In April 2007 ACS received three guinea pigs into our care all separate surrenders by members of the public. It came to our attention that the three guinea pigs had all been rescued/taken from the same pet shop in a rural area on the outer north of Brisbane. As a result ACS Brisbane shelter manager Jessica along with a volunteer decided to take a trip out to the petshop to investigate the situation further. It appeared that the pet shop was being regularly supplied masses of guinea pigs of all different ages by a regular ' breeder '. The petshop itself naturally would not give us any details on where the guinea pigs were coming from and also took no interest in the condition of the guinea pigs they were receiving. Two of the guinea pigs we received had been sprayed with a product for no reason. This product had been used incorrectly on the guinea pigs and the guinea pigs suffered permanent injuries as a result. The case was reported to the RSPCA for further investigation. We are unsure of what the result was. Sadly on our visit to the pet shop we also found that they were selling their baby guinea pigs to snake owners to be sold as snake food as one member from the public approached beside us as we were looking at the guinea pigs and stated that he was getting one of the baby guinea pigs to feed LIVE to his snake. We had to watch as he walked away with a baby guinea pig in toe.

Below are stories of the guinea pigs that we received into our care. All the guinea pigs were treated at the shelter and have made a full recovery.

Cyclops

Cyclops had an aerosol product which created a blue staining sprayed onto his eye by the pet shop staff. This product was used incorrectly and as stated on the label should be kept well away from the eyes of any animal. As a result Cyclops suffered severe eye damage to his right eye. The damage was irreversible and Cyclops suffered permanent damage in the eye as a result.

Hamlet

Hamlet suffered severe eye damage which also reuslted in permanent blindness in one eye. Hamlet was also very underweight, had mange mite infestation and also had a fungal infection on his nose which had been left untreated.

Milo

Milo was found with severe hairloss on his underside and sides which was caused by an untreated mite infestation and minor fungal condition.

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