What would you do if you were walking down the street and saw this rotund creature stuck in the fence?
Well, one Good Samaritan in San Jose came to the rescue. The woman, with the help of a few passers-by, freed the animal from the fence and caught it before it could run away.
One person recognized the creature as a guinea pig. Which means the guinea pig did not belong outside. Guinea pigs are definitely house pets. No guinea pigs exist in the wild anymore except for those whose humans "set them free." (Please rehome your pet instead through animal rescue organizations or shelters.) The Good Samaritan took the guinea pig home, googled how to take care of the animal, and fixed up a comfortable pen.
But then a thought occurred to her. What if there were more guinea pigs in the empty lot? After making sure the fat guinea pig was all settled, she returned to the scene of the rescue. As she started to search through the grass, other people noticed and joined her. They covered every inch of the lot and found this little guy (who wasn't looking quite as spiffy at the time).
What a rescue!
But the story doesn’t end there.
The next morning the woman checked in on her new friends. Much to her surprise, she found not just two guinea pigs — she found five! The guinea pig wasn’t fat, the guinea pig was pregnant!
She sent an email to the director of the Rabbit Haven Cavy Haven, and the family of five joined the rescue the next day. The organization, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, takes in guinea pigs for rescue and rehoming, along with other small animals. Dedicated volunteers provide foster care, socialization, good nutrition, any necessary medical care, and of course, lots of love.
Here is Mama Marigold and her one-day old babies (from left to right): Sasquatch, Nessie, and Yeti. Today, as you can see in the video below, these beautiful rescue pigs are currently thriving, zooming and popcorning in their foster home. They will be ready for adoption in a few weeks. If you are looking for a new pet, this formerly homeless guinea pig and her babies might be perfect for you! Even if you live too far away to adopt them, there is probably a wonderful guinea pig rescue in your area, too.
Guinea pigs really make ideal pets, especially for people new to animals or who don't have much hands-on time. They are less destructive than puppies or kittens but love you just as much, and are endlessly entertaining. Think about adding a pair to your family!