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I am removing my list of UK rescues as I don't have the time to keep it up to date, but here are a couple of resources to help you find a rescue near you.
List of UK Rescues at Wheekers ForumGuinea Pig Rescue |
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As most people involved in the piggy world will know, in many countries we have a problem with homeless guinea pigs, as with many other species of animal. Basically the problem is that more people are breeding guinea pigs, than there are people wanting to keep them for their entire lives. So we have lots of guinea pigs sitting in rescues and shelters over the world waiting for new homes but meanwhile, many more are being born every day. A lot of people breed because they think babies are very cute and they want to experience them being born. A lot of people like a certain look of pig and are perhaps involved in showing, so breed guinea pigs to produce the 'perfect' pig of that breed. However much it may be true that babies from any species are generally very cute, and that certain breeds of pigger may be naturally more appealing to you initially, I think we should take responsibility for the pet population as a whole and give homes to those animals who we have already brought in to the world before we bring any more in to it. It's not fair to value an animal only because it is a certain age, a certain breed or because you saw them being born - they all equally deserve loving homes. And if you love a type of animal, what better way to show it than to look for those that need already homes and take care of the species as a whole, rather than wanting to experience the birth of babies so much that you breed your pigs when there are others already needing homes. By buying from a pet shop, or breeding when there are guinea pigs in shelters within a few hours travel from your home, you are contributing to the homelessness problem - even if it's not your pigs who end up in the rescues. If you truly love guinea pigs for what they are, rather than what you gain from them, then please give a second chance to an animal in a rescue centre instead of breeding. Many people argue that there are no rescues or shelters near them, or that if there are - they don't have any guinea pigs in so overpopulation can't possibly be a problem near them. But a great majority of these people would find be able to find many guinea pigs living in rescue centres if they took the trouble to look around and travel a couple of hours to give an animal another chance. If you're willing to give a lifetime of love and care to a piggy - what is a few hours or even a day spent travelling? |
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