Progress (or, Blog-ress, haha!)

I'm still figuring out how to use the new blog/website, and I didn't realize that so many people had written to my new Gmail address, so last night I went through and found not only people interested in adopting, but people who had already adopted from me and wanted to send pictures of their piggies to show me how they're doing. Everyone I saw looks great, and I wanted to thank everyone for their support and interest. I always love to hear from folks who have adopted from me, and it's even better when they want to get another piggie to add to their family!
I am happy to say that one family is coming out Sunday to look at a pair, and another person is interested in Truffle and Biscuit, so our "herd" may be shrinking a bit in the next few weeks, but that means I will have more room to take in guinea pigs as needed. A few people have also offered cages for donation, which is much appreciated! In case anyone was wondering, I keep most of my guinea pigs in one room. My wonderful husband built me multiple shelves, so no one is sitting on top of anyone else. Two years ago the entire room was gutted and re-insulated so it is much warmer during the winter. A few cages spilled out onto my dining room floor, but again, it's warm and safe, and all the new piggies are getting into the "breakfast routine" in the morning, all squeaking for their food!

What can I feed my guinea pig(s)?

There are foods you can and cannot feed your guinea pig. It is fine to feed them Romaine lettuce, red or green leaf lettuce, cucumbers, sweet peppers, carrots, watermelon, apples, strawberries, oranges, kale, escarole, endive, etc. They also need timothy hay and pellet food that is made for guinea pigs, NOT for rabbits. Rabbit food lacks the vitamin C guinea pigs need. DO NOT feed your guinea pig onions, garlic, spinach, potatoes or their peels, or iceberg lettuce. Don't feed too much fruit; the sugar can lead to weight gain. Guinea pigs love to eat, but some may be picky about their food, so you may have to experiment to see what your little friend likes!
Most guinea pigs do not like the taste of liquid vitamins in their water. These vitamins aren't necessary if you already feed a good staple food and supplement it with fresh produce.

Why do people give up guinea pigs?

People give up guinea pigs for most of the same reasons they give up cats and dogs. They cite allergies, not having enough time, kids have lost interest, can't afford it, moving, etc. After purchasing guinea pigs, most people realize within a few months whether or not the pet was a good fit for their family. Unfortunately, most of these guinea pigs are still young, some only a few months old. Guinea pigs live between 4-8 years, so giving up a young guinea pig means you will have to find a home willing to care for them until they pass away.

Now that the movie "G-Force" has come and gone, so have many guinea pigs. We have taken in many young cavies that were no doubt part of the movie's fallout. Before anyone decides to either buy or adopt a guinea pig, they need to do the research to make sure the animal is a good fit for the family. Like dogs and cats, every guinea pig has its own individual personality. It's best to take the time to get acquainted with your new pet BEFORE you decide to make a purchase or go through with an adoption.

About OCGPR

Ever since we moved to our farm six years ago, we have been taking in guinea pigs, so I decided to make it "official" in January of 2008. After meeting others who do rescue in other counties, I found that Oswego County had a need for guinea pig rescue; most shelters do NOT take guinea pigs, as they are busy dealing with dogs and cats. I have drawn up my nonprofit paperwork, but my husband has received a potential job offer at Duke University in North Carolina, so right now I'm in "nonprofit limbo," waiting to see if I should file the paperwork. We do not solicit donations, and any donations we do get are appreciated, but at this time are not tax-deductible. Our main concern is caring for guinea pigs that are being given up for any number of reasons, from allergies to moving to financial distress. These animals deserve a loving home, and any guinea pig that does not get adopted will live out his/her days at our residence. We evaluate every animal that comes in for temperament, illness, age, etc. to determine if it will be available for adoption or not.

Welcome to the OCGPR blog/website!

Hi everyone! I just got this set up a couple days ago, so please bear with me as I (slowly) figure out how this all works. I just uploaded some new pictures, with brief stories about the guinea pigs. As of this writing, I have 28 guinea pigs (also called cavies). It's hard to believe this rescue started with only two...a father/son pair given to us in 2003 by a former neighbor. Since then, we have had 86 guinea pigs come and go. Some of my little guys are getting pretty old...too old to adopt out, so they will remain here for the time they have left. They will enjoy fresh produce several times a day, clean cages, full water bottles, and love from myself and my younger daughter, Morgan, who is my guinea pig helper!

I am always here to answer any questions you may have about guinea pig care, adoption, etc. I check e-mail several times a day, and I can be reached on my cell phone. I'm hoping to hear from people as the blog gets more notice...I will also be linked with the Oswego County Humane Society, Kritter Kronickles Magazine, and the Oswego County Animal Welfare League/SPCA.

Thank you all for your support so far! :)

Meet "Prescott" curently not for adoption due to illness

I wanted to post this on the website because Prescott was in such bad shape when he came here. The first picture is of his front foot, which was swollen up like a balloon and had a hole going right through the middle. The second pic is of him shortly after he came here; he also has a skin condition, and a bunch of his hair had fallen out. He is a two year old American crested, not yet available for adoption because his foot is still badly swollen, and he still needs medication for the skin condition.