03/09/2021
We at Lil Wiggles have this topic appear on forums and in Piggie Pages local and non-local. As we do our best for the Guinea Pigs that we can care for, there is still many we cannot aid. We are posting on this subject to try and help the ones we can not physically reach.
Should Guinea Pigs be class pets?
We at Lil Wiggles stand on the side of No for typical Classroom pets. We will share our thoughts on 4-H, FFA, and Ag students another day.
For traditional class pets, Guinea Pigs are not a good choice for many reasons. We will list the ones we find most important.
1) They need the companionship of other Guineas. As this is the case when getting "A class pet" with guineas, you are actually getting two and therefore must care for two or more as Guineas do fair better with more. But of course, having more means you need more room. This brings us to the second reason.
2) The typical classroom does not have the proper spacing for Guinea Pigs. This also includes having space for them and not impeding or distracting the students. While class pets can promote morale, they can't take away from the education or cause harm to students or animals. Which are our next couple of points.
3) Who is the sole caretaker? If you plan on having a class pet, someone will need to care for them at all times. While you can leave your pets at home for the hours you work, class pets will be left for upwards of twelve hours, which doesn't include the weekends. Guinea Pigs need hay and water available 24/7. If they are left alone, what is the plan to keep them with food and with water? Are they going to be taken home daily? On weekends? If so, does the sole caretaker have the ability to bring them to and from every week? This must be noted for their care. As well as the pricing.
4) The price of a Guinea Pig needs is much higher than that of a mouse or a Fish. As they need constant hay and fresh herbs and vegetables. If they do not have this or a STRESS-FREE environment. They can and will get sick and will need to see the vet. That price will either be on the teacher or will be on the school. Which the illness or death of a class pet can have repercussions on a classroom environment.
5) Stree-Free. That was something that needs to be noted on the part of the Guinea Pigs and the students. Guinea Pigs are loud and disruptive. Plus, they are prey animals that don't deal well with unfamiliar or a lot of people. The constant wheek that can last up to an hour, plus them learning the sounds of open doors and rustling bags being a key trigger for said wheeks are not great for students concentration. Then students moving around, and some who don't know how to handle small animals, even the horrible but all too real possibility of one student purposefully hurting them is too much stress for guinea pigs to handle.
These five reasons don't even include the smell, the amount of cleaning, or the allergies kids have to them or the hay. These all are just too many problems for them to be kept in classrooms.