...cation-and-creating-an-avatar-picture.107444/
Your location info would help people advise you.... You say 'one' are you planning on just one or a pair as they are better in a pair...
Hi and welcome
I am very sorry, but unless we have a general idea in which country, US/Aus state, Can province or UK county you live, we can't really help you efficiently. We have members and enquiries from all over the world. If you add that to location in your account details (accessible via clicking on your username on the top bar), then it will appear with every post you make and allow us to tailor any advice and recommendations according to what is available and relevant where you are in terms of vet and rescue access, medical and other brands, climate and general background, which varies enormously around the globe.
If you haven't kept guinea pigs before, it can sometimes be safer to bite the bullet and buy piggies from a chain pet shop as your customer rights are better protected. Anybody can call themselves a breeder with out licence or any kind of supervision. The same goes for rescues. Sadly there still far too many rescues/shelters without quarantine/medical care, basic biological knowledge or that are simply breeder outlets for no longer needed piggies. Chain pet shops can at least be easier held to account if something goes wrong.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
Getting piggies from the free-ads can be dicey; people wanting to get rid of unwanted pets are often lying through their teeth and fail to disclose any major problems like a pregnancy or major illness, so you can end up with a very steep and expensive learning curve. We see those cases on here quite regularly when help is needed. The risks are all on your side, and you will find that previous owners will cut contact the moment the piggies are in your hands.
Unless you have the financial (Illness can quickly cost you hundreds of pounds or dollars), spacial (in case of a pregnancy, mis-sexing or piggies that do not get on) and time for solving any problems to take on piggies in need privately, I would recommend rather to start with comparatively easy piggies that can teach you the ropes first. If you want to rescue yourself later on in life, then your experience will come in handy but by then you have a much better idea and control of what you are getting yourself into.
PS: You do not have to be local to support a rescue or guinea pigs in rescue but as much as I laud your intent, better start out with the safest option that you have available where you are and take it from there once you have got your feet under your body. You will get farther that way.