If you are simply looking for a pet guinea pig, one to share your life and be a companion, consider adoption. Just as with dogs and cats, homeless guinea pigs are in desperate need of loving families. Every day, unwanted guinea pigs are being put to death at animal shelters all over the country simply because nobody wants them.
Guinea pigs in need of adoption are usually hapless creatures who once belonged to a family. They may have been purchased on an impulse or were the result of an unplanned litter. Through no fault of their own, they are later discarded. They deserve a second chance with a family who will love them and care for them throughout their lives.
If you would like to provide a home for a guinea pig who is desperately in need of one, there are several ways to go about it. First, call animal shelters in your area and ask if they have any guinea pigs available for adoption. If you stop by the shelter in person and do not see any guinea pigs, be sure to ask if any are available, since many shelters keep guinea pigs in a back room away from the dogs and cats. Adopting a guinea pig directly from a shelter means you will be saving a life.
Private shelters and rescue groups also seek homes for guinea pigs. The Internet can be a good source for rescue groups in your area. Most rabbit rescue groups also place guinea pigs, so search for rabbit rescue organizations in your area. (If you can’t locate one of these groups through the Internet, call a local veterinarian who specializes in treating exotic animals. They may be able to refer you to a local group.)
If you choose to adopt from a rescue organization, be prepared to answer a lot of questions when you call. Rescue groups seeking to place a guinea pig in a new home have the responsibility to ask questions about the potential adoptive home to determine if the situation is right for both the guinea pig and the new owner.
When adopting through a shelter or rescue group, you may also be asked to pay a small adoption fee. This is usually done to weed out unscrupulous people who may only be looking for a free guinea pig to feed to a pet reptile or to use for some other unsavory purpose. Adoption fees also help guinea pig rescuers offset the costs of caring for homeless guinea pigs until new owners are found.
If you can’t find a rescue group in your area and your shelter does not have any guinea pigs available, check the classified ads in your local newspaper, as well as bulletin boards in supermarkets, veterinarians’ offices, and pet supply stores to find local people seeking homes for guinea pigs.
When conducting your adoption search, you will undoubtedly come across nonpurebred guinea pigs in need of homes. Consider bringing one of these guinea pigs into your life. Mixed breeds are often attractive guinea pigs and have an interesting quality that most purebreds don’t: Each one is truly unique. If you have your heart set on a purebred guinea pig, look for a purebred in need of rescue. Many purebred guinea pigs also need good homes.
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