Stale Bread and Cottontail ( To inspire )

In mid 2006 the ACS came across a typical advert not so uncommonly found, for some give away guinea pigs and their hutch. These two female guinea pigs were located on the gold coast and we enquired and said we would take the sows. ACS if we have the room at the shelters, will always try to take in a giveaway guinea pig if it is not from a regular breeder as we like to ensure that their future home will be appropriate for them. Advertising a guinea pig in general for free can encourage the wrong interest for where they may live in the future. Anyhow basically a dedicated ACS volunteer drove all the way to the gold coast to pick-up the two sows and what was supposed to be an appropriate hutch they were living in for the past year. What we were not expecting was the shocking conditions of how the girls had been housed for the past year.

Pictured below are photos taken of the housing the girls were living in. The cage was and outdoor cage and was small measuring around 80cm in length and had been left in the rain many times with the girls inside. The cage was filthy with mud and droppings and filthy bedding. The cage was falling to pieces. The cage was taken to the dump after the rescue. Both girls were quite slim although appeared healthy at the time of the rescue. The girls went through standard mite treatment, fungal treatment and quarantine at ACS Brisbane shelter for a couple of weeks before becoming available for adoption. After only a few weeks at the shelter these ladies found a very special home with a wonderful new family and their two dedicated children. The girls now reside in a large c&c indoor enclosure and have gained substantial condition since being adopted. Pictured above is a very special photo update which was sent in to ACS of Stale Bread and Cottontail as they are now named, sitting in their special christmas scene and decorated cage.

ACS hopes that this rescue was one to inspire. The guinea pigs were bought for the children only by their first family. They were placed in the backyard as the childrens pet and the children naturally lost interest in the guinea pigs over time. The guinea pigs were not valued by the whole family. By being adopted through ACS they were adopted to a " family " with children. The entire family wanted the guinea pigs in this situation and the pigs were not just bought for the children alone and as a result the guinea pigs have and will always received the appropriate care and love and attention they deserve.

(c) Copyright 2006, Australian Cavy Sanctuary. All rights reserved.