Buying a Guinea Pig from Petco or Adopting from a Rescue Organization?

Question

I can't decide to buy a guinea pig from Petco or adopting from a shelter or Rescue Organization...

I have owned 3 three guinea pigs total..My first was in 2006.. i think I owned it for a year.. Died suddenly one day.. Wasnt sick or nuthin.

Then I bought another in Feb 2007..

Died again for no apparent reason..in a week

So I brought it back and they gave me another one..

I kept it for 3 years..

Passed away recently..

My parents are urging me to get another one..

After much grieving and thought, I decided to get another one..

I bought the last three from Petsmart..

Should I buy another one from Petco??

Or Adopt?

Do Rescue Organizations/shelters handle adoptions for guinea pigs the same way they handle dog and cat adoptions( You have to get approved, a home visit, they collect all your information, Monitor the animal over time)?

Im looking for a guinea pig under a year old..

I live in Maryland..

Answer 1

Think adoption first! There are tons of guinea-pigs in shelters that needs homes. Not all rescue organizations have home visits and monitor the animal over time. But getting approved and collecting information is almost all the time. Petco/Petsmart carry sick animals. But if you must get it from a petstore, please get him/her to a vet after :)

Answer 2

I got my guinea pigs from a rescue. I had to fill out an application and pay an adoption fee. I also had to sign a contract stating that, if for any reason I could no longer keep them, I'd return them to the rescue. They didn't require a home visit. The application was mostly just questions that ensured that adopters know about proper care and have a good exotics vet lined up.

It definitely wasn't any more trouble than getting pigs from a pet store - just a few emails and then you go pick them up. It's worth it for pigs that are healthy and better-socialized than pet store pigs. Also, you get an idea of their personality before you bring them home. And it's worth it to save a life!

http://www.petfinder.com/

Answer 3

If you have local rescues with guinea pigs in need of homes, those should be the priority. Meet adoptable guinea pigs and see if any of them grab your attention.

You do have to get approved, but that can take only a minute. They usually do not request a home visit or monitor the animal over time. They do ask for some basic information just for their adoption records.

A guinea pig specific rescue may ask about the cage you intend to use, food fed, etc. just to see how educated you are on the proper care of guinea pigs. They want their cavies to go to the best possible homes.

Local humane societies etc. that just happen to have some guinea pigs released to them, won't be as particular.

Answer 4

Maybe they don't even have guinea pigs up for adoption , but if they do you should totally adopt.

Give a home to a poor defenseless animal.

Answer 5

well wat does ur heart tell u if u save the one from the shelter uve dne a good deed u saved an orphan gueni pig if u get one from pet co its more likely to die cuz idk pets from pet shops die quicker