EXCLUSIVE: Miss Honey Guinea Pig Rescue to the rescue

By Janine Pulford | janine@dorsetview.co.uk

Local couple Michele and Phil Cullimore from St Leonards near Ringwood had no idea when they fostered their first guinea pigs that they were destined to start up their own rescue service.

“We didn’t realise the amount of guinea pigs being surrendered,” said Michele, who is a nurse practitioner and her husband Phil, who is equally mad about guinea pigs, is a paramedic. Both work for the NHS.

They started fostering guinea pigs for a local rescue about 18 months ago and now have their own rescue service. So far they have nearly 80 guinea pigs.

You might think ‘piggies’ as they affectionately call them, are cheap to keep as pets – and they are, in pairs – but Michele and Phil are racking up a staggering £170 a week to keep their herd fed and looked after.

One of the difficulties in rehoming guinea pigs is that most people want babies, so the more mature guinea pigs get overlooked. Another drawback is that they only become popular pets in the warmer months. “In the winter no one is interested,” said Michele.

However, they are ideal pets because they can be great company for children if handled correctly. They live for around four to six years, which isn’t such a long term commitment as it is for a dog, cat or rabbit.

Mr Salty, aged 10 months, loving his carrot

Having said that Michele has two male guinea pigs that are aged eight and 10, so there are rule-breakers. Judging by the sea of guinea pigs at the rescue, there must be many reasons why people have to give them up. The most frequent are:

• Allergies to hay or fur

• Children get bored with them and parents don’t have the time

• One guinea pig dies, and the owner doesn’t want to get another to keep it company

• Can’t afford to keep them

• Neglect

But for a creature so easy to keep, it is a shame that so many get abandoned.

A diet of fresh vegetables, hay, water and pellets will keep them healthy and they need to be cleaned regularly. Vaccinations are not required.

“They should always be kept in pairs or they will get depressed,” said Michele.

Female guinea pigs will live together harmoniously or with a neutered male.

Boys are a different matter. They can usually only be kept in pairs because if they live in groups they will fight. If they draw blood, they must be separated.

In rare cases, when scared, guinea pigs will bite.

You may think Michele and Phil are bonkers having a houseful of guinea pigs but it doesn’t end there.

“We have two dogs, Bertie and Elsie. Both are rescue dogs and love the piggies – well stealing their cucumber and peppers – but we never leave them near the piggies unsupervised,” said Michele.

When you have a herd of guinea pigs, like Michele and Phil, the bill for fresh veg, hay and pellets soon adds up. So Miss Honey Guinea Pig Rescue is always in need of donations.

Michele said: “Any donation is gratefully received as we are completely self-funded. We both work full time and do overtime to enable us to fund our rescue. If we had to choose one thing for donations it would be fresh vegetables, but anything is hugely appreciated.”

So what do Phil and Michele love most about their piggies? “The greeting you get from them when they hear our voices or mainly when they hear the salad bag being opened,” said Michele.

“And how different their personalities are and how loving and gentle they are,” adds Phil.

Group of 'talkative' bonded boys having a chat

Michele recalled the funniest chat thing that happened in the day of a life of a guinea pig rescue, although it wasn’t funny at the time.

“One escaped,” she said. “I was getting him in from his run and a he slipped my grasp. I spent the next three hours running up and down my garden chasing him. He thought it was a great game.”

Eventually she barricaded him in round a bush but still couldn’t catch him.

In a panic she called friends and family for help because the guinea pig was due to be adopted, but it was Phil who came to the rescue.

“He came home from work, stepped over my barricade, and picked the guinea pig up, just like that. To say I needed to lie down in a dark room, would be an understatement.”

With such big characters and making noises like wheeking, purring, chuttering and rumbling, you can’t help but adore these little balls of fur.

Michele sums them up fondly: “They are just gorgeous little animals. The effort of caring for them is far outweighed by the love they give us. Seeing them when they first come in, how frightened they can be and some in terrible condition, to when they leave for their forever homes, confident, healthy, and happy little piggies is very rewarding.”

If you’d like to get in touch about rehoming a guinea pig visit Miss Honey Guinea Pig Rescue on Facebook or call 07919 160628.