Is It Better to Adopt or Buy a Guinea Pig? (Find Out Now)

You’ve decided that you want a guinea pig. You have two options: adopt or buy. Both have benefits and drawbacks, but which one is the best option?

When it comes down to it, the best option is to adopt a guinea pig from a guinea pig rescue. Not only will you be giving an animal in need a loving home, but you can also be reasonably confident that the guinea pig is healthy and has been well-cared for.

Rescued guinea pigs are better off than those bought from a pet store Typically, pet store employees don’t know much about guinea pigs and their care. As a result, the guinea pigs in many pet stores are often neglected and not well-cared for.

If you’re looking for a specific type of guinea pig, then buying from a breeder might be your best bet. But, make sure that you’re buying from a responsible breeder. Otherwise, you’ll end up with an unhealthy guinea pig.

Not convinced?

Don’t worry, in this blog post, you’ll learn more about pet stores and rescues. I’ll also tell you where the majority of piggie owners get their piggies.

But before we talk about all that, let’s talk a little bit about rescue animals.

What’s the benefits of adopting a pig from a rescue? Why is it better than buying from a pet store?

Let’s take a closer look.

Usually Healthier

Most guinea pigs in rescues are checked by a vet. They’re given regular care and each guinea pig has a health record.

They’ll tell you if your guinea pig has any deformities or health issues. Rescues also make sure their guinea pigs have a balanced diet and don’t get bladder or kidney stones.

Their quality living conditions in the rescue discourage the growth of bacteria, meaning that they won’t get urinary tract infections.

All reputable rescues care a lot about their cavies’ health.

Better Adjusted Personalities

Guinea pigs who’ve been living in rescues also tend to be more socialized, as they’ve had experience living with other piggies – in healthy environments.

This makes them great candidates for living in pairs or small groups. So if you’re looking for a companion for your current guinea pig, or simply want to give a home to a deserving piggie, a rescue or animal shelter might be the way to go.

Plus, the people working at the shelters get to know the guinea pigs quite well. So, they’re able to tell you which one might be the best fit for your family (and other piggies) based on what you tell them about what you’re looking for.

Not only do these rescues have many cavies that need homes, but they also have many bonded pairs. This means that you wouldn’t have have to worry about bonding your cavies.

Pretty cool, right?

Too Many Unwanted Guinea Pigs in the World

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of homeless guinea pigs in the world. It’s really sad to think about it.

It’s also one of the reasons why people feel so strongly about NOT breeding guinea pigs.

Honestly, I don’t recommend breeding either – especially when there’s already so many fur babies in need.

But, not only will you be giving a home to a deserving piggie, but you’ll also be helping to reduce the overpopulation problem.

Plus, it’s (usually) cheaper than buying a guinea pig from a breeder or pet store. 

Cruel Breeding Practices

Adopted guinea pigs aren’t supporting the cruel breeding practices that fuel the demand for these cute critters.

You see, most guinea pigs sold in pet stores come from large-scale commercial breeders where they’re crammed into small cages and given little to no veterinary care.

Many breeders don’t care for their cavies and lose many of them during breeding. The sows go through a lot of pain as they are bred till their last breath.

Check out the video below to learn about some of the effects of overbreeding guinea pigs:

Often, they’re sick or injured when they arrive at the store, and many don’t even survive the trip.

The lucky ones who do make it to the pet store are then sold to unsuspecting customers who have no idea about the cruelty they’ve unwittingly supported (yep, that includes me too).

On the other hand, guinea pigs who are adopted from shelters or rescue organizations have typically been well cared for and are less likely to have health problems.

As a result, adopting guinea pigs from shelters is a much better option than buying them from a pet store. Not only will you be giving a home to an animal in need, but you’ll also be helping to put an end to the cycle of abuse.

Rescues Have More Guinea Pig Knowledge

Rescues have people who are experts at their job. They don’t have a bunch of amateurs and have trained professionals working with the animals.

So, rescues have a lot of knowledge about guinea pigs. They can give you CORRECT answers any questions you might have about your fur babies. They can tell you how to take care of your piggies and what their needs are.

They’ll also tell you how to take care of your new pet and what they eat. With rescues, you can be sure that they will take good care of your pet and you.

What Are the Advantages of Buying a Guinea Pig From a Pet Store?

Buying guinea pigs from a pet store is easy. You can buy them and take them home the same day. They do not need many processes like a rescue does.

Seriously, that’s about it. There are not many benefits of buying pets from a pet store. In fact, there are three times as many disadvantages. Let’s take a look at a few:

• You might end up with an unhealthy and poorly behaved pet. they can even end up giving you the wrong sex combinations which can lead to an unexpected pregnancy.
• Pet stores usually don’t really know the personality of their pets. This makes it hard to bond a pair from a pet store.
• Most pet store workers don’t know a lot about guinea pigs. Mostly, they won’t be able to answer your questions or if they do, they’re going to give you the wrong answers.

There’s a lot of horror stories floating around about experiences with guinea pigs being bought from pet stores. I’m not just saying this; it is based on many years of reviews.

You know I like to do research, so anything I say here is the truth.

You might not be surprised to hear this, but most pet store workers don’t know a lot about taking care of guinea pigs.

Do you still wanna get your cavies from a pet store? I hope not.

What Are the Advantages of Buying a Guinea Pig From a Breeder?

There are some advantages to buying your guinea pig from a reputable breeder.

• The breeder will be able to tell you about the specific lineage of your guinea pig, which can be helpful in determining personality traits and health problems that may be passed down from generation to generation.
• The breeder will also have likely handled your guinea pig frequently from birth, making them more socialized and less skittish around humans.
• Some reputable breeders are likely to charge less than a pet store for their animals, since they’re not always trying to make a profit off of each sale

There is a catch though. Most reputable breeders don’t just sell their cavies to anyone who asks. Some of them breed guinea pigs only as a hobby or for shows.

What’s important to understand is there’s basically three main type sof breeders: the reputable ones, the backyard breeders, and the baffled breeders.

• Reputable breeders are those who carefully and methodically breed their guinea pigs for hobby or shows.
• Backyard breeders, on the other hand, don’t really care about the animals and just breed them like crazy until they die.
• And then there are the baffled breeders – well meaning people who love their guinea pigs but have no clue what they’re doing. As a result, their guinea pigs usually pay the price either by dying in childbirth or by ending up in shelters.

So if you’re thinking about buying a guinea pig, make sure you do your research and buy from a reputable breeder.

You can easily end up with a mistreated, sick piggie if you don’t. Plus, you’ll be continuing the cycle of backyard breeding and contributing to the overcrowding of guinea pig shelters and rescues.

So please, do your research before you buy.

How Do People Normally Get Their Guinea Pigs?

Nowadays, most people get their guinea pigs from rescues. This means that more people are becoming aware of the importance of getting animals from safe sources. Rescues are the best place to find pets.

Just so you know, this isn’t just my personal opinion. To prove this, I surveyed 80 guinea pig owners. I also found out how they got their guinea pigs and what their lives were like.

I guess you’re hungry for more details, so let’s cut to the chase.

These are my research highlights:

• Many guinea pig owners said they got their guinea pigs from rescues. 
• Several others said they asked around and inquired from other guinea pig owners.
• Some others mentioned that they used petfinder.com.
• A good number of people said they got theirs from a shelter close to where they reside.
• A few owners said they got their cavies from a breeder.
• The others said they got their fur babies from a pet store.

That’s a lot of options, right?

Let’s do some math before I tell you some more juicy info.

• 48% (38 piggie owners) got their guinea pig from a rescue. These people already knew about the benefits of adopting piggies from rescues.
• 12% (10 piggie owners) said they got their cavies from shelters.
• 15% (12 piggie owners) said they got their fur babies using petfinder.com.
• 10% (8 piggie owners) mentioned that they got their cavies from breeders.
• 15% (12 piggie owners) said they got their guinea pigs from a pet store.

Well, that’s it. You can see that most of them got their cavies from a rescue. That proves my point, doesn’t it?

Now to the juicy part.

I noted all their experiences with their cavies and I’m gonna share this information with you.

I think a table would be better. 

Pet Source	Owners Experience
Rescues	All the piggie owners didn’t complain about their piggies. They got the right sexes and no one had any illness. Their personalities were great too.
Shelters	These people had great experiences too. A few had sick cavies but they were aware of the illness before adopting the cavies.
Petfinder.com	Well this has many positive reviews too. There’s hardly any complaint.
Pet stores	This has about 80% bad reviews. There were issues like wrong sexes, sick cavies, etc. Some owners even said the cavies they bought were already pregnant. Crazy right?
Breeders	This also has a whole lot of bad reviews. Things like maltreated cavies, bad personalities, sick pets, etc.

(The source of this table is from my manual survey)

Well, I think I’ve given you the best info anyone could give. The choice is yours, my friend.

Is it Ok to Own Just One Guinea Pig?

Yes, you can own just one guinea pig. But, in most cases it’s not what’s best for the pet. Guinea pigs need company because they are social animals. They feel better when they have other piggies to interact with.

Most guinea pigs don’t do well when they’re alone. They become depressed and very lonely. In fact, they’ll be unwilling to play.

Guinea pigs need at least one friend. No piggie should be alone. Even if they’re alone in a cage, there should be other piggies in the room.

It’s possible to find a piggie that is comfortable around human friends. However, don’t just assume your cavy will be comfortable alone, it’s rare.

Is it Worth Getting Guinea Pigs?

Yes, it’s worth it to get a guinea pig. But, there are some trade offs.

Guinea pigs are often thought of as low-maintenance pets, but the truth is that they can be quite high-maintenance for rodents.

They require a lot of time and attention (especially if you only have one guinea pig). For example, guinea pigs need to have their nails trimmed regularly, and they need plenty of hay, fresh vegetables, and water to stay healthy. They also need a spacious cage that’s cleaned regularly.

So if you’re considering getting a guinea pig, be prepared to devote some time and effort to their care.

But even though they’re a lot of work, guinea pigs are also incredibly rewarding pets.

They’re social creatures that enjoy interacting with each other (and sometimes their owners). Plus, they have distinct personalities that make them endlessly fascinating.

At the end of the day, guinea pigs are definitely worth it.

When Should You Avoid Getting a Guinea Pig?

Guinea pigs are often portrayed as cute and cuddly pets, but there’s certain situations when they are best avoided. Here’s five things to consider before bringing home a guinea pig or guinea pigs:

1. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance pet, a guinea pig is not for you. They require regular grooming, and their cage needs to be cleaned out frequently.

2. Guinea pigs are social creatures, so if you’re not prepared to provide them with companionship, they’ll quickly become stressed and unhappy. Maybe they’ll even die.

3. If you’re not prepared to make a long-term commitment, a guinea pig is not the right pet for you. They can live for up to 10 years, so you need to be sure you’re ready for the responsibility.

4. Guinea pigs can easily become sick or injured if you’re not careful. If you’re not prepared to deal with possible (expensive) medical emergencies, it’s best to choose another pet.

5. Finally, guinea pigs can be surprisingly noisy. If you’re looking for a pet that won’t disturb your peace and quiet, you might want to consider another option.

Is it Okay to Get a Guinea Pig From PetSmart?

It’s only okay to get a guinea pig from Petsmart under certain conditions.

It’s no secret that many pet stores get their animals from large-scale breeders. These breeders often have poor conditions and don’t always properly socialize the animals.

So, animals from pet stores can be more difficult to care for and more likely to have health problems.

So, is it okay to get a guinea pig from Petsmart? While it’s not ideal, it is possible to find a healthy and well-adjusted guinea pig at Petsmart.

The key is to do your research and be willing to put in the extra work. Choose a guinea pig that looks healthy and has bright eyes and a glossy coat. Avoid any animal that looks lethargic or has discharge from the nose or eyes.

Once you’ve selected your guinea pig, take him to the vet for a check-up within 48 hours of adoption.

By taking these precautions, you can increase your chances of bringing home a healthy and happy guinea pig.

Now I know what people might say: “Wait! Isn’t that keeping the cycle of guinea pig abuse going?” or “Why support animal cruelty by buying from Petsmart?”

The thing is, some people fall in love with a guinea pig that they see when they go into a pet store.

Okay?

They just do.

Some folks have even bought guinea pigs from Petsmart literally knowing that the piggie was sick in order to give the poor thing a better life.

Other people don’t have the good fortune of living near reputable guinea pig rescues. So, they work with what they have. In some cases, it’s a Petsmart.

Is Petsmart my first recommendation for a guinea pig purchase?

Eh.

Not really.

Am I going to badmouth someone who does?

Of course not.

And if you decide to bring home a piggie from Petsmart (or any other pet store for that matter) you have the means to properly care for a guinea pig and are willing to put in the extra effort, then go ahead and get one from Petsmart.

Just be sure to do your research and be prepared for some extra work. With some effort, you can give your new pet a happy and healthy life

In my opinion, the best way to get a guinea pig is to adopt one from a responsible shelter.

Final Thoughts

So what’s it gonna be? Are you buying or adopting your new furry friend?

I hope you are considering adopting a pet. You will be doing a lot of good by helping the rescues.

Your adoption fees go to funding the rescues and making it a better place. Now you know.

I trust that you will make the right choice. Remember, if you make the wrong choice, you could end up losing the pig.

Well, that’s all. Thanks for sticking with me till the end.

You’re the best!