Why Adopt?

There are many reasons to adopt rather than shop, and our hope is to educate pet owners and would-be pet owners that adoption for small pets is just as important as for cats and dogs.

When you adopt from a reputable rescue you not only offer a forever home to a guinea pig who has already been re-homed at least once, often more, you also get these benefits:

1. Health All of our rescue pigs have been quarantined for at least 2 weeks before being put up for adoption (usually more). This means that they should be free from contagious diseases as most illnesses do not have a longer incubation period. (Unfortunately in the case of fungal issues this cannot be guaranteed, as a guinea pig can appear healthy here but show fungal signs when moved to a new home due to the stress, but this is rare and is more likely with pet shop pigs anyway).

2. Investing where it makes a difference You know that your adoption fee is going to good use! The £20 adoption fee we ask for each piggy goes straight back into the daily running of the rescue. It costs us £120 a week to keep the rescue going, and we are entirely self-funded. That £20 can help us rescue another pig from an uncertain future.

3. Advice We are happy to give unbiased advice on cage / hutch choice and size, feeding, minor ailments, taming, and general maintenance! This ensures you and your new piggy are happy and that you don't spend money needlessly on things that pet shops sell that are actually unsuitable for guinea pigs!

4. Life-time Support We offer life-time support for all piggies that are adopted from us. If for any reason further down the line you find yourself unable to keep your guinea pigs, we will happily take them back and look after them for the rest of their days either here or in another adopted home.

5. No Unexpected Pregnancies! All sows coming into rescue are kept on pregnancy watch for 10 weeks, ensuring no surprise arrivals once you get them home!

6. Matching for Character We know all of our piggies very well here at East Anglian Guinea Pig Rescue, and will ensure that you are a good match. If you have a single piggy who has lost their companion we can help match them with a suitable friend through our bonding service. Not all pigs like each other but we have a lot of experience bonding both boars and sows. Guinea pigs should not be kept alone and we do everything we can to avoid keeping them solitary.