[sarahnmadison]

Sadly, there isn't much concern about "pocket pets". We all hear about dogs and cats, but never small animals. I did animals rescue for awhile and never once heard about the guinea pig problem. I knew there would be homeless rabbits at the shelter and I would see domesticated rabbits running around my neighborhood after Easter and people get tired of them thus letting them go. They don't last long with coyotes and other predators running around. I did manage to catch one of them once and we give him a good home for 5 years by setting up a "trap" I made. Basically, it was a dog kennel with a string tied to it. First time, he got away through the bars, so I added chicken wire and the second time, Sneaky, as he would be named, was caught. As you will learn here, there is not shortage of guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, chinchillas, rabbits, reptiles, birds, etc. needing homes.

Before I knew there was this guinea pig overpopulation, I had a guinea pig that I had gotten from a petstore that died within a month of getting him. While researching what could have happened to him, I came upon this site. Of my adoptions, I have only gotten healthy guinea pigs - adoption is the way to go. I had one die within a month of adopting him but he was a rehome and he wasn't getting the best care right before I got him so I feel that is why he did not live as long as I hoped. My other adoptions (from rehomes and adoption groups) have resulted in healthy pigs that have lived long.