Fostering guinea pigs

Fostering with North East Guinea Pig Rescue

Foster homes are an important support to the running of North East Guinea Pig Rescue. Foster homes are used when out main base is full with urgent or guinea pigs requiring extra care of vet trips. 

Fostering can be incredibly rewarding, but it is also a commitment. Foster carers become responsible for the day-to-day care of a rescue guinea pig, while Layla at NEGPR remains responsible for the overall welfare and rescue decisions.

Foster homes need to:

- Have suitable indoor accommodation for guinea pigs.

- Be able to collect guinea pigs from North Shields when a foster placement is arranged.

- Be able to return guinea pigs to North Shields when they are adopted or when NEGPR needs them back.

- Provide appropriate housing, hay, fresh food, water and enrichment.

- Have enough time to provide daily care and monitoring.

- Be able to monitor weight, appetite, behaviour and general health.

- Keep in regular contact with NEGPR and report any concerns promptly.

- Follow NEGPR's care and welfare requirements.

- Discuss veterinary concerns and any significant changes with NEGPR.

- Not introduce or bond foster guinea pigs with their own guinea pigs without agreement from NEGPR.

- Understand that foster guinea pigs remain under the care of NEGPR and are not owned by the foster home.

- Be prepared for foster placements to vary in length 

- Be able to accommodate the possibility that a guinea pig may need to return to the main rescue for assessment, veterinary care or other reasons.

What does a foster carer do?

Foster carers provide the day-to-day home that a guinea pig needs while they are in rescue.

This includes providing:

🥬 Food and daily care

Guinea pigs need constant access to good quality hay, fresh water and an appropriate fresh food diet. Their enclosure needs to be kept clean and they need opportunities to forage, explore and behave naturally. Hay must be on the ground and not in bags or racks.

❤️ Companionship

Guinea pigs are social animals and their social needs are an important part of their welfare. NEGPR ensure all guinea pigs are bonded in rescue or on adoption. 

However, foster carers must not introduce or bond a rescue guinea pig with their own guinea pigs without discussing this with NEGPR first as this impacts on their journey to adoption.

👀 Monitoring

One of the biggest benefits of foster care is having someone able to observe a guinea pig closely in a home environment.

Foster carers should keep an eye on:

- Appetite and hay consumption

- Weight

- Droppings and urine

- Behaviour and activity

- Teeth and eating ability

- Any signs of illness or pain

- Interactions with other guinea pigs

Small changes can be important, so I ask foster carers to let me know about concerns.

Veterinary care

Guinea pigs going to foster should be assessed prior to placement as healthy and simply waiting for a home. In some cases heath concerns may become apparent during the quarantine period or while in the foster home.

If you are concerned about a guinea pig's health, please contact Layla as soon as possible.

Veterinary treatment and health decisions remain the responsibility of Layla at NEGPR. I will discuss with the foster carer and if needed the veterinary practice to decide what is appropriate for the individual guinea pig.

Guinea pigs with health needs may need to return to Layla at the main rescue, as they may require closer monitoring or treatment.

How long will fostering last?

There is no fixed length of time for a foster placement.

Some guinea pigs may be adopted relatively quickly, while others may need to remain in foster for longer while waiting for the right home.

When a guinea pig is adopted, the foster carer will need to be able to return them to North Shields at an agreed time.

There may also be occasions when NEGPR needs a guinea pig returned to the main rescue before adoption, for example because of health concerns, veterinary assessment, bonding or another welfare reason.

Can foster carers adopt their foster guinea pig?

I know that foster carers can become very attached to the guinea pigs they look after and that's completely understandable.

Foster carers can apply to adopt a guinea pig they are fostering, but this is not automatic. Fosterers would need to go through the normal adoption process and the decision will be based on what is best for the guinea pig.

Fostering does not give a foster carer ownership of a guinea pig or an automatic right to adopt them.

What I ask from foster carers

I am looking for people who are reliable, communicative and genuinely committed to guinea pig welfare.

You don't need to know everything about guinea pigs before becoming a foster carer. I can provide guidance and support, and you can always ask questions.

What is important is that you:

- Follow the rescue's welfare standards.

- Communicate openly with me

- Tell me when something doesn't seem right.

- Ask before making significant changes to a guinea pig's care.

- Respect that Layla will make the final decisions about veterinary care, bonding, adoption and the overall placement.

- Are able to commit the time and practical effort involved in fostering.