Many of our adoptable pigs are listed on our adoption pages: sows, boars and couples. We also often have animals that have not quite made it to the website yet so if you are interested in adopting a guinea pig please don't hesitate to contact us for an application. There is also a tax-deductible adoption donation to adopt our guinea pigs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much space do they need?

How much does it cost to keep a guinea pig?

Why doesn't my guinea pig seem to like me?

What are the most common illnesses?

What happens if an adoption doesn't work out?

Should I get two guinea pigs?

Is there an adoption fee?

Can I adopt a male-female pair?

Can you adopt a male-male pair?

Can I visit your facility to see the guinea pigs?

Do you ship guinea pigs?

How can I drop off my unwanted guinea pigs at the rescue?

How much space do they need?

Guinea pigs need more space than the average pet store cage. In fact, these tiny plastic cages are terribly inadequate. Without proper room to roam, your guinea pig will be unhappy and this affects what kind of pet they are. A guinea pig in a small cage is frequently depressed, unfriendly, and can become obese. With adequate cage space, a guinea pig can be a delightful pet. Just watching them scamper around their cage is a source of amusement to many guinea pig owners!

For cage dimensions and instructions on how to build a very easy, inexpensive cage, visit the Cavy Cages page.

How much does it cost to keep a guinea pig?

Guinea pigs are not low maintenance, inexpensive pets. They will depend on you for food (high quality plain pellets, unlimited grass hay and daily fresh veggies), water, medical care and companionship.

We advocate building your own cage at a cost of under $50.00, while pet store cages frequently run up into the hundreds and are almost always too small.

There are ways to cut costs on bedding and hay, and saving money by using homemade toys like untreated paper bags stuffed with hay and cardboard tunnels. And buying veggies at the farmer's market. However, you must be willing to take them to a qualified vet if illness should appear.

Why doesn't my guinea pig seem to like me?

Many people, who are used to the affectionate behavior of cats and dogs, are upset by what seems to be the guinea pig's initial aloofness. In fact, many guinea pigs are cuddly lap pets who love handling, but you must work with them in order to bring out their sweet natures.

A guinea pig is a prey animal, which means that they have a built-in flight instinct. Even most tame lap pigs run when you approach the cage. This is something that you should not take personally. When handled daily, a guinea pig can be a very loving pet. However, like all baby animals, a guinea pig may nip to taste or when it doesn't want to be held anymore.

Certain illnesses (like mites) can also cause a guinea pig to be unfriendly. If you experience repeated unsociable behavior in your guinea pig after continually trying to tame them, you might want to check the resources link for information on possible medical problems.

What are the most common illnesses?

To read more about common illnesses that guinea pigs contract, please refer to:
http://www.guinealynx.info/medical_guide.html

What happens if an adoption doesn't work out?

It is our policy, and the policy of the rescues we work with, to accept the return of any of our guinea pigs that you can no longer keep, for whatever reason. We will try to work with you first to find a solution to the problem, but in the end, you signed a contract that stipulates the return of the animal if you cannot care for it. We do ask that you exhaust all possible solutions first.

Should I get two guinea pigs?

Guinea pigs are social animals, and do not do well as single pets. They have a herding instinct that drives them to be near their own kind, and get very lonely when they do not have this contact. A single guinea pig often becomes depressed and loses his appetite, or simply loses interest in life. In addition, having a friend to live with makes the guinea pig a better pet for you, because they feel more secure in their surroundings.

It is our policy, and the policy of most rescues, to only allow adoptions of pairs, unless the adoptee has another piggy at home. This is in the best interest of the pet.

Is there an adoption fee?

Yes, the fee for adopting from Orange County Cavy Haven is $35 for one guinea pig and $50 for a pair. The adoption fee is tax-deductible. This money, like all other donations we receive, goes directly into a fund for the animals that we take care of in the rescue. Our adoption fee rate in no way begins to cover the cost incurred for medical treatment when needed and the daily upkeep of the guinea pigs until they are adopted out.

Another important reason for the fee is to eliminate the risk of "free to good home" animals (see) as well as to make sure that you can afford the animals. Beyond the cost of the animals you must be prepared to spend money every week on fresh food, dry food, bedding, hay and miscellaneous supplies as necessary. In addition, you must be able to afford any vet bills that become necessary.

Why can't I adopt a male-female pair?

Our rescue, like all other animal rescues, does not support breeding of animals in due part to the pet overpopulation problem. We therefore will not adopt out guinea pigs in male - female pairs unless at least one of the animals has been altered.

For every guinea pig bred, a home is robbed from an already existing needy guinea pig. Breeding guinea pigs is also risky to the sow. Complications for the female guinea pig and her unborn babies are high. Pregnancy toxemia and stillborns are not uncommon.

For more information on why you should not breed guinea pigs please visit Cavy Spirit's breeding page and the Guinea lynx page.

Should you find yourself with orphan babies or babies that are not thriving, please refer to http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html#pups.

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Can I visit your facility tosee the guinea pigs?

Orange County Cavy Haven is a foster organization. This means that our guinea pigs are kept in private homes wherethey are cared for by foster parents until they are adopted. For this reason, our guinea pigs tend to be very well socialized and adjusted to living in a household. However, this also means that we don't have a facility you can visit to see all of our pigs. If you are interested in meeting some of the pigs we have for adoption please contact us for an adoption interest form.

Do you ship guinea pigs?

No, we do not do out-of-state adoptions. Thank you for wanting to save a life, but we have no safe way of shipping guinea pigs. Please find a animal shelter or guinea pig rescue closer to you.

How can I drop off my unwanted guinea pigs at the rescue?

Our rescue has limited foster homes and funds so the guinea pigs on death row in the animal shelters are given our priority. These pets are often hours away from dying and often require medical attention. It is very rare for us to take a private surrender as this displaces a shelter pig.

Being a rescue does not make us automatically emotionally and financially responsible for all unwanted guinea pigs in the Orange County - Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Taking on too many fosters means we will not be able to properly care for all of them.

We are happy to help by giving advice on how to keep your guinea pig(s), or how to rehome your guinea pigs on your own. However, we do not have the room to take in your unwanted pet(s).

If you simply do not wish to spend any time reading or trying to find your guinea pig a new home, or are out of time to try, please take the pet to your local animal shelter. It is far better than turning the pet loose to fend for him or herself to be attacked by a predator, be traumatized and starve to death, or simply leaving the pet behind when you vacate the property.

They will likely end up at the local shelter regardless, in possibly worse straits, rending them unadoptable and euthanized immediately upon surrender. For more info, read http://cavyspirit.com/dumps.htm

Remember to charge a small adoption fee when rehoming as free guinea pigs are at risk for snake food, bait in a dog fight, as human food or worse.