SA Guinea Pig Rescue and Rehome.

One of our childhood favoured pets, the Guinea Pig , have found a home. ‘SA Guinea Pig Rescue & Rehome’ , associated with the South African Guinea Pig Society (SAGPS), is a small rescue shelter run by Roberta Simson.

She came from Canada three years ago and was disappointed that she was unable to have pets where she lived. As a result she got two sows (females) pigs from a pet store , as it turned out both of them were pregnant. Simson fostered the pups (babies) of the two sows.

This was the start of her initiative to create awareness for the irresponsible breeding or care of Guinea pigs. In South Africa at the moment we have common breeds such as the ‘Smooth haired’ and ‘Abyssinian’. Peruvian guinea pigs are what most breeders specialise in. Simson does not only rescue unwanted fluffy friends but breeds them to however only on reservation to ensure they have forever homes.

Simson personally funds the entire program and would greatly appreciate any form of support. The crisis in society is that many people gets guinea pigs as pets but are no longer capable or desire to have them. In these cases the are abandoned on sides of roads, containers, or left to roam parks. Simon wishes to express the need to separate sow and boer (male) pigs from each other as they are able to breed from as early as four weeks for sows and three weeks for boers.

Litters for the animals can amount from two to eight pups, larger litters sometimes result in not all pups surviving due to their tiny size. Simson treats all her guinea pigs whether rescue or personal to equal bed and lodging including, “Time on the sofa.”

Details: www.saguineapigrescue.weebly.com; facebook.com/SAGPRR