Cavy Angel’s Guinea Pig Rescue

About the shelter

Founded in December 2009 by mother and daughter tandem Meg and Monique Davenport, the Cavy Angel’s Guinea Pig Rescue is a not-for-profit, fully registered charity dedicated to guinea pigs in the Gold Coast, Queensland.

Located in Elanora, a suburb in the Gold Coast, the organisation currently houses hundreds of these small, cute, fluffy, and cuddly creatures at any one time within specially made cages inside an air-conditioned shed in the Davenport’s family home. Monique has loved guinea pigs since she was five years old. By the time she was 14, she had been caring for 25 cavies (another name for guinea pigs) that she had taken in from friends who could not care for them. Realising that there was a need for a place that puts the welfare of these tiny balls of fluff first, she had decided to establish the rescue with her mom’s assistance. Monique is currently training as a vet nurse and is assisted by Meg as they take in unwanted, homeless, surrendered, and stray guinea pigs.

Cavy Angel’s Guinea Pig Rescue is a no-kill shelter and does not euthanise a cavy unless it is more humane to do so, particularly in cases where the creature is in severe pain or if it is impossible to return him to a healthy state. The organisation is determined in promoting the adoption of homeless guinea pigs and condemning irresponsible mass breeding, selling, or keeping of these small pets. The rescue organisation accepts all surrendered guinea pigs. Surrendering a guinea pig involves filling out their “Guinea Pig Surrender Form” before handing over the cavy to the shelter.

Like its other rodent cousins, guinea pigs are prolific breeders, and as such, the numbers of guinea pigs at any one time in the shelter doesn’t slow. Similar to other animal shelters, Monique and Meg try to match each guinea pig with a potential adopter. Although small, guinea pigs have their own unique personalities to match. Adopting is pretty straightforward, with potential adopters being asked to fill out the online adoption form. However, the small animal shelter asks every potential adopter to evaluate his personal situation before expressing interest. After submitting the form, Monique will get back to the potential adopter as soon as she can. Upon approval, the potential adopter will need to fill out and sign the adoption contract and bring this to the shelter.

The Cavy Angel’s Guinea Pig Rescue receives thousands of surrendered animals every year, thus they also have a foster care program that allows them to care for as many of these animals as possible. Fostering involves providing a safe shelter as well as food, water, and transport for the little creatures. The organisation is able to provide its foster carers with guinea pig houses, food, bedding, and other equipment needed in the care for these animals. Foster carers should be ready to provide Monique with weekly updates on their fostered animal.

As Monique and Meg have years of experience looking after guinea pigs, they have informative articles regarding guinea pig care as well as touching case stories about some of their guinea pigs on their site.

Mission

• Cavy Angel’s Guinea Pig Rescue intends to provide a safe haven for ill, injured, neglected, pregnant, and found guinea pigs by rehoming them to loving and caring forever homes.
• The rescue aims to educate the public about the correct way to care and treat guinea pigs.

How you can help

Since Cavy Angel’s Guinea Pig Rescue is a non-profit organisation, they rely on the generosity of supporters to help their cause. The organisation is open to both monetary and in-kind donations.