Giving bunnies a 2nd chance by placing them in loving homes!

Located in Maple Valley, Washington

An interview with Wee Companions Pet Rescue.

CareFRESH:  How many guinea pigs are you taking care of currently?

Wee Companions:   On average WC cares for 300-400 pocket pets on any given day. Of that number, roughly 150-200 are guinea pigs.

CareFRESH:  How many guinea pigs got adopted from your rescue last year?

Wee Companions:   We exit, on average, roughly 360-500 pocket pets per year. Exiting an animal can be adoption or transferring to a sister rescue. Of these numbers guinea pigs would constitute about 75 percent.

CareFRESH:  When and how did you get started rescuing guinea pigs?

Wee Companions:   This happens to be WC’s 15th year of operation, and our 10th year as a registered nonprofit 501(c)(3)!!  We have our origins from Fenella (our current director) and 2 other women noticing that there was nothing available in San Diego for homeless cavies and the rest is, shall we say, history!

CareFRESH:  Where do the guinea pigs come from that end up here?

Wee Companions:   Sadly, anything your imagination can create from where a homeless animal could come from. From: Dumpsters; abandoned apartments/houses/garages/backyards; parks; under storage bins; private surrenders; and we help local shelters and animal control by taking in “dumped” pocket pets. Many come in with immediate medical needs which require intensive vet care.

CareFRESH:  How do you take care of so many guinea pigs? (volunteers, vets, donations, etc.)

Wee Companions:   WC is entirely volunteer-based, when it comes to the care of animals. We have a network of foster homes throughout San Diego and San Diego County. These foster homes range from our Lead Volunteers who have 20+ animals at their homes to Junior Volunteers who are aged 12 to 18 and help with the general care and feeding of animals throughout the volunteer network. We also have species specific foster homes as well as sanctuary foster homes, we even have two hospice care homes or facilities within our volunteer network! Because we are a nonprofit, all of the funding for vet bills and animal care come from private donations,  fund raising, grants, and generous gifts like the bedding bags from Carefresh!

CareFRESH:  What advice do you have for someone who is considering adopting a guinea pig as a pet?

Wee Companions:   Research, research, and more research. Then compare your research sources, make sure that they are legitimate and then research some more. WC offers many accurate resources, on our website, for this very purpose.

CareFRESH:  What advice do you have for other rescue organizations?

Wee Companions:   Waste not, want not. Be aware that rescue work is more than just numbers, it is a matter of the heart and can be all consuming both monetarily as well as with time and space. Don’t get into rescue unless you are ready to give it your all.

CareFRESH:  What is your favorite rescue/adoption success story?

Wee Companions:   There are so many I don’t know if I could possibly boil it down to one! But let me tell you the tale of Gryffon. We don’t know where Gryffon has his origins, what we do know is that he was found in someone’s backyard up in the LA area. He was obviously someone’s beloved pet at one time, because he is not afraid of humans. By the time Gryffon entered into WC’s care, he had a tumor that was around 2 inches in diameter on his neck and front left leg. Further, he was emaciated, filthy, his hair falling out, and barely alive. WC’s Guinea Pig Lead Volunteer recognized that Gryffon had a fighting spirit, so she opted to have him go through surgery to remove the mass and to try and give him more time in life. Gryffon not only survived the surgery, which was quite invasive, but all of his hair grew back into a handsome silver agouti mix and he’s a very feisty little man who loves being with people. Gryffon is currently in one of the hospice homes to live out his life with great vivacity. He is a favorite, because he will sit with you for hours, happy, content, as long as he has loving hands to pet him and rub his very fuzzy cheeks. He is truly the most ideal guinea pig anyone could ever ask for.