Surrendering your Guinea Pigs
If you have Guinea Pigs you would like to rehome, please contact me using the form below. There will never be any judgement - I understand that circumstances can change. For this reason, there is no charge to surrender your piggies, but you can make a donation if you wish.
I do ask that you are honest about any health conditions that the Guinea Pigs may have, so that I can ensure they receive treatment.
There may be times where I cannot take in any more piggies due to reaching capacity, and I will offer to place you on my waiting list or suggest other rescues you can approach. I do this to ensure that my standard of care remains high, I cannot “squeeze in” any more piggies than I have suitable space for, because that would not be in their best interests.
Please, do not list Guinea Pigs “free to a good home” on social media or sites such as free ads or Gumtree as some piggies end up as reptile food this way.
I have some Guinea Pigs I can no longer care for, what do I do?
Please contact me via the website, email or any of my social channels and I can advise if I have any available space. If I don’t currently have space I can put you on my waiting list or give you details of other rescues nearby (please note I’m not able to tell you if they have spaces or not!) My waiting list is in chronological order but any emergency cases will take priority over cases where there’s less urgency. I kindly request that if you are on my waiting list and you no longer require a space for whatever reason, you let me know so I can take you off the list and save some admin time.
What information do you need?
As much information as you can give me about your Guinea Pigs is great. I need to know their age, gender and any medical history. If you have a Guinea Pig has a medical problem, please tell me, it will not affect them being offered a place but will ensure they get the correct medical care. You do not need to discuss your reasons for surrender if you do not want to, I will not ask any personal questions. Please, if you have female Guinea Pigs and there is even the slightest chance they could be pregnant, let me know. I also need to know if you are able to bring them to me in Godalming or if you require transport assistance.
What do I need to bring?
Any of your Guinea Pigs food and bedding is greatly appreciated. If they have hides/houses they are particularly fond of, please do bring them along to help them feel at home. You do not need to bring their cage - but if it meets my housing requirements I’m happy to offer it to potential adopters.
Do you rehome the Guinea Pigs?
Yes, I am asked this question a lot. I’m a rescue and rehome operation rather than a sanctuary. As much as I love every single piggy who comes through our doors, I can’t keep them all forever because then I wouldn’t be able to help any other Guinea Pigs in need. However, I do have a few permanent residents who cannot be rehomed for various reasons.
What facilities do you have?
I have a heated and insulated shed, with flexible enclosures so I can house groups, pairs or individuals. I also have an outdoor shelter (shortly to become a barn) where I have hutches (6 foot for boars, 5 foot for sow pairs and any single piggies awaiting bonding) There is also my hospital area in the house where any poorly, post-neuter or otherwise vulnerable Guinea Pigs stay.
Can I see where my Guinea Pigs will be living?
I don’t offer tours as a matter of course, as you can imagine they take up a lot of time. Additionally, please remember this is also my family home and I have small children who might be enjoying the garden. However, if you would like to be shown around please ask when we arrange your appointment so I can give you a longer slot. I do find that it’s harder for people to say goodbye the longer they stay though.
What happens after I drop my Guinea Pigs off?
Firstly, they will be given a health check and their weight will be taken so I can monitor it throughout their stay. All new arrivals are also preemptively treated for mites/lice. They have a nail clip and groom if needed. They will then be subject to a routine quarantine away from any other Guinea Pigs of two weeks. I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with your Guinea Pigs, but sometimes the stress of adjusting to a new environment brings underlying issues to the fore. This also gives them time to settle in and for me to get to know them and what kind of home they would enjoy. I may, on a case by case basic shorten the quarantine for single pigs who are showing signs of distress from loneliness. After that they are available to potential adopters if there are no issues.
I have a pair of Guinea Pigs, will you split them up?
No, I will not split bonded pairs unless there has been a fight where blood is drawn. I understand this can be frustrating when people are looking for a single guinea pig to join their own, but I believe this to be in the piggies' best interests.
I have a single Guinea Pig, will you find them a friend?
I believe that no Guinea Pig should live alone. Any single Guinea Pigs are first offered to adopters who have a lonely Guinea Pig of their own (I do offer a bonding service) Failing that I will try to match them with another single guinea pig in my care. If all else fails, a single male Guinea Pig will be neutered to enjoy life with some wives.
Can you give me updates?
I am happy to give you occasional updates while they remain in my care, but please be patient! I can’t give you the contact details of the adopters but I can let you know when they have found a home.
What do you feed the Guinea Pigs at the rescue?
All Guinea Pigs will have unlimited hay (meadow and occasionally Timothy) a daily portion of veg, an age appropriate portion of nuggets. I use Science Selective and Burgess Excel but occasionally I do have other brands donated which I will add into the mix if appropriate. If your Guinea Pig is used to a different nugget, please bring some with you to help me transition them over.