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Adoption Policy
Getting set up for your Guinea Pig and rescue opening times.
Rachel Chadwick and Oliver (RIP 23.2.2011)
Please read our adoption policy,it gives you a clear picture of what we expect for Guinea Pigs adopted from us.
Then read on for lots of useful information on getting ready for your new family member !! It can seem a little daunting with so many products available but remember to shop around for bargains ! by using the internet.
 Jacob Chadwick
Our adoption policy
Thank you for your interest in our rescue centre, this is our adoption policy its clear and with no catches. We are experienced guinea pig owners having over 40 of our own guinea pigs and our requirements are based upon RSPCA guidelines and The Animal Welfare Act 2006.
We rely on donations to help support our work a suggested donation is:
£12 per Guinea Pig / £25 for a neutered boar - Proceeds to our neutering fund programme
What do we use your donations for ?
All veterinary costs for rescue Guinea Pigs.We credit our vet account with donations.
Contribution towards our rescue neutering programme
Bath and skin treatments - Mite and lice treatments for rescue Guinea Pigs
Care leaflets
Feeding and general care of our rescue Guinea Pigs
Medication
Our community events programme
The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue Adoption Policy:
When considering adoption please think about :)
Time you have to give
Love you have to share
Space you have to care
Our adoption policy
All new owners will be required to sign an adoption agreement and provide us with contact details.This will be kept strictly confidential for rescue use only.This is in line with other reputable rescues and RSPCA guidelines.
1: All our guinea pigs are re-homed on the basis that they are not to be used for breeding. We cannot always guarantee the age of sows, so it is important sows are not bred from. Birth problems can occur in sows that have not had a litter before the age of 12 months. Boar neutering packages are available through Charter vets.
Most of our rescue guinea pigs boars and sows have already had a difficult time and just want a peaceful loving home free from extra stresses.
 Oscar Chadwick watching TV
2:Quarantine of two weeks is applied to all Guinea Pigs. This is primarily aimed at Guinea Pigs being re-homed to live with an established pet.A full health check and mite treatment will be carried out during this time.
Owners who have experience of guinea pig care have the choice to carry out quarantine themselves at home and before introducing a guinea pig to an existing Guinea Pig.The wellbeing of a depressed guinea pig is paramount and the benefits of exclusion have to be weighed up. Guinea pigs can be placed near to one another so at least they can share conversation and smells.
2: All our guinea pigs are re-homed as pairs or to live with another guinea pig.We do NOT rehome Guinea Pigs to live with rabbits,we have an RSPCA leaflet available concerning this.
 Polly and Tanisha past residents
3: Adoptees agree to house the guinea pig in clean, secure, draught free accommodation, indoors or outdoors.
Based in RSPCA guidelines our requirements are:
Outdoor
4ft x 2ft hutch for 2 guinea pigs
5ft x 2ft for 3 Guinea Pigs
Indoor
Nero 4 -118cm x 64cm x 64cm
Ferplast 120 - 118cm x 58.5cm x 51.5cm
Or brand of same size
C & C grids are also an excellent option to make custom size enclosures
A home check may be carried out by one of our rescue team prior to adoption.
 Lily Chadwick (RIP)
4: Adoptees agree to ensure the guinea pig is fed a suitable, varied fresh vegetable diet and dried food with added vitamin C . Hay and fresh MUST be available at all times.
 Kale face !!
5: Adoptees agree to register the guinea pig with a small animal veterinary practice and seek prompt care for a sick Guinea Pig.
We recommend Charter Vets in Congleton / Butt Lane and Beechwood Veterinary practice in Kidsgrove
6: Adoptees agree to ensure regular health checks are carried out along with regular preventative treatment for skin parasites. All our guinea pigs are treated with a course of Ivermectin before they leave the rescue. Its important good skin care is maintained as we cannot guarantee your Guinea Pig will never get a mite or fungal infections,its something piggies can occasionally get from Hay, housing conditions or grazing on lawns.
Next preventative mite treatment will be due in 3 months.Weekly grooming and coat checks are essential.
 Sweetie Chadwick (RIP)
7: Adoptees agree to ensure lots of cuddles and attention are given on a regular basis, play things must be provided to make cage time interesting. Guinea Pigs need regular exercise and an indoor / outdoor run of some type is essential, lawn or not.
 Romeo Chadwick
8: Parents – Guinea pigs can live for 4 to 8 years
We have found that one of the main reasons for unwanted guinea pigs is that they are bought for children and the children lose interest. We do ask parents to consider the committment required before re-homing a guinea pig, parents need to be willing primary carers and encourage the child’s on going interest and take an active role in the guinea pigs care. Guinea pigs are wonderful, interesting animals and their care can be made educationally interesting and prove a valuable part of gaining citizenship and social skills.The rescue can give you lots of tips and information.
 Harriet and Star past residents
9: If your circumstances change for any reason and you no longer want your Guinea Pigs, please return them to the rescue for rehoming.We will ask you to sign and agree to our change of ownership policy.We are unable to refund donations due to the very nature of a donation, we will have used your donation to help run the rescue !!
10:A home check may be required.Especially for first time owners.
If you feel able to comply with our policy and possibly give a forever home to a guinea pig then please let us know.
Rescue opening times
We run the rescue around our family and our own Guinea Pigs :)
Messages left on our answer phone will be returned by Helen after 6.30pm
During the day you can call Claire on 01782 921010
The rescue is open one evening in the week for adoption and health check appts - day can change call us for an appt.
Other days /times are available by mutual agreement.
We welcome donations to our work and you can also donate via PAYPAL !!
Getting ready for your new Guinea Pig !! Dont panic the basics are easy..........
Hi my name is Marley Chadwick,i was an unwanted pet rescued by my mum, and i now live with my family and my friend Jacob.
There are lots of things to think about when taking on a lovely Guinea Pig like me heres my top 10 !!
1:Space - How many Guinea Pigs do you have room for ?? that includes runs and outdoor / indoor space ?
2:Time - How much time do you have to give,its not just cleaning and feeding its playing and cuddling too ??
3:Love - A home is hopefully forever,a Guinea Pig needs to be a family committent, mums and dads please dont get Guinea Pigs unless you want us too.
4:Can you afford it ??
Its not just one off items like hutches and toys its weekly items like, Hay,Vegetables (not spoiled but nice fresh veg),Dried Food, Medication, Shavings.Vets fees - Expect to pay from £14 to £20 for a consultation, £40 plus if your vet is an exotic vet (specialised in Guinea Pig care).
 I love grass
My mum has an account at our vets for the rescue and her own piggies, she pays money in to keep our accounts in credit,she says £50 is a good amount to get started and that way an unexpected illness wont be a problem ! Ask your vet its a good way to save as insurance can be expensive if you have several Guinea Pigs.People on benefits can use the PDSA.
5:Hutch or indoor cage.
Thats really important,the bigger you can have the better ! My mum (and the RSPCA) recommend a minimum 4ft x 2ft hutch or an indoor cage size nero size 4 / Ferplast 120 / minimum for 2 Guinea pigs just like me and Jacob.We have a 5ft hutch so that ensures plenty of room for my toys and play tunnel...which i will mention later.During the winter we cant go outdoors as much so my mum has room to make us things to keep us occupied...thats the fun bit.
A ferplast 100 or Nero 3 are ideal for temporary accomodation over the winter or during illness.
Many pet shops sell silly little 3ft cages, please dont buy them they are pointless for any small animal, and can cause piggies to disagree !! because you dont have enough space.
Too small ???
You can also buy hutches and indoor cages off the internet, places like ebay and preloved,or timber suppliers / manufacturers make them to size so its worth looking around.If you do buy second hand then make sure you disinfect throughly with a product called VIRKON this kills fungal spores which can remain dormant for up to 10 years.Hey arent i a clever piggie knowing all this !
Indoor cages can come with stained bases,the white marks are calcium deposits and easily removed with white vinegar !
My mum lines all our hutches with lino,i have a lovely wooden flooring pattern ! This preserves the wooden floor and is easy to wipe out at cleaning time.You can pick up odd pieces from carpet shops,just ask. Another good way is to buy packs from BQ of adhesive floor panels,they are about £6 and can be easily cut.
6:Shavings / Hay / Fleece & Vet bed
Its a matter of preferance what you use to deal with our poop and wee ! My mum says there are various opinions but at the end of the day its up to the owner.She has never had any issues with shavings,and buys bales from meadows animal feeds in newchapel they are £7 bargain,and its lovely quality,no dust.Its important to buy good quality dust free shavings.
You can use fleece blankets and vet bed for indoor cages and hutches.Again shop around,on the internet and you can buy fleece blankets from places like home bargains and dunhelm,just cut to size.Put them in a pillow case before you wash,keeps hair out of your washer.
 I love my fleece
Always line your hutch / indoor cage with newspaper.It makes cleaning out so much quicker !!
Hay is vital we need it for our digestion !! so good quality meadow hay is a must.The stringy type is the best,chopped up is ok, but i love to roll around in it,thats a way to play.I dont like pets at home hay.You can source meadow hay from farms,preloved is a good place to look.Expect to pay £ 4 to £6 for a bale.My mum has orange plastic bags ideal for storing a bale of hay,just ask for one -£1 donation to rescue.
 Meadow hay greg x
Remember you need to clean us out at least twice week,i dont like a poopy cage !!
7:Food / Water equipment
You ideally need a ceramic food bowl, and a water bottle.You can get glass water bottles now,which are great,me and Jacob have one.You need to clean all bottles and spouts weekly,green water bottles are a no no.Have cotton buds to hand for spouts,as i am a messy drinker and food can get into the spout.
We dont have muesli type food, we have nuggets my mum says we cant be selective,shes mad on recycling and hates waste....whatever.....actually we just cant get enough of science selective by supreme foods,but brands like excell are also very good.
8:Toys and cage items
Jacob loves his tunnel
Jacob and me just love playing,especially when our family are out at work and school,so its great that our mum and Rachel get us great toys.Wilkinsons have a great range of small animal products,also places like home bargains and our local pet shop in Kidsgrove,Noahs Ark.Also check out the internet for Guinea Pig shops.
There are so many to choose from and to give you and idea this is what we have in our cages:
A grass tunnel / house which we can eat and play in !
A snuggle bed which Jacob likes to snooze in,its a mini cat basket really.
Cindy in her snuggle bed
A hay ball hung from a hook in our cage,mum fills it with hay every day,its got a bell on and i love making it ring when i pull hay out.
A gnaw block
A large wooden bendy bridge,bent into a hidey house - rabbit size - mum covers it with fleece and we can go inside or sit on top
 Stuart in his grass house
Paper bags filled with hay -we know when mums been to primark !
Cereal boxes and small card board boxes are fun too filled with hay and veggie treats,me and jacob like to forage for our tea.
Willow hay ball £2.49 from wilkinsons its great to chew
Thats a few ideas to get you started
9: Vets
Just like people we get poorly,and you wouldnt wait till you were ill to register with a doctor would you ??
So before we arrive,seek out a Guinea Pig friendly vet and register.The Guinea Pig Forum online is a great place to find out about all things Guinea Pig...when mum or Claire arent available...and you could also members to recommend a vets near to you.My vet is listed on this site.
10:Keep in touch with the rescue and make new Guinea Pig friends !!
Me (left) and Jacob when we first met
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