Time is always meant to heal and create new directions for people. Yet in South Africa in the Guinea Pig world there seems still to be much stagnation, in the sense that due to unresolved issues and lack of understanding Guinea Pigs in SA seem to be as an overall going backwards, instead of forwards.
Is this just another sweeping statement? I find that the two societies that have claimed responsibility for the well being and survival of Guinea Pigs in South Africa to be so far apart in their vision and understanding of pure breeds or pedigree that they are almost working against each other.
The universal principles across all breeds of pedigree animals is to ensure that pedigree data and known or registered pure breeds are kept pure. Traditionally older establishments don't recognise the new "break away" groups or new unrecognised breeds to be part of the old establishments. Hence the break away or splits....
Now days often splits are simply caused by personality differences (lack of maturity). Certainly in the case of South African Guinea Pig owners. Hence the state of "pedigree" pigs in South Africa. Prior to the establishment of SAGPS, there was no formal register or record kept of pedigree Guinea Pigs, although many "pure bred" pigs had been imported from all over the world, no official record was kept. The first recorded pedigree pigs arrived from Holland from the De Gooise Kelder Cavies. These pigs and other imported pigs from Denmark established the integrity of the data base of registered pigs in South Africa.
With the split so a new register was established. Established not only from some registered SAGPS pigs but also an array of Pet shop pigs introduced into the database of pedigrees compromising the actual "pedigree" pigs in SA.
So you now have two kinds of registered pigs in SA.... The first set of pedigrees from the original imported pedigree pigs, and then the second register pedigrees with the introduction of "Pet shop" pigs.
So which type prevails? The pedigree original or the introduced Petshop type. Well from what I am witnessing on social media, its the Petshop type. Long nosed smooth coated Rexes, Nine crowned Guinea Pigs. "Abyssinians" being bred from Petshop stock.... or rather an array of developed Petshop pigs with genetic records..... Thus compromising the original pure breed used.
How does this serve in maintaining and preserving the costly imported purebred breeds in South Africa? The general man on the street has little knowledge on pure bred Guinea Pigs and seemingly this now includes others claiming to be "caretakers" of the pure bred breeds.
I remember breeding my first rosette between the ears pig... Hell i was excited a "Coronet Rex" ! NO! My reality I had bred a pet shop pig. Bitter pill to swallow.
So in South Africa is ignorance bliss, or simply a way of coating over a lack of genetic experience or responsibility towards the world wide acknowledged pure breeds?
Is this just another sweeping statement? I find that the two societies that have claimed responsibility for the well being and survival of Guinea Pigs in South Africa to be so far apart in their vision and understanding of pure breeds or pedigree that they are almost working against each other.
The universal principles across all breeds of pedigree animals is to ensure that pedigree data and known or registered pure breeds are kept pure. Traditionally older establishments don't recognise the new "break away" groups or new unrecognised breeds to be part of the old establishments. Hence the break away or splits....
Now days often splits are simply caused by personality differences (lack of maturity). Certainly in the case of South African Guinea Pig owners. Hence the state of "pedigree" pigs in South Africa. Prior to the establishment of SAGPS, there was no formal register or record kept of pedigree Guinea Pigs, although many "pure bred" pigs had been imported from all over the world, no official record was kept. The first recorded pedigree pigs arrived from Holland from the De Gooise Kelder Cavies. These pigs and other imported pigs from Denmark established the integrity of the data base of registered pigs in South Africa.
With the split so a new register was established. Established not only from some registered SAGPS pigs but also an array of Pet shop pigs introduced into the database of pedigrees compromising the actual "pedigree" pigs in SA.
So you now have two kinds of registered pigs in SA.... The first set of pedigrees from the original imported pedigree pigs, and then the second register pedigrees with the introduction of "Pet shop" pigs.
So which type prevails? The pedigree original or the introduced Petshop type. Well from what I am witnessing on social media, its the Petshop type. Long nosed smooth coated Rexes, Nine crowned Guinea Pigs. "Abyssinians" being bred from Petshop stock.... or rather an array of developed Petshop pigs with genetic records..... Thus compromising the original pure breed used.
How does this serve in maintaining and preserving the costly imported purebred breeds in South Africa? The general man on the street has little knowledge on pure bred Guinea Pigs and seemingly this now includes others claiming to be "caretakers" of the pure bred breeds.
I remember breeding my first rosette between the ears pig... Hell i was excited a "Coronet Rex" ! NO! My reality I had bred a pet shop pig. Bitter pill to swallow.
So in South Africa is ignorance bliss, or simply a way of coating over a lack of genetic experience or responsibility towards the world wide acknowledged pure breeds?