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The Critter Connection, Inc.

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Who Are We?

 

The Critter Connection, Inc., is a non-profit group dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of abandoned and neglected guinea pigs. Located in Durham, Connecticut, the rescue was started in early 2004 when our founder realized that abandoned guinea pigs in our state had nowhere to go.

In 3 years, the rescue has taken in more than 600 abandoned guinea pigs. Most of them have already found new forever homes, and several dozen more are waiting to find their new families.

How Can We Help Owners & Potential Adopters? 

Animal Rescuers Are Also Animal Educators

Owner education is a big part of what we do, and we give educational talks and exhibits at locations around the state. People who come out to see us range from potential adopters with lots of questions to owners who need to be shown how to clip their guinea pigs' nails.

We also do a lot online (see below), and have started fielding guinea pig questions over in the Pets forum on Yahoo! Answers. From our own inboxes, we've answered questions from guinea pig owners as far away as Australia!
The Critter Connection, Inc. Web Site
Our main Web site, featuring photos and stories of sanctuary pigs and success stories, care information, supply lists, links to our adoptable postings, adoption applications, and more.
Pig Notes (The Rescue Blog)
Weekly postings that can cover almost anything guinea pig-related (or, sometimes, beyond), including product recommendations, care tips, stories from the trenches, news from the animal rescue world at large, and much more.
Guinea Pigs 101 (on Squidoo)
Covering some of the basics of guinea pig care, this lens features lists of products that we recommend for bedding, cage accessories, food, hay, and more.
Stuff Your Guinea Pig Needs (on Squidoo)
When you're a new owner, it's confusing to face aisles of supplies for guinea pigs. When we're at our adoption events, we are frequently approached by people who say, "Don't make me think. Just tell me exactly what to buy." This is our short list of items commonly found in local pet supply stores.
How To Spoil Your Guinea Pig (on Squidoo)
Once a pair of guinea pigs has moved into your home, it's easy to become their human slave. This lens features a variety of products that you can purchase to spoil your little masters.

Are Guinea Pigs Right For You? 

Some Questions To Ask Yourself Before Submtting An Adoption Application

We -- of all people -- know how immediately endearing and enchanting guinea pigs are. We also know that it's easy for newbies to look at guinea pigs and say "They're small. How much work can they really be? Okay, let's get one!"

We ask you to pause for just one moment and hear our case.

Any living creature -- horse, dog, guinea pig, gerbil, fish, hermit crab, hissing cockroach -- requires time, attention, care, and money. Every living creature will need different degrees of each, but they all need each from us since they're dependent upon us for their survival.

Below, we've listed the critical questions you need to ask yourself before taking in a guinea pig. You can find detailed explanations for each question on our Are Guinea Pigs Right For Your Home? page on our main Web site. You'll undoubtedly find new questions to ask yourself as you read the added information over on our main site, but it's better to ask these questions now rather than later when an animal has settled into your family.
  • Are you willing to adopt a pair of pigs?
  • Can you make the lifetime commitment (up to 8 years)?
  • Do you have time for the daily and weekly routines?
  • Do you have space for the proper-sized cage?
  • Can you provide a safe environment?
  • Can you interact with them daily?
  • Can you afford the costs of care?

Where Rescue Pigs Come From 

Why Guinea Pigs Need All The Help We Can Give Them

The stories of the guinea pigs we've taken in are as varied as the pigs themselves. Some pigs have been straightforward owner surrenders due to relocation, unemployment, allergies, or children who were no longer taking care of their pets. In many of these cases, the pigs were in good health; in a few, they were a little underfed or dehydrated.

Many of the pigs, though, have sadder stories. We've taken in guinea pigs that were severely malnourished and dehydrated, had skin problems and mites because of poor housing conditions, temporary paralysis and permanent blindness caused by undetected infections, and a list of other problems directly attributed to neglect and abuse.

These animals have been left behind in apartments; set loose in parks and wooded areas where they don't know how to fend for themselves; left in dumpsters or outside shelters; or been part of large-scale rescues after authorities have charged breeders or hoarders with animal cruelty.

Some of these guinea pigs were near death when we got them. We've lost some, despite testing the limits of veterinary medicine. We've saved many more and placed them in new homes with owners who adore them. It's an ongoing effort, though, and there are always more guinea pigs who need our help.

Stories From The Trenches 

Why Guinea Pig Rescues Are Needed

Every week, I meet at least one person who is surprised that guinea pig rescues exist -- or that there's such a profound need for them.

We could fill a Web site with stories of abandonment, neglect, and abuse. Below is just a sampling.
Guinea Pigs Cannot Live In The Wild
From Massachusetts, the tale of three guinea pigs left in the woods.
Why Guinea Pig Rescues Are Needed (Part I)
From Pennsylvania, one of the worst cases of mass neglect and abuse we've seen.
Why Guinea Pig Rescues Are Needed (Part II)
From Massachusetts, the tale of two guinea pigs whose teen-aged owners left them in the rain.
Why Guinea Pig Rescues Are Needed (Part III)
From upstate New York, a perfect example of why many in animal rescue/welfare don't think highly of game farms.
On Reaching 500
A look at how we came to rescue 500 guinea pigs in 2-1/2 years.

In A Perfect World... 

What We Think Would Make The World More Animal-Friendly

We, like other specialty rescues, hope to make steps toward creating a better world for animals and people, one where:
  • Animals are brought into homes after a considered decision, and not on impulse.
  • Animals stay in these homes for the duration of their lives, not the duration of someone's attention span.
  • Breeders are held responsible for their breeding practices, in order to combat the problem of overbreeding (of all animals) and the release of animals that are too young to stores.
  • Pet stores are held accountable for how they house and care for animals until they find homes, and for taking steps to eliminate unwanted pregnancies that leave new animal owners with more animals than they'd bargained for. (Don't get us wrong - there are good breeders and pet stores out there. But there are also bad ones that drag down the standards of breeding and care.)
  • Government agencies keep up with necessary inspections of pet stores and breeders.
  • Legislative bodies pass and uphold laws that protect animals and their equally vested interest in our planet's welfare.
  • Manufacturers of cosmetics, household items, and health and beauty aids would stop testing on animals. Caring Consumer deftly discusses this topic.

Pig Notes 

The Blog For Humans Enslaved By Their Guinea Pigs

Instead of launching a newsletter for adopters, supporters, and other folks, we launched our blog -- Pig Notes -- in Spring 2006.

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And In Conclusion... 

Heartfelt Reflections On Animal Rescue

A quote on a cup of Starbucks latte one morning struck a poignant note.

The quote, from Jenny Daltry, herpetologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer, goes as follows:

If we valued the works of nature as much as the works and deeds of people, we would all be richer by far. Any ancient forest, polar bear or species of snake is more complex and improbable than Wi-Fi, the Mona Lisa or landing a man on the moon. What price would you pay to keep such treasures?

To read more, see Placing More Value On Nature.

Related topics: guineapigrescue,  animaladoption,  cavies,  Nonprofits & Volunteering,  more

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GPRescuer

About GPRescuer

Whitney is the Vice President of The Critter Connection, Inc., Connecticut's original guinea pig rescue. To pay for the home that her brood of guinea pigs pretty much runs, she works as a writer by day (and often by night, too!).


You can find the rescue on the Web at www.ctguineapigrescue.org.

GPRescuer's Pages

See all of GPRescuer's pages

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