G-Force

Parent Cafe
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<p>I don’t know if anyone here has small kids and is going to see G-Force, but there is a huge concern that the movie will cause a lot of impulsive purchases of guinea pigs.</p>

<p>If you or your kids decide you want a guinea pig, please read this firs:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.guinealynx.info/pdf/GPs_G-Force_UK.pdf[/url]”>www.guinealynx.info/pdf/GPs_G-Force_UK.pdf</a> </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.guinealynx.info/pdf/GPs_are_great_G-Force_UK.pdf[/url]”>www.guinealynx.info/pdf/GPs_are_great_G-Force_UK.pdf</a> </p>

<p>Please remember:
Guinea pigs can damage their back if you use a ball or wheel for them.
They need a cup of fresh veggies (Romaine lettuce, bell peppers) every day.
The live up to seven years and sometimes longer.
They are NOT a kids’ pet.
They need to live in same-gender pairs.
They need a cage at least 7.5 square feet (none of the pet store ones work).
There is a huge overpopulation problem, so please ADOPT!
They are EXPENSIVE to keep! </p>

<p>For more details about care and keeping a guinea pig, go to: </p>

<p>[Guinea</a> Pig Cages, Your Cavy At Home](<a href=“http://guineapigcages.com/]Guinea”>http://guineapigcages.com/)
[Guinea</a> Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig](<a href=“http://www.guinealynx.info/]Guinea”>http://www.guinealynx.info/)</p>

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<p>I too fear this! I have 5 guinea pigs- rescues- in 2 very, very large C & C cages. They are more work than my other animals (cat, dog). Very cute, but the cuteness wears off quickly when you see how much care is involved. If at all possible- please do not support pet stores that sell animals (Petco, Pet"smart").</p>

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<p>^Petco is horrible to their animals. The small, independent pet stores are much better.</p>

<p>We bought a Patagonian Conure from Petco several years back…he was very badly behaved and had obviously not been handled enough to be used to people. We kept him for several years, but eventually needed that we could not care for him properly and gave him to said small pet store that deals exclusively with exotic birds.</p>

<p>Also, if your kid wants a Guinea Pig but you’re not ready for the work, try a teddy bear hamster. They’re adorable and much more of a kids’ pet. I had one in the 2nd grade and absolutely adored her. I was devastated when she died two or three years later.</p>

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<p>Adopt?? A guinea pig … really?</p>

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<p>I have heard that they have them in shelters. We are guilty of buying our 2 from a local pet store. I do not find them that expensive to raise, compared to dogs or cats, however.</p>

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<p>Actually I think guinea pigs are a great pet for children. </p>

<p>They seldom bite, unlike hamsters, and they are easier for kids to handle than rabbits. They have an adorable little piggy sound (wee wee wee all the way home) when you go into the fridge to get treats, or rattle the hay bag. I’ve never seen an aggressive guinea pig – and I have seen many aggressive hamsters and rabbits. </p>

<p>All children under 10 should be supervised at all times with their pets. If the parent thinks the five year old is going to take full care of her pig … my recommendation is that they go for the plush variety.</p>

<p>As compared to dogs, cats, horses – they are a fairly inexpensive pet to maintain. While I’m a firm believer in a well baby checkup annually, they don’t need vaccines and they don’t need much grooming or vet care beyond having their nails trimmed. Guinea pigs do have a specific requirement for Vitamin C which is available in their pelletted foods and can be supplemented with vitamin drops, treats, or fresh fruits and vegetables. </p>

<p>They generally live 4-6 years but with very good care can live longer. There are many breeds and color varieties available. I generally recommend two females if someone wants more than one, and I will not guarantee that two males, even from the same litter will never fight.</p>

<p>A responsible pet store will never sell you an animal on impulse, but will rather encourage you to make multiple visits until you are comfortable with purchasing a pet and have all your questions answered.</p>

<p>Among interesting facts – the gestation period for guinea pigs is 70 days, the young are born fully furred and able to walk quite soon after birth. The babies wean at 21-25 days. It is possible <strong><em>and not recommended</em></strong> for a guinea pig to have her first litter at 97-100 days … you do the math! </p>

<p>If you are going to breed your female pig – and I would note that breeding and giving birth is literally a matter of life and death – she must be bred before 8 months, preferably earlier because the bones of the pelvis will fuse and she will be unable to give birth and need a C-section to survive.</p>

<p>Yes we expect to see guinea pig interest increase due to the movie.
Our store will use it as a springboard for education.</p>

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<p>The movie got a really poor review in our newspaper ths a.m. Maybe it won’t be a big hit.</p>

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<p>Yes. Animal shelters often have animals other than dogs and cats, including guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, and birds. One local humane society in my area currently has numerous hamsters, rabbits, nine (!) guinea pigs, two lovebirds, two cockatiels, a ferret, and several rats up for adoption right now.</p>

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<p>Enter your zip code into Petfinder dot com, and you’ll find plenty of rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters in shelters and foster care looking for permanent homes.</p>

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<p>I just wanted to respond to everyone who posted. First of all, thank you for reading the information :)</p>

<p>HisGraceFillsMe, while some pet stores treat animals better than others, a lot of them still get their animals (be they cats, dogs, guinea pigs, or other critters) from animal mills, where the animals are bred in horrible conditions. Also, the constant breeding is the source of a huge overpopulation problem and numerous homeless animals. That’s why it’s better not to go to the pet stores, even if they are better than Petco.</p>

<p>Mamabear1234, I think they may be more expensive than people expect. A cup of fresh veggies every day and unlimited hay plus all the bedding really add up, but that of course depends on your income, etc. Plus, the vet costs for a specialized exotic vet get to be REALLY expensive. In New York City, for example (I know it’s an expensive city), you can easily spend over $1000 if your pig is seriously ill.</p>

<p>Cnp55, when I said they weren’t a good pet for kids, I didn’t mean it in a sense that they will hurt the child. I think how defenseless they are is, in part, what makes them a bad pet for kids. If a child is bothering a dog or cat, that animal can get out or try to defend itself, but a guinea pig can’t. They are also really fragile. Furthermore, they are pray animals that don’t really like to be bothered a lot and may not want to be held for as longs as a child wants to hold them. They really need a lot more gentleness than most children can provide.</p>

<p>I think the main point about any pet is that you have to be the primary care-giver, and your child really can’t be no matter how “easy” or “starter” that pet is.</p>

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<p>I know you mean well, collegestudent, but we are mostly your parents ages without very young children. I’m guessing that the majority of adults know about puppy mills and that our kids, your age, are old enough to take care of a pet.</p>

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<p>acollegestudent, thank you for your articulate and compassionate posts.</p>

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<p>sorry, long day. I usually pause before I hit post.</p>

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<p>Despite poor reviews, G-Force was a hit with moviegoers last week. Too bad for the little piggies. Guinea pigs were sold out at the local pet store (which, ironically, is located across the street from the local movie theater)…</p>

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<p>Catch my reference to ‘plush’?</p>

<p>All my pigs come from a prize winning show quality guinea pig breeder. She does not breed for summer babies, as the heat is very hard on the sows and their litters – so the next group of guinea pigs will be coming after Columbus Day. </p>

<p>Please don’t lump all pet stores together – wouldn’t you rather that people have a place to purchase pets that cares about the animals, has an educated staff, and offers quality animals, and supplies. I have a degree in Animal Science and each of my staff members – from 16 to 45 – has completed a online professional training course on animal husbandry. (If they don’t complete it in 3 months from date of hire, they don’t get to keep their job.)</p>

<p>Yes, we are in business to make money. We’re also in business to provide pets (read: the wonderful bond between animals and humans) to people of all ages and the supplies and information to keep them healthy and happy. And we’re pretty good at it.</p>

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<p>Kathiep, I didn’t mean to annoy anyone, and I realize most people on here are very responsible, as are their kids. Sometimes, it’s just hard to find information. I got my first pig my junior year of college (I am out of college and working now, despite what my name says), and I realize that I gave a her a poor life, because I was really misinformed (even books that you can get can be very outdated). Plus, sometimes college students, even if they are in their twenties just seem to think in the short term. One sorority in my college also decided that they should all get rabbits, and they got rid of them when they had to leave to go back home for the summer. I guess what I am trying to say is with the movie coming out, I thought it would be a good opportunity to give people some information that took me way too long to find out for myself. They are really precious critters and deserve the best :slight_smile: I am very passionate about animals, and this hits close to home, because I have two little ones (piggies) at home.</p>

<p>Zipyourlips, thank you :)</p>

<p>Cnp55, I think it’s wonderful that you take such wonderful care of your piggies! I would still encourage people to adopt because of all the homeless animals, but as far as pet stores with live animals go, I wish the ones like yours were the rule not the exception.</p>