Running a rescue questions?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Fudge and Rainbow :)

Fudge and Rainbow :)

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Dec 16, 2009
Messages
2,477
Reaction score
38
Points
570
Location
West Yorkshire
Hi everyone, I have lots of questions. :(|) I would like to know what it's like to run a rescue as I would love to do so in the future! :) I am only 14 so you might think I'm too young to decide something like this but I'm not, I've really been thinking seriously about this. When I was younger I wanted to breed but since I have learnt about rescues, I have decided against breeding as rescuing is much more rewarding and there are thousands of piggies needing homes! x)

I understand it must be very expensive: buying accomondation, bedding and food every week, water bottles, food bowls, toys and of course vet bills! ;) But I have learnt how to manage my money I do a paper round and get £14 a week and through saving it, I have payed over £400 on my 4 rabbits getting spayed, neutered and vaccinated as well as all their other needs. Also I have just bought my piggies the ELC ball pit which cost me a weeks wages. I honestly don't mind spending my money on the animals that mean so much to me. x) I know I am too young to have the responsibility of running a rescue at this age but if I start educating myself on what needs to be done now then I will definitely be ready for it when the time comes. :)

It would be a guinea pig rescue only as I don't think I would be able to afford 6 foot hutches and runs for every 2 rabbits that come into my care and to get them neutered/spayed and vaccinated. ;) So my questions are:

How many piggies do you have at your rescue?
Do you house them all at your home?
Do you have foster homes for them?
How big are your hutches/cages?
How big are the runs?
Do you only home guinea pigs in pairs? (I would only re home in pairs or for a single pig to live with a guinea pig the person already had)
Are they housed indoors or outside?
How much does it cost a week?
Do you home check?
What is required to pass a home check?
How much do you charge for a guinea pig?
Is it worth it - I already know this answer but it's nice to ask it anyway! :(|)
 
Last edited:
This is a really good place to start for information.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=31743

Good for you, for researching well. I fostered and had almost 200 guinea pigs including my own, 'passing through'. The biggest thing I found was TIME, don't under estimate how much time it takes cleaning out, checking pigs, feeding, tucking up, sterilising water bottles, etc. etc. I found finances were fine because I bought everything in bulk from the farm. People who bring guinea pigs in will often bring a hutch or cage with them. Rescues don't usually charge, they ask for a donation, there may be tax implications? if you charge. Lots of people on here to help you. Good luck. x
 
nutmeg said:
This is a really good place to start for information.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=31743

Good for you, for researching well. I fostered and had almost 200 guinea pigs including my own, 'passing through'. The biggest thing I found was TIME, don't under estimate how much time it takes cleaning out, checking pigs, feeding, tucking up, sterilising water bottles, etc. etc. I found finances were fine because I bought everything in bulk from the farm. People who bring guinea pigs in will often bring a hutch or cage with them. Rescues don't usually charge, they ask for a donation, there may be tax implications? if you charge. Lots of people on here to help you. Good luck. x
Click to expand...

Thanks I hadn't noticed that thread! :)
 
I am afraid I can't answer your questions as I don't run a rescue, but just wanted to say well done for thinking so carefully about this AND for managing your money already at 14 - I probably sound like a right old bag (I'm actually only 25!) but so many people your age get too used to the bank of mum and dad, it is lovely to read a post from someone so aware of their own money and responsibilities.
 
Doeylicious said:
I am afraid I can't answer your questions as I don't run a rescue, but just wanted to say well done for thinking so carefully about this AND for managing your money already at 14 - I probably sound like a right old bag (I'm actually only 25!) but so many people your age get too used to the bank of mum and dad, it is lovely to read a post from someone so aware of their own money and responsibilities.
Click to expand...

No you don't sound old. lol :) Thank You! :(|)
 
Fudge and Rainbow :) said:
Hi everyone, I have lots of questions. :(|) I would like to know what it's like to run a rescue as I would love to do so in the future! :) I am only 14 so you might think I'm too young to decide something like this but I'm not, I've really been thinking seriously about this. When I was younger I wanted to breed but since I have learnt about rescues, I have decided against breeding as rescuing is much more rewarding and there are thousands of piggies needing homes! x)

I understand it must be very expensive: buying accomondation, bedding and food every week, water bottles, food bowls, toys and of course vet bills! ;) But I have learnt how to manage my money I do a paper round and get £14 a week and through saving it, I have payed over £400 on my 4 rabbits getting spayed, neutered and vaccinated as well as all their other needs. Also I have just bought my piggies the ELC ball pit which cost me a weeks wages. I honestly don't mind spending my money on the animals that mean so much to me. x) I know I am too young to have the responsibility of running a rescue at this age but if I start educating myself on what needs to be done now then I will definitely be ready for it when the time comes. :)

It would be a guinea pig rescue only as I don't think I would be able to afford 6 foot hutches and runs for every 2 rabbits that come into my care and to get them neutered/spayed and vaccinated. ;) So my questions are:

How many piggies do you have at your rescue?
Do you house them all at your home?
Do you have foster homes for them?
How big are your hutches/cages?
How big are the runs?
Do you only home guinea pigs in pairs? (I would only re home in pairs or for a single pig to live with a guinea pig the person already had)
Are they housed indoors or outside?
How much does it cost a week?
Do you home check?
What is required to pass a home check?
How much do you charge for a guinea pig?
Is it worth it - I already know this answer but it's nice to ask it anyway! :(|)
Click to expand...


I only foster for a rescue so I will answer for the foster piggies I have at the minute, there are also another 3 fosterers that do the same as me.

How many piggies do you have at your rescue?
Currently I have 1 neutered male, 1 female with 4 babies, 1 female with 2 babies and a pregnant female. I also foter rabbits and have 21 of those at the minute.
Do you house them all at your home?
Yes
Do you have foster homes for them?
Walsall RSPCA have a total of 4 guinea pig fosterers
How big are your hutches/cages?
either 4ft x 2ft or 5ft x 2ft for piggies, 6ft x 2ft or 8ft x 2ft for bunnies
How big are the runs?
6ftx4ft
Do you only home guinea pigs in pairs? (I would only re home in pairs or for a single pig to live with a guinea pig the person already had)
All our piggies are rehomed in a pair or to be part of a pair, all males are neutered and we do not rehome males to live together.
Are they housed indoors or outside?
Outside during the summer months and we try our best to get majority inside for winter although it's not always possible.
How much does it cost a week?
I have no idea as the RSPCA pay for most of mine but there is hay, food veg, vet bills (every animal that comes in goes to the vets for a health check). Then the wear and tear of the hutches/runs, which don't last forever.
Do you home check?
Yes
What is required to pass a home check?
Correct sized accommadation is the thing we go to look for, be generally it is an overall gut feeling from the person/people who are adopting. You can't always tell over the phone, what a person is like.
How much do you charge for a guinea pig?
£15 for a single female, £25 of a pair of females
£25 for a single neutered male, £35 for a pair
£35 for a neutered male/female pair.
Is it worth it - I already know this answer but it's nice to ask it anyway!
yes, without a doubt, although I can only comment on the looking after the animals side. I could never run a rescue as I wouldn't be able to cope with the people you need to deal with.

Have you thought about fostering as opposed to running a rescue, I would definately reccomend you start fostering first. It would give you the knowledge and experience to be able to able to run a rescue. I started fostering for Walsall RSPCA when I was 18 and have done it for 4 years now.
 
x-vic-x said:
I only foster for a rescue so I will answer for the foster piggies I have at the minute, there are also another 3 fosterers that do the same as me.

How many piggies do you have at your rescue?
Currently I have 1 neutered male, 1 female with 4 babies, 1 female with 2 babies and a pregnant female. I also foter rabbits and have 21 of those at the minute.
Do you house them all at your home?
Yes
Do you have foster homes for them?
Walsall RSPCA have a total of 4 guinea pig fosterers
How big are your hutches/cages?
either 4ft x 2ft or 5ft x 2ft for piggies, 6ft x 2ft or 8ft x 2ft for bunnies
How big are the runs?
6ftx4ft
Do you only home guinea pigs in pairs? (I would only re home in pairs or for a single pig to live with a guinea pig the person already had)
All our piggies are rehomed in a pair or to be part of a pair, all males are neutered and we do not rehome males to live together.
Are they housed indoors or outside?
Outside during the summer months and we try our best to get majority inside for winter although it's not always possible.
How much does it cost a week?
I have no idea as the RSPCA pay for most of mine but there is hay, food veg, vet bills (every animal that comes in goes to the vets for a health check). Then the wear and tear of the hutches/runs, which don't last forever.
Do you home check?
Yes
What is required to pass a home check?
Correct sized accommadation is the thing we go to look for, be generally it is an overall gut feeling from the person/people who are adopting. You can't always tell over the phone, what a person is like.
How much do you charge for a guinea pig?
£15 for a single female, £25 of a pair of females
£25 for a single neutered male, £35 for a pair
£35 for a neutered male/female pair.
Is it worth it - I already know this answer but it's nice to ask it anyway!
yes, without a doubt, although I can only comment on the looking after the animals side. I could never run a rescue as I wouldn't be able to cope with the people you need to deal with.

Have you thought about fostering as opposed to running a rescue, I would definately reccomend you start fostering first. It would give you the knowledge and experience to be able to able to run a rescue. I started fostering for Walsall RSPCA when I was 18 and have done it for 4 years now.
Click to expand...

Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions. :) Yes maybe I should look into fostering and then maybe go into running a rescue at a later stage. :(|)
 
most rescue piggies require medical attention, you will find a lot of neglected piggies with skin problems, also
pregnancy watch, baby piggies require hand feeding throughout the day. running a rescue is like a 24/7 job. 8)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top