Written By Madeline Makstein 2024
Founder, Small n Furry Rescue
For the last several years, animal rescues and shelters across the United States have been dealing with a crisis – quietly. Dog and cat overpopulation problems are frequently discussed in the news and media, but what about the little guys?
There are a few large corporate chain pet stores that supply live small companion animals to households across the US. This is a broken system, and we need to work on fixing it. These animals are bred in large scale quantities or “mills” and are shipped out across the country and sold at low cost, while the supplies to care for them are bringing in most of the revenue for these companies. As a result, the level of care and attention that these small pets get is sub-optimal. People walk into these stores with their kids to go buy a bag of dog food, and they will walk out with a guinea pig or two and a “starter kit”. Many people do not receive the proper education when they purchase these unique “pocket pets” and do not realize that they just signed up for a 5-8 year long commitment to take care of this animal.
I have always loved small companion mammals. My first small pet was a female guinea pig named Minnie when I was 8 years old. Like most people, my parents were not aware that there was an option to rescue or adopt a guinea pig, so we went to our local large chain pet store and purchased one, complete with a “starter kit” and all. Minnie spent 3 days in my house before I noticed she was having trouble breathing and stopped eating. My parents rushed her to a veterinarian, but unfortunately, she was too far gone. She had pneumonia, most likely picked up because of the crowded conditions she was living in before we purchased her. My story is far from unique, as many people have had similar experiences after purchasing guinea pigs from pet stores.
For those who are lucky enough to purchase healthy guinea pigs from these stores, the novelty of owning a small pet quickly becomes a chore, and then a burden. Many parents choose to purchase these pets for their children, thinking that they will be an easy pet that requires little care or responsibility. When in fact, guinea pigs (and other small exotic companion animals) are sensitive and have very specific care needs. They have a complex digestive system and require an unlimited source of food, in the form of hay. They also do not metabolize vitamin C from their main diets, so they require extra vitamin C supplementation in the form of fresh vegetables or commercially available supplement products. Without this specialized diet, Guinea pigs can develop long-term gastrointestinal issues, dental disease, and scurvy amongst other things.
Not to mention the mess that guinea pigs make – one guinea pig can poop over 100 times per day! Their GI metabolism is very fast, so they eat constantly, and poop to get things moving along. As a result, they basically live in their toilets. It is essential to maintain their habitats appropriately and provide fresh clean bedding, food, and water regularly, otherwise they can develop sores on their sensitive feet and can develop respiratory infections. Guinea pigs are best kept on absorbable padding or paper bedding that is changed out regularly which can get expensive. Guinea pigs are also very social too, so the more guinea pigs you have, the bigger the space and bigger the mess they make!
Despite their notorious mess making, guinea pigs DO make fantastic animal companions, for the right people. Generally, they are very curious and docile animals. They prefer to live in pairs or small “herds,” although males can sometimes be a bit more territorial and like their space. They are prey animals so will usually choose to run away when they feel scared versus biting or scratching. Due to their calm and gentle demeanor they are commonly recommended as pets for families with children. However, they do take some time to warm up and become socialized, as a result can get scared and may give the occasional warning nibble. It is always recommended that if children are involved in the handling and care of exotic companion pets that they are supervised by an adult to prevent any injuries to the children or the guinea pigs.
Along with being very social animals, guinea pigs are also very vocal and will “wheek” at any sign of their favorite treats or person! Guinea pigs are well known for the adorable squeaking sounds they make – they utilize over a dozen different types of vocalizations to communicate with other guinea pigs and even with their owners! They can tell you when they are happy (usually a “purr”) or when they are feeling scared (a higher pitch squeak), or even when they are not feeling well or if they are trying to protect their territory (teeth chattering).
Instead of purchasing a guinea pig (or two) from your local pet store, consider looking for a rescue or shelter in your area to adopt a homeless guinea pig (or two) from. Most rescues and shelters are over capacity and have waiting lists for people looking to surrender their guinea pigs. In 2022 the New York animal care and control (NYACC) reported they took in over 800 guinea pigs, almost double the number they took in last year. This has led to lawmakers to develop a ruling against selling guinea pigs and other small pocket pets in pet shops in NYC. The ban will ultimately affect the 5 boroughs of NYC and will prohibit the sale of guinea pigs and rabbits in pet stores. This is a huge step in the right direction, and will help focus on the area’s greater need for adoption and rescue.
My rescue, Small n Furry Rescue, was established in November of 2021. Since starting, I have taken in over 50 guinea pigs and have placed them into forever homes. However, I have received hundreds of calls from owners looking to surrender guinea pigs to me, for a variety of reasons. However the number one reason why people are looking to rehome them? “My kids stopped caring for them, they’ve lost interest in cleaning up after them and now it’s my job, and I just have too many other responsibilities to deal with the care of these animals.” I have someone contact me about surrendering guinea pigs to my rescue almost daily. I have a waiting list two pages long of people looking to rehome their guinea pigs, all for very similar reasons.
https://smallnfurryrescue.org/
Because Guinea Pigs are so readily available at local pet stores, people don’t think twice about purchasing versus going to a shelter to adopt. My goal is to one day change this narrative – that people will realize that these animals should not be a child’s primary responsibility (no animal should!) and that they require a lot of specialized care and attention.
In summary, guinea pigs do make excellent companions for many households. Unfortunately, many people impulsively purchase them at large chain pet stores with the right intentions, without understanding the complexity of their care. That is why it is important to do your research before selecting a pet for your family! There are a countless number of homeless guinea pigs in rescues and shelters, and they need our help. We need to stop supporting the purchase of these animals from pet stores, and consider adoption first! To find a local rescue/shelter in your area that works with Guinea Pigs and other exotic companion animals please go to www.petfinder.org
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