METROPOLITAN GUINEA PIG RESCUE

I first got in touch with MGPR because my guinea girl lost her friend and needed company. There were lots of rules for adoption, but I had everything on the list, so it wasn't difficult.

On adoption day, I brought my sow in, and she was given a basic exam. I met with the foster mom of the most likely match, a young adult boar named Millard. She told me all about him, which is something you never get from a store. Everything was safe and calm. Millard and my girl Leela got along OK, so we paid the adoption fee and said our goodbyes. (We also got a goody bag with basic medicines.)

When I got home, I noticed that Millard's eye was red. I let a with a representative from MGPR right away and I was told to get a vet appointment. MGPR paid the vet bill. Fortunately, it was a common minor condition.

I would like to end with some praise for Millard's foster mom. Its clear that she spent a lot of time socializing Millard and teaching him manners. I gave him 30 eye drops, 14 nail trims, and one boar cleaning and NEVER once did he attempt to bite me. He knows not to pee on people and doesn't shy away from petting. A month after his adoption, Millard's is becoming more friendly to Leela and us.

Would I adopt again from MGPR? Yes!

I first heard about MGPR from my exotics veterinarian, and adopted from them in 2013 to find a mate for a grieving guinea pig who had lost his friend. They were so quick to screen my application and got me in to their next meet. I found a wonderful friend for my sweet boy, and a while later decided to volunteer as a foster for the organization. Over the years I have fostered and adopted many more guinea pigs, and it has been such a rewarding experience!

I think the thing that sets them apart from all other guinea pig rescues is that they spay and neuter all the guinea pigs before adopting them out, so nobody has to worry about getting an accidental litter of babies. They also primarily take in guinea pigs only from area humane societies, which relieves the local shelters. They truly care about the well-being of each animal they take in, and try to make the best match for each family who places an application.

I’ve been a foster mom for MGPR and adopted three gpigs from them. It is an outstanding organization, taking in gpigs from shelters, and rescuing them often from awful situations— abandonment outdoors, hoarding, near starvation, and worse. Every one gets the veterinary care they need, spaying and neutering, then they get a forever home with an adopter or sanctuary for the rest of their lives. It’s an expensive and time-consuming endeavor, but the volunteers of MGPR step up to the plate every time. Truly amazing.

I have been fostering and then adopting MGPR pigs for several years now. Everyone is knowledgeable and has the best interests of the pigs at heart.

Each animal is well cared for within the rescue and received whatever medical care is needed from spays and neuters to skin conditions they are all nurses back to good health or socialized for the best possible transition to forever homes.

At the meets, well trained volunteers work with the school adopter to find a good match for the pig. Once a match is made, the pair is considered “bonded” and they are ready to start their new life together.

Many adopters have such a gray experience that they end up becoming fosterers and sometimes fosterer fall in love and adopt their fosters. I’ve adopted 7 guinea pigs through MGPR and highly recommend the organization.

They truly put the welfare of the animal first.

I have adopted Guinea pigs from MGPR since 2007. They are the most professionally run nonprofit bar none of any kind and certainly for sheltering and adopting out animals. This is particularly amazing because it is comprised completely of volunteers who don’t receive any kind of salary. The piggies are taken in from county ASPCAs etc including those in bad shape from neglect and abuse. MGPR spays/neuters all piggies in their care and provides those with health problems medical care. Volunteers provide foster care to socialize the piggies for human interaction. Those that continue to have chronic health issues enter MGPR’s sanctuary program to be cared for at MGPR’s expense for the rest of their lives. Those seeking piggies for adoption from MGPR must go through a screening process. MGOR’s focus is on ensuring good homes for the piggies with responsible humans. Attention is given to educating the applicant about the care, housing, and medical expenses that piggies require. They must also attend an adoption event that occurs once a month especially if they want to pair their piggy with one of MGPR’s available piggies. Ig the applicant is not willing to meet these conditions and/or want a piggy RIGHT AWAY without going through this process they should look elsewhere. Any critics of MGPR are usually those who believe getting a piggy should be like drive by shopping for one at Petsmart! MGPR HAS THE WELL-BEING OF THE PIGGIES AS THEIR TOP PRIORITY. As an adopter I received and continue to receive excellent info and support for keeping my piggies healthy and happy. Exotic vets are not to be found everywhere. MGPR provides all adopters with exotic vet recommendations whom they have screened. MGPR volunteers are experts in Guinea pig care. I recommend MGPR completely for serious adopters who also have the piggy’s interest at heart. If that’s not the case and you think a live animal is a nice toy to give to your kids (who will tire of it in a month) play Russian roulette with the animals that pet stores offer from breeding mills.

We adopted from MGPR in early 2020 when one of our two guinea pigs passed away. Our remaining guinea pig was very depressed with his brother's passing, so we wanted to get him a friend asap. Knowing how unreliable and unethical pet stores can be, we reached out to MGPR to get on the waiting list for an adoption.

It was a very thorough screening process to get on the adopter list, which we loved because that was an indicator that MGPR cares greatly about the health and welfare of the pigs, making sure that they are adopted out to trustworthy homes. They want their pigs to become part of a family, not just accessories or toys for young kids. Throughout the screening process, they even helped us realize that some of the things we were doing could be improved, such as the type of food we were feeding. MGPR is very knowledgable and won't hesitate to let adopters know if something can be done better, and we greatly appreciated their advice.

We didn't have to wait long and were invited to bring our boy to the adoption meet where he could "speed date" other pigs. It was a wonderful experience and in no time we had two happy pigs who are still happily bonded 3 years later. We can't recommend them enough for anyone wishing to adopt through them!