Foster a Guinea Pig
Provide piggies love, care, and socialization until they find their forever home.
A foster caregiver for Wheektopia is strongly compassionate and desires to help both animals and people. I ask that you provide daily care for your foster guinea pig and help them develop a sense of trust in people through proper care, loving play time, and plenty of positive interactions.
How does it work?
Wheektopia will provide you with a cage, cage and feeding accessories, reusable fleece bedding, hay, and pellets. If you choose to help the rescue by providing any of these items for your foster pigs, we just need to approve them. We will also provide all medical care through our partner veterinarian hospital, Southern Maine Small Mammal Hospital. Wheektopia can handle all transportation and attendance for medical appointments.
As a foster parent, you provide a clean and enriching cage environment, fresh food and water, feed, and interact with the guinea pigs in your care daily. Expect to spend about an hour a day in total interacting and caring for your foster pigs. Guinea pig veggies will cost around $20/week and we ask that you provide these for your foster pigs. I will provide a list of safe produce and you are welcome to feed them a variety.
Wheektopia will coordinate adoption meetings and health checks/nail trims with you and request weekly updates to include a video of their environment. I am available 24/7 for questions or issues.
What if I’m new to guinea pigs?
No worries! I will provide you with all the information, training, and support you will need to be a successful foster parent. I will make sure you know all the tricks to pick up the piggies in your care and soon you will be comfortable.
What if I have other pets?
Let’s talk! All cages have available covers to keep curious animals and small children from exploring guinea pigs or injuring guinea pigs. Cats and dogs may be curious, but generally move on rather quickly once they realize these piggies are not threatening and here to stay for awhile. I will help you choose the best place for your cage.
How long do I have to foster?
Ideally, you will house the guinea pigs in your care until they have a forever home. It is very difficult to gauge how long it will take to find a forever home. Most guinea pigs are at the rescue around six months, but some are here much longer. Generally, adult male guinea pigs are the most difficult to place and are often rescue residents the longest.
What else should I know?
If you already have guinea pigs, you can only foster guinea pigs of the same gender to prevent unintentional pregnancy.
If a minor is interested in fostering, we require adults in the household to complete all forms, supervise their care, and be on board with fostering. Guinea pigs are not beginner pets and require supervision to ensure they are receiving proper care.
As a state and federal nonprofit, we can provide credit for volunteer hours.
When you go out of town, we ask that you arrange care for your foster pigs like you would for other pets in your home, if this is not possible please reach out and we can make arrangements for boarding.