Pig Notes

The Critter Connection 2008 Calendar Is Here!

We're pleased to announce that our first ever calendar is available in our Zazzle gallery!

This full-color calendar features photos of Minerva, Pogo, Skye, Jester, Topper, Butters and Thomas, Newton and Skeeter, and other guinea pigs who have come through the rescue's doors. You can choose from three sizes, and even pick the color of the wire spiral binding.

The calendar is a great way to keep track of all your 2008 activities, show your support for the rescue, and help promote guinea pig adoption to friends, co-workers, and family. The cute photos of happy guinea pigs are sure to bring a smile on even the roughest days!

Get yours today!

Dinner In A Hurry

Want to give your guinea pigs a varied diet of fresh greens but don't always have time to wash and dry produce before the family heads out in the morning?

Check out Earthbound Farms' Organic Spring Mix at your local grocery store. It comes pre-washed (triple washed, actually) in a one-pound plastic container. The mixture includes: several types of baby lettuce, red and green chard, mizuna, arugula, mache, frisee, and radicchio. (Product packaging states that ingredients in each container may vary.)

Prices vary slightly from store to store, but the average is about $6.50. For some budgets, the price may be higher than can be spent on a regular basis but including just one container to your pigs' monthly diet can add quite a bit of excitement..and dare I say, decadence...to your pigs' routine. It's a great item to buy for that week that you know you're going to be particularly busy -- or to give your piggies their own special holiday feast.

If you can hang around for a few minutes after you give your pigs a handful of this mix, you'll find the sounds of happy crunching and munching to be the highlight of your day!

Are Guinea Pigs Right For Your Home?

Are you thinking about bringing home a guinea pig this Christmas? Have your kids been pestering you for weeks or months to let them have one?

You're not alone.

At a Creative Memories scrapbooking event this weekend, I sat at a table with several mothers who between them have seven kids under the age of eight. The conversation turned to Christmas wish lists and pets, and two of the moms said their youngsters had been pestering them for guinea pigs.

"I don't know if it's a good idea," said one mom. "We have a golden retriever that always chases rabbits and squirrels."

"I can't take care of one more thing," said the other. "I have four kids and a cat. I know I'll end up taking care of a new pet, and I'm not always sure I'm giving the cat as much as I should."

Mentioning that I work with this rescue, I asked them some of the questions from our questionnaire...and it only took two or three for them to realize that a guinea pig and its unique care needs were not going to fit easily into their household at this time.

If you (or someone you know) are considering a guinea pig for your home, we invite you to check out Are Guinea Pigs Right For Your Home on our main Web site. Below are the critical questions you need to ask yourself:

• Are you willing to adopt a pair of pigs?
• Can you make the lifetime commitment (as many as 8 years)?
• Do you have time for the daily and weekly care 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?

You can find detailed explanations for each question on our site. You'll undoubtedly think of other questions to ask yourself as you read, but it's better to ask these questions now rather than later when an animal has settled into your family. And, as always, you're welcome to ask us for more information!