Why You Should Rescue Guinea Pigs

Guest blog written by Josephine Hantonne at the National Animal Welfare Trust

My love of guinea pigs started when I was a child, and I brought home a pair from my local pet shop. When I rekindled this love as an adult, I was determined to only adopt or foster through a rescue, and to never again buy guinea pigs from a pet store. During my 4 years working at the National Animal Welfare Trust, I’ve seen many guinea pigs looking for loving homes for a second, third, or even fourth chance at a happily ever after. Because of this, I champion guinea pig adoption and want to inspire others to do the same.

Two guinea pigs inside Kavee double tunnel

Benefits of Guinea Pig Adoption from Rescues

Adoption isn’t just the kinder option, it also comes with some great benefits for pet owners:

If you choose to adopt a piggy from a rescue instead of looking for guinea pigs to buy from a store, you’re guaranteed that the pets will have had a full health check-up from a vet, and any immediate medical concerns will have been treated.
Whether you’re a first-time piggy parent looking for guidance on what piggies need or a piggy expert planning to expand your herd, a rescue can help you out. You will be adopting from a team specialised in animal welfare, who can give you expert advice on guinea pig care.
You will get the chance to know your piggies’ personalities from the start, and learn all of their likes and dislikes to make the best choices for their happiness.
The support you get from your local rescue is for a lifetime and goes way beyond adoption. We never stop caring, you can always turn to us for advice!
You will forever change your piggies’ lives by giving them a loving home when their future was so uncertain. You could be saving them from an abusive living situation or bringing security during a time of confusion after being given up. Thanks to you, they will know the meaning of the word ‘rescued’.
You will be supporting a non-profit animal rescue and play your part in helping the existing population of guinea pigs in need.

Common Misconceptions in Guinea Pig Rescues

Sometimes, what stops individuals from adopting rescue guinea pigs is common misconceptions that have yet to be debunked. Let us tell you the truth about these harmful beliefs:

“Guinea pigs at rescue centers have something wrong with them, that’s why they were given up”

Most of the guinea pigs we rehome come to us due to a change in their owners’ circumstances. This has nothing to do with the guinea pigs themselves.

“Rescue centres only allow you to adopt old guinea pigs”

We see guinea pigs from all age ranges come into the rescue, including baby guinea pigs and even pregnant piggies.

“Rescue guinea pigs will die faster than guinea pigs bought from a shop/breeder”

Every animal is different, so it’s impossible to guarantee a specific lifespan for the guinea pigs you adopt or buy. However, nothing suggests that a rescue guinea pig will have a shorter life expectancy than any other. I adopted my guinea pig Mabel from NAWT back in 2021, she’s now nearly 7 years old and is in great health.

Mable the rescued guinea pig on Kavee fleece liner

Thanks to our veterinary care team, all the piggies you adopt from us will have had a full medical check-up and any conditions treated. You will also be provided with their complete medical history, and if a piggy has an ongoing condition, our vet team will be on hand to offer advice and information to their new carer.

“Rescue guinea pigs are going to be more nervous/unsuitable pets for children”

Of course, some piggies may be more nervous than others, but every guinea pig at our rescue is handled and socialised regularly to help build their confidence and develop trust in people. So you can expect lots of confident wheeking, popcorning, and chin rub requests once your rescue guinea pigs get to know you and feel comfortable in their new home!

“It’s quicker to buy guinea pigs from a pet shop, adoption is too complicated”

We prioritise the welfare of our guinea pigs above all else and want to find them responsible, loving owners. The guinea pig adoption process will move swiftly and smoothly as long as you’re able to provide a suitable, safe living environment.

Top Tips for Guinea Pig Adoption

Now that you know the benefits of adopting guinea pigs versus buying them, here are our tips to make the adoption process easier for you and your piggies.

Before the adoption

Before you choose to adopt a guinea pig, make sure you can commit to caring for them their whole lives. Welcoming a new pet home is never a decision that should be rushed!
Check your local rescue centre’s adoption requirements, usually detailed on the website or a guinea pig’s profile page.
You will need to buy your guinea pig cage before adopting, and bring pictures and measurements with you, as we’ll need to check them. If you don’t already have one, we recommend C&C cages for their simplicity and versatility.
Think about the type of guinea pig bedding and enrichment accessories you want to use in your cage as there are lots of options. We recommend soft fleece guinea pig bedding but choose what you think will work best for you.
If you’re a tenant, you will need to get permission from your landlord to house pets.
Make sure you set up your cage in advance so it’s ready to welcome your piggies. Take some photos to share with the rescue and ease the adoption process.
Ask about your guinea pigs’ favourite veggies so that you can stock up the fridge with them in time for their arrival.
If you’re bringing home a new piggy to introduce to your existing herd, make sure you have a separate cage to keep them apart until bonding is complete.

During the adoption process

If you’re new to guinea pigs, we recommend you adopt one of our already bonded pairs. If you have an existing herd with room for one more, or a lonely piggy who has lost their friend, we can help you find a match with our single guinea pigs looking for a forever home.
Feel free to ask as many questions about your new friend as you like. Don’t worry if you forget anything, we’re always at the end of the phone, even after you’ve taken your new piggies home!

After the adoption

Be sure to register your new guinea pigs with your local vet, and share their medical history so that they can receive the best medical treatment if needed.
For the first few days, your new piggies may be a little stressed or nervous. Make sure you’re there to help them settle in and keep them comfortable in their new home!
Whether it’s 2 days or 2 years after your guinea pig’s adoption, our rescue centre is always here to help you if needed.

Now that you know what to expect with guinea pig adoption, take a look at the guinea pigs who are looking for new homes at NAWT.

Two guinea pigs inside Kavee fleece hideys

Have You Thought About Fostering Guinea Pigs?

If you’re not ready to care for guinea pigs long-term or are a piggy expert with love & space to spare, you can help your local rescue centre by becoming a guinea pig foster carer. As well as having my own piggy herd at home, since working at NAWT, I’ve proudly fostered up to 23 guinea pigs.

Being a foster carer means that when a guinea pig is brought into the rescue, they get to spend time living with you instead of staying at the centre, until they find their forever home. Here are some of the benefits of fostering guinea pigs:

When you foster guinea pigs, they build more confidence and get to spend time in a loving home environment, which is less stressful for them than living at the rescue.
We can keep rescuing more guinea pigs and won’t be limited by capacity, so we can help more people and piggies in need.
You get to experience all the joys of having a guinea pig while maintaining the flexibility of it being short-term (but don’t worry, if you fall in love with the piggies, yours can become their forever home!).
All medical care and food expenses of your foster guinea pigs are covered by the rescue centre.
You will go through the highly rewarding experience of knowing you have helped an animal on their rescue journey.