Please read the following guide carefully and if you would like to proceed, your enquiry must be submitted via email providing all the requested information. Enquiries made via our fb page or text will not be acknowledged other than to provide you with this link.

This will prevent your time being wasted, and mine ~ Alex, shelter manager.
Please do not enquire about adopting from us unless you are prepared to house your guinea pigs inside, and the area in which you plan on keeping them is airconditioned. We house the shelter piggies in an airconditioned shed and during the hotter months the aircon runs 24/7. Summers are becoming longer and hotter and in Queensland we can expect to need aircon from September through to the end of April. Guinea pigs are highly susceptible to heat stroke and to remove them from a temperature controlled environment of 20 to 24 degrees to temperatures of 28 degrees plus is asking for trouble and we will not put our guinea pigs in this situation.
Due to an enormous number of adoption enquiries, I have a huge backlog and unfortunately some enquiries will be overlooked. The emails most likely to receive a prompt reply are those giving lots of details about previous or current guinea pig ownership, description of diet and housing (if applicable) and at least one photo of your enclosure, with dimensions.

NOTE: IF YOU DON’T YET HAVE A CAGE, PLEASE CHECK WITH US BEFORE RUSHING OUT AND BUYING ONE!! UNFORTUNATELY MOST PRE PURCHASED CAGES ARE TOO SMALL, AND/OR ARE WOODEN HUTCHES DESIGNED FOR OUTSIDE USE, UNSUITABLE FOR INDOORS, AND WE ADOPT TO INSIDE HOMES ONLY.

If you are new to guinea pigs, please provide info on any research you have done into how to correctly care for them. If I can see you have put some thought into preparing yourself for having guinea pigs as pets, I am more likely to reply within 48 hours to your email. A good source of information is www.guinealynx.com/

RESCUE VERSUS PET SHOP/CLASSIFIEDS

Adopting a guinea pig from a shelter is a totally different experience to buying from a pet shop, or answering an ad in the classifieds. Many of our guinea pigs come from neglectful and abusive environments, with some needing extensive veterinary care before being deemed ready for adoption. All potential adopters are screened to ensure the guinea pig's new home is going to be suitable and longterm (as far as anyone can be sure of their future circumstances), and that they are fully aware of how to care for their new pets from correct diet through to appropriate housing. An Adoption Contract is signed on the day.

PLEASE NOTE: Under no circumstances will I adopt just one guinea pig unless you as the adopter are looking for a friend for a guinea pig you already have, or you are wanting to add to an established herd. Guinea pigs are social creatures and need at least one companion of their own kind. Left alone they can become depressed, bored, antisocial and overly timid. They can also suffer a lowered immune system which will increase the risk of illness. In my opinion it is cruel to keep just one guinea pig, especially if one has been made aware of the reasons as to why guinea pigs need piggy friends. Solo piggies who have been surrendered to the shelter thrive once surrounded by other guinea pigs.

WHEN LOOKING TO ADOPT A FRIEND FOR YOUR OWN GUINEA PIG/S WE REQUIRE YOU TO BRING YOUR GUINEA PIG/S TO THE SHELTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF INTRODUCTIONS SO WE CAN ENSURE ALL ARE GOING TO BE COMPATIBLE.

WE ADOPT TO INDOOR HOMES ONLY

POINTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE ACQUIRING A GUINEA PIG
  1. Am I prepared to do all I can do to ensure my guinea pigs are kept safe, happy and healthy?
  2. If any of my guinea pigs appear unwell, am I prepared to take them to a vet and pay the cost of a consultation and any ensuing costs eg surgery, medications?
  3. Am I prepared to house my guinea pigs indoors in a suitable enclosure?
  4. Am I prepared to clean my guinea pigs' enclosure at least once a week?
  5. Am I prepared to give my guinea pigs some floor or grass time each day?
  6. Am I prepared to feed my guinea pigs fresh vegetables and fruit each day, plus a good quality guinea pig mix and/or pellets eg Oxbow Essentials Adult or Young Guinea Pig Food, and a constant supply of hay plus fresh water daily?
  7. Do I have time to cuddle my guinea pigs, and to bath and groom them on a regular basis?
  8. Will my guinea pigs be treated as part of the family?
  9. Do I have someone responsible and reliable who can look after my guinea pigs when I am away from home for any reason?
  10. If not, am I prepared to pay a boarding fee to a suitable boarding establishment eg a guinea pig shelter to ensure that my guinea pigs will be well taken care of while I'm away?
  11. Do I fully understand the importance of not contributing to the overpopulation of guinea pigs by not allowing my guinea pigs to be used for breeding?
  12. Am I prepared to take advice from a shelter representative on how to correctly care for my guinea pigs?
  13. In the event I can no longer care for my guinea pigs eg relocating and can't take them with me, moving into a new rental property where pets aren't allowed, the children have lost interest, I had two guinea pigs and one has died, and I don't want to continue the cycle of adopting - will I abide by the wishes of the shelter by contacting them to arrange their return and NOT advertise them on gumtree or other classifieds or offer them to friends, family or neighbours? (if this occurs, the shelter accepts all your guinea pigs and not just those adopted from us and there is no surrender fee and no questions asked).

If you can answer "YES" to all the above questions it appears you may be ready to make guinea pigs a part of your family. The next step is to contact us, giving us any info relating to your adoption enquiry. This includes whether you already have guinea pigs, and if so what sex, if you already have a cage (please supply dimensions and several photos), if you have other pets, if renting do you have your landlord's permission to have guinea pigs, and any other info you would like to share.


In order to be fully prepared for your new pets, you will be required to purchase a small animal carrier in which to transport your guinea pigs from the shelter to their new home. Also for any future outings such as to the vets, to a boarding establishment etc. The carrier should be lined with a soft absorbent material such as a towel, fleecy blanket or hay so the animals are comfortable and not sitting in urine and faeces. Place newspaper or puppy pads underneath the bedding to further absorb urine.

Adoptions are by appointment only. If you are interested in adopting please click here to make your initial inquiry via email. I will attempt to reply to all enquiries within forty-eight hours.

ADOPTION FEES:
Desexed Males: $80
Desexed Females: $150**
Non-desexed Males & Females: $50
Same sex pair (neither desexed) $100
Mixed sex (male desexed) $130

Note: We only have desexed females available when one of the females in our care requires surgery for the removal of cystic ovaries and/or uterus removal. The $150 adoption fee represents a fraction of the actual cost of surgery.

GUIDE TO CAGE SIZE:
Minimum size for two guinea pigs:
Plastic based cage: 1.2m x 49cm
C & C Cage: 2 x 4 grids
Minimum size for three guinea pigs:
Plastic based cage: 1.4m x 69cm
C & C Cage: 2 x 5 grids

Please keep these sizes in mind if you are making your own cage prior to submitting an adoption enquiry.

1.2m x 49cm plastic based cages can be purchased from the shelter for $125. We also sell stands on wheels for $55.