The Glynneath Guinea Pig Rescue
The rescue was set up in '03. Started because I felt guilty sitting on my backside watching animal rescue programmes feeling sorry for the animals and when I had the knowledge and experience to do something about it! So I got off the sofa and started organising. Had a shed built, constructed cages and runs, read and learnt as much as possible and let local rescues and vets know about me. The first guinea pigs arrived very soon and since then the rescue has grown every year. I now rescue over 150 guinea pigs a year, this year could be my busiest as I have already taken in 45 in the first 6 weeks of the year, with many on the waiting list for space.
Uncle JohnnyPig
JohnnyPig has poor dental health and requires trimming every month so is a lifelong resident at the rescue. He has earned his place at the rescue by becoming the resident Uncle Pig to all the baby boys that have to leave their mothers at 3 weeks old so no accidental pregnancies occur. He has a kind and gentle nature, is very sweet with the boys and teaches them guinea pig manners. Despite being the heaviest pig in the rescue at over 1.5kg he plays with the babies and popcorns as much as they do.
Vid of Johnny with his latest assignment
1000th pig and the Piggy Bank
In response to the need for more help for piggies across the country than a single rescue or individual can provide I founded the Piggy Bank, a collective of volunteers for guinea pig rescue support, made up mostly of members of The Guinea Pig Forum. There is a central database of all contact details of the members so that when a rescue situation occurs, we have a response team in any area that can be called upon. For the larger scale rescues we work as a network to locate rescue space and transport the pigs to the rescues. The Piggy Bank is still in it's infancy but has helped with small and large cale rescues already, very successfully.
Piggy Bank
Since the first rescue pig, Mr Binkie, arrived on 6th July 2003 The Glynneath Guinea Pig Rescue has now welcomed it's 1000th piggy. He arrived on 18th February 2012, one of the '285 rescue' - Thanks to the Piggy Bank for their part in this rescue, finding rescue space and transport for 120 boars.
https://www.facebook.com/piggybank.gpr
1000th Piggy
Thank you Suzy for this informative update about the rescue, we would like to raise our paws and clap for the wonderful job you are doing.
well done to you all, its a brilliant thing to do.
ReplyDeleteGill
http://thegpd.blogspot.com
Wow, I looove the baby boars... Wish I'd live near to this rescue, as I would love a tricolored teddy or rex, to join my girls, after they lost their precious Agent Valentino....
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I live in the netherlands, one of the other nominated rescues (t kuufke) is in the south of the Netherlands quite a drive from me... So going there wouldn't be my first choice either... But we will find a new one, hopefully a rescue, near us...
Or we will just have to make the drive south...
Keep up the good work Suzy, Uncle Johnny and the other volunteers
We love JohnnyPig. He is a wonderful mentor for all of those little rascals.
ReplyDeleteWe want to join the Piggy Bank and help other unfortunate piggies. Sign us up Slave.