UNDERSTANDING guinea pigs
Hank is very sociable and enjoys the company of other dogs , this makes him very adaptable when routines at home change and he takes it all in his stride .
I often get asked “ How do you give them up ?” I consider myself their guardian , they are never my dog and I am just part of their journey to their forever home . I could easily adopt them all and of course we are sad when it is time for them to leave . I have cried many tears , some of sadness but mostly tears of joy knowing they are off to their forever home . This also means I can continue to help others as it is always heartbreaking to see a dog not coping in kennels .
We think of all our foster dogs and remember them fondly and it ’ s fair to say we probably have more pictures of our foster dogs than we do our family ! This has been a humbling journey and I am always saddened and shocked by the cruelty but I couldn ’ t imagine my life without a foster dog . It has completely changed my life for the better .
Please consider fostering and make a difference to your life and a dog ’ s life , it will be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do .
Guinea pigs are very social animals and love the company of their own species . Some people think that rabbits and guinea pigs can live together , however , it just doesn ’ t work as they are both completely different species who communicate in different ways .
Guinea pigs are better off living in an area which is all one level as they naturally can ’ t use ramps . You can put small ramps in for them to use to give them more space but you would have to train and encourage them to use it . Just make sure they aren ’ t at a size that if they fell off they would hurt themselves . Guinea pigs can ’ t produce their own vitamin C , meaning they have to obtain it through their diet . This is easy to do , just make sure each guinea pig gets a handful of fruit or vegetables every day .
Enrichment idea
Get a piece of string and put it through all the fruit and vegetables you are giving them , then hang it up . Clothes pegs also work well .
If you would like to foster animals in need , please visit our volunteer page : www . rspca . org . uk / local / west-hatchanimal-centre / help / volunteer
You can hang the string on different things , it just makes it a bit more exciting than eating off the floor .
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