If there aren’t any appropriate listings for you in your area, don’t give up!
On this Site
Are you sure your search was correct? For any location, we include listings from the location you enter within a 500 mile radius.
- Try entering just your State (spell it out).
- Clear any specific search criteria that may be holding you back. Not everyone fills out their listing info accurately. You might be missing a gem if you try to be too specific.
- Stop looking for a specific breed or age (if you are). This isn’t a pet store or a breeder site, right? Yes, some breeds are cute and desirable, but so is every guinea pig out there. Give them a chance.
- Stop looking for babies (if you are). Guinea pigs grow up very fast! Within months they quickly look like adults. It can be better to find an adult as you’ll know their personality better.
Good luck in timing can help
The overall ebb and flow of guinea pigs for adoption being abundantly available or in high demand has a somewhat seasonal swing to it — one that makes cultural and biological sense. For a number of reasons, it is not a good idea to give pets as gifts to kids, but Christmas time ends up being the season of giving regardless. After the Christmas holiday comes the realization of the level of care and commitment required. Factor in those who ended up with fertile pairs or pregnant females and one gestation period after the Christmas rush (2 months) means that March is aptly named “Adopt a Guinea Pig Month!” In the guinea pig cages business, March is always busier than December because the need is the greatest after the impulse buying and unprepared gift-giving season is over and the reality of owning a couple of caged poop factories kicks in.
So, if you wait to adopt until right after Christmas through the summer, there will be more guinea pigs being rehomed than at other times with the peak being in the spring. Conversely, the best time of year to rehome your guinea pig is throughout the holiday shopping season.
When looking to rehome, finding qualified adopters should matter more than finding any adopter, so it’s best to start the rehoming process as soon as you know it’s needed.
COVID has SEVERELY ALTERED the guinea pig eco-system.
We’ve seen a huge jump in the number of people getting guinea pigs in 2020 due to Covid. With the additional burden of isolation, pets can provide a welcome, interactive relief. Many people in smaller homes cannot keep cats or dogs, so guinea pigs continue to be a very popular choice. The overall population of pet guinea pigs increased dramatically in 2020. As the novelty of being stuck at home wears off and vaccines make their way into the world and life ever so slowly gets back to normal along with the work of guinea pig caretaking becoming a chore for many, the number of guinea pigs needing good homes will continue to grow in 2021.
More Place to Look!
Try other Local, Online Classifieds
- Craigslist
- Nextdoor
- Facebook Marketplace
Things to watch out for! : more content here.
Reach out to a Rescue closest to you
There aren’t a lot of guinea pig rescues around, but if you are in the same state as one, you might try reaching out to them, even if they are too far for you to drive. They may have a better idea about adoptables in your area.
Reach out to your local SHELTER, Humane Society, ASPCA, Local Animal Care & Control
In the past, it was better to go visit in person, as many websites of shelters are woefully out of date. Even calling may not get you accurate info of animals they have available. City and County shelters can be overburdened with animals and lacking in staff. But with Covid and social distancing, you need to contact them directly and find out current procedures.
Guinea pigs available at shelters are HEALTHY, NOT PREGNANT, and properly sexed! Don’t think that shelter pigs are second-hand goods. They are not. You are much better off adopting from a shelter than buying from a pet store. Let us count the ways!
Contact your Local VET
Vets may have connections of people looking to rehome their guinea pigs.
