Little animals for little people
Guinea pigs are social creatures and available at Ottawa Humane Society
Five squeaking and squealing guinea pigs are looking for homes after the litter was dropped off at the Ottawa Humane Society — an all-too-common story.
“They’re very cute little guys,” said Sarah Oswald, the Ottawa Humane Society’s manager of admissions and rehoming. “Right now, they’re pretty shy, but they’re so young that, were they to get adopted, they would adjust very quickly. Guinea pigs are very social animals and have friends, both human and guinea pig.”
The litter came into the society’s hands on Aug. 8 after what Oswald calls a typical tale: The owners, not thinking, had bought two guinea pigs of opposite sexes. Before you knew it (and perhaps with a bit of mood lighting), there had been an “accident.”
The owners ended up with five babies they weren’t prepared to take care of. The guinea pigs were weaned and dropped off at the society.
Baby guinea pigs tend to go quickly from the shelter because they’re adaptable, said Oswald. She recommends them for all people who are thinking of adopting, and especially for families with children, because the small animals tend to play well with people who are also small.
“They squeak and squeal when they (the guinea pigs) get their favourite toys or when they see their favourite people,” Oswald said. “They’re very, very fun.”
The litter is divided into two age groups: Squeakers and Buster are six months old; and Gina, Renée and Arthur are about six weeks old.
However, Oswald recommends the guinea pigs be adopted in groups according to their sex: Arthur and Buster, the males, in one group, and Squeakers, Gina and Renée, the females, in another.
That, said Oswald, will ensure there are no more “accidents” for the next owners who come along.