The Animal Rescue Site Shelter Challenge Contest is back from April 13, 2009 through July 26, 2009. Grants of $1,000 to $100,000 will be awarded to shelters and rescues with the most votes. Please vote every day for us, using the button below and ask your friends and associates to do the same!
We would like to extend our thanks to the Tractor Supply Store in Flanders, NJ for their very generous donation of bedding, which will keep our rescue animals clean and warm all year long. Special thanks to store managers John and Tina for thinking of us!
Our rescue has now become a member of the Sponsor A Pet Program, run by the Petfinder.com Foundation. If you don't want to adopt a pet right now, but you still want to help one of our homeless animals, now you can. Find the pet you like on the "Adoptable Pet" list and click on the "Sponsor Me" icon. You can donate any amount you wish and we can use it to help to pay for food, medicine and veterinary care for that animal! We have several sick/elderly animals right now that require ongoing veterinary care: Bunny, Miranda, Cara, Collette and Dunkin. They depend on all of us.
Who We Are
North Jersey Guinea Pig and Hamster Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)3 public charity, that is dedicated to saving the lives of unwanted and abandoned guinea pigs, hamsters and degus. We educate people about guinea pig, hamster and degu care, and try to find "forever" homes for the animals in our rescue, no matter how long it takes. We are a no-kill rescue that fosters guinea pigs, hamsters and degus in a network of private homes. We do not support animal breeding and will only adopt singles or non-breeding pairs to loving homes where they will live as indoor pets.
While we prefer that all guinea pigs live with a buddy, there are a few animals that are very loving and cuddly with people, but simply do not want to live with another guinea pig. If you are interested in one guinea pig only, that you can shower with much love and attention, please ask. We may have the pet of your dreams waiting for you!
The rescue is run by 6 families: Carla from Budd Lake, NJ, Krista (summers only) from Rockaway, NJ, Lisa from Rockaway, NJ, Deb from Hackettstown/Sayreville,NJ, Christine from Hackettstown, NJ and Sharon from Elmhurst, NY!!
Occasionally we have new and gently used guinea pig and hamster supplies available. All proceeds go toward the care of the animals in the Rescue.
Gently used Marchioro cages, in sizes ranging from 32"x21" (for one pig) and cages 39" by 21" or 42" by 21" for two guinea pigs. All cages are available for an additional donation to the rescue.
Gently used hamster set-up includes 10 gallon aquarium with lid and cage clamp, hidey house, exercise wheel, two food bowls and water bottle with hanger for donation of $50.
Gently used C&C cage (45" by 24), plenty of room for two piggies: $50
Want to build your own C&C cage. We have grids in different colors, $1 each, connectors free.
Gently used plastic "pigloos", available in many colors. They are available for a donation of $2.00 each.
Gently used "timber hideaway" square wooden houses for guinea pigs for $4.00 each.
Please contact the rescue if you are interested in any of these items. They are located in Budd Lake, NJ!
***Are you interested in beautiful and affordable cozies or cuddle cups for your pampered piggie? Please check out: www.serajay.com. All items are made with love by great friends of the rescue. Please take a look!***
If you have any questions about guinea pig care, I will be happy to answer them. Just send me an e-mail at carlahcpa@aol.com. In the meantime, I have placed guidelines below based on my most frequently asked questions pertaining to spay/neuter, housing, bedding and feeding.
While some vets routinely perform spaying and neutering on guinea pigs, it is our opinion that the procedure is too risky. Too many piggies die from the anesthesia or from post surgical complications. Instead of spaying/neutering, we prefer that every piggie has a friend of the same gender.
The cage you provide should not have a wire floor. This can injure the piggies' feet.
When planning a home for your guinea pigs, you should always buy the largest cage you can afford or build the largest cage you have room for. The website www.guineapigcages.com has detailed plans and instructions for building your own roomy cage at a fraction of the cost of petstore cages. These cages are durable, easy to clean and adjustable. If you are not handy, you can buy a cage through the website. We recommend you visit this site and take a look at the possibilities!
You may click on the following link to see an example of these cages which are in one of our foster homes. You may have to copy and paste the link. It is on the YOU TUBE web site. Enjoy- and feel free to leave a comment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHjG2UeUT6A
Cages should be cleaned with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. It effectively dissolves urine, is nontoxic and doesn't leave an odor after it dries!
There are many options for bedding for your pet. We recommend any of the following: aspen bedding, kiln dried pine, Carefresh, Cellsorb, and Guardian Horse Bedding. You can also use fleece fabric in one yard lengths over a sheet of newspaper. The fleece and newspaper are changed each day. Launder the fabric in warm water WITH NO FABRIC SOFTENER and tumble dry low. It makes extra laundry, but is more economical than some of the commercial litters.
NEVER USE CEDAR OR PINE BEDDING. The aromatic oils can irritate the eyes and breathing passages of the piggie.
We recommend Oxbow Hay products. They have a store locater on their website so that you can find a petstore near you that carries it or you can order on line. The freight cost is high, but it is so much cheaper by the pound than buying it from a store.
Guinea pigs are grazers, like horses. The most important part of their diet is unlimited access to grass hay, such as timothy hay or orchard grass. A high quality hay should make up 70% of the daily diet. This is important for guinea pigs of all ages. It keeps their digestive tract healthy. Try to buy hay that is green, soft and fresh smelling.
Another important aspect of a guinea pig diet is a high quality plain pellet. We recommend an alfalfa based pellet (Oxbow Cavy Performance) for piggies under six months of cage and a timothy based pellet (Oxbow Cavy Cuisine) for those over six months.
Guinea pigs should receive a small portion of greens daily. The most important is romaine lettuce. They also like leaf lettuce, cilantro, dandelion greens (non-pesticide treated, of course) and cucumber slices. To provide plenty of vitamin C each day, be sure your piggie receives some small pieces of red bell pepper or a thin slice of orange. Apples and carrots are very high in sugar and should be fed in small amounts, but the piggies really do love them the best!
Foods to be given sparingly include spinach, parsley, and kale. They are all high in oxalic acid, which may cause bladder stones.
Foods to avoid include onions and garlic(toxic), iceberg lettuce (has no nutritional value and may cause diarrhea), raisins (very high in sugar), potatoes,dried fruits,(may have too much sugar and preservatives), seeds(may cause a choking hazard), bread and cereal.
A more detailed list of satisfactory and unsatisfactory foods may be found at www.guinealynx.com.
Guinea pigs are very good at disguising when they are not feeling well. It is a behavior that is very helpful in the wild, but can be very frustrating to a caring pet owner. For this reason, we recommend the piggies be weighed every week, and a written record kept. Usually the first sign of a serious problem is a slow, steady loss of weight. Use a kitchen scale that weighs in grams. Bed, Bath and Beyond has wonderful scales that are quite affordable. It is normal for the weight to go up and down, but if you notice a downward trend, pay closer attention to your pig and if necessary, seek veterinary care. Vets love the weight data too. It helps them do their job even better, which means your piggie will have the best chance to get well!
The Guinea Pig Society Are you looking for an internet forum to ask questions about guinea pigs or to share a story with other guinea pig owners? We recommend The Guinea Pig Society. It is on Yahoo Groups and is made up of guinea pig owners, lovers, and breeders from all over the world. They are smart and nice folks too!
Housing
Habitrail type habitats are colorful and expandable, but they are very hard to keep clean. I prefere an ordinary 10 gallon aquarium with a screen cover. Be sure to invest in cage clips to keep the cover securely in place because hamsters are notorious escape artists. It is easier to prevent an escape than to have to capture an escapee. In the aquarium, provide a food dish, water bowl, wooden house for privacy, and an exercise wheel.
Feeding
Any commercial hamster food is fine. I prefer the Oxbow Healthy Handfuls. Try to avoid mixes that have colored sugary shapes. They are all sugar and no nutirion. A small piece of carrot, cucumber, apple or red bell pepper can be given as a treat.
Be sure to provide an 8 ounce water bottle. Fill with fresh water daily. Press your finger tip against the sipper tube morning and night to make sure there is no air trapped inside the bottle and the water can flow.
Exercise Wheel
To protect your hamster's feet, be sure to use a safe wheel. Wodent brand wheels are nice. They can be ordered on the internet and are endorsed by the ASPCA. Wheels with a mesh running surface are fine too. For a syrian hamster, an 8 inch diameter wheel is ideal. For a dwarf hamster, use a 4 inch wheel.
Exercise Ball
These are fun to get the hamster out of the cage and let them run around on the floor. They need to be supervised because sometimes the little door can come off the ball and the hamster can escape. The ball can also become wedged under furniture. They should not be inside the ball for more than 20 minutes at a time.
Bedding
Please avoid cedar and pine shavings. The aromatic oils that give these shavings their nice smell can irritate the eyes and breathing passages of your hamster. I like aspen bedding, Carefresh, Cellsosrb, and other odorless, paper-based bedding.
Cage Cleaning
Do spot cleaning every day. Hamsters usually pick one place to relieve themselves. Clean the entire cage once a week, dump out the bedding and wipe the cage down with 1 part white vinegar to one part hot water. Dry thoroughly.
Housing
Degus can chew their way out of almost anything. For this reason, wood and plastic caging are not suitable. They are excellent climbers and jumpers so be sure the cage has a secure door or lid. Ideally a multlevel wire cage is best or a two tiered wire cage on top of an aquarium. We highly recommend Martin's cages at www.martinscages.com. Another fine company is Exotic Nutrition Pet Company: www.exoticnutrition.com. Multi level cages are the best. Please be sure to buy the largest you have room for and can afford. These little animals are happiest when they're busy!Please provide your degu with an occasional dust bath. Chinchilla dust will work fine.
Feeding
Since degus are prone to develop diabetes, it is very important to avoid sweet foods. The best things for them to eat is a combination of rat chow and guinea pig pellets. They enjoy rodent blocks and timothy hay as well. An occasional raw unsalted shelled peanut is a favorite treat.Bedding
We recommend aspen bedding.If you see an animal you are interested in, email the rescue and let us know who you are considering. We will send you an application to fill out. Once your application is approved, we make arrangements for you to meet the animal of your choice. In a matter of a day or two, you can go home with a new friend!
Every dime we receive goes to provide food, bedding and veterinary services for the homeless animals in our care.
The rescue mourns the loss of Noah, one of the first guinea pigs we ever adopted out. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge on May 7, 2009, surrounded by his loved ones. Our hearts go out to Jane-Anne and her family. He was a special little soul and is deeply missed!
