guinea pig breeders UK

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Guinea Pig Breeders UK

Its amazingly difficult to find guinea pig breeders online. Most of the people who are active guinea pig enthusiasts online take a very poor view of breeders. Why is this? Honestly, most don’t seem to know what they are doing. Irresponsible breeders breed guinea pigs without knowledge of or concern for what to do with all the babies, which animals should and should not be mated, and in many circles are known for dumping animals on rescues and pet stores – where sometimes they end up as food for reptiles. Did you know that as many as 25% of all guinea pigs who are euthanized at shelters are purebred? Its true! You could go to a shelter today and get the guinea pig of your dreams for as little as $25. However, if this is not the right choice for you, then read on to discover how to select a great guinea pig breeder!

Guinea Pig Breeders – Finding one near you

The American Cavy Breeders Association is probably your best resource within the United States (if you are looking outside the US, we still have links below.) The ACBA promotes the breeding and improvement of the guinea pig, shows and exhibitions, and interest in guinea pigs as pets and research animals. Yes, research animals, that’s right. Most states have an affiliated breeders club.

Guinea Pig Breeders – Signs you have picked a good one

The breeder has way less than 50 guinea pigs. Having between 40-50 guinea pigs should raise red flags that you may be working with either a mill, commercial breeder, or backyard breeder. Mills are notorious for breeding with no concern for the animals’ welfare. Females will have litter after litter and living conditions are frequently over crowded and horrendous. Its very difficult for a single person or even a couple of people to care for more than 12-20 guinea pigs, let alone multiple pregnant mothers. Backyard breeders are people who breed guinea pigs for fun and for sale, but don’t have a lot of specialized knowledge. Frequently, a lack of knowledge about which animals can be bred results, unfortunately, in blind and deformed animals. Commercial breeders tend to raise lots of guinea pigs for wholesale distribution – including sale to research labs. Look for signs that a breeder is very choosy about who they sell to. This will eliminate the vast majority of non-responsible breeders. Look for required house visits, contracts, and detailed application forms. If at all possible you really should view the breeding facility in person. If this is not allowed, I really wouldn’t recommend working with that breeder as it appears they have something to hide. Once you are on site, check out the living conditions. The animals should be well cared for. Look for spacious, clean cages, without wilted leftover food. Also, look for breeders who keep their guinea pigs as “one of the family.” This is ideal as the guinea pigs will be well socialized and happy. Lastly, look for a breeder who happily offers a lifetime guarantee. If for any reason you are not able to keep the animal, it should be agreed that they will take them back. Responsible breeders care about the welfare of their animals for their entire lives.