OGPR Frequently Asked Questions

Where are you located?

  • We are based out of Decatur, Georgia, but we DO NOT have a brick and mortar building. We are a foster-based rescue, so all our guinea pigs reside in a foster family’s home. To meet some piggies, you must complete the adoption application process (on the ADOPTION tab or http://www.ogpr.org/adoption-1), and then we will schedule an appointment to bring the guinea pigs from the foster home to a public location for you to meet and adopt them.

When do you hold adoptions?

  • We hold our adoption days on Sunday mornings at a public location. The guinea pigs need to be brought from their foster home, so they must be arranged in advance. 

Do you hold adoption events on other days besides Sundays?

  • All of us at the rescue are volunteers, and we have outside full-time jobs, so it's hard to do adoptions during the week. Saturdays are our vet visit days, so that leaves Sundays for our adoption events. 

Do you adopt out single guinea pigs?

  • Guinea pigs must not live alone and that is why we adopt out guinea pigs in pairs. However, if you have a lonely guinea pig at home, we offer “bonding sessions” on adoption days where you can bring your guinea pig to meet a single guinea pig from our rescue to adopt. 

How do “bonding sessions” work?

  • First, You will bring your current guinea pig(s) on adoption day to meet one or more of ours. If you have a male piggie, we highly recommend only bonding another single male piggie to yours. More than that can lead to fighting. If you have a female piggie or neutered male, another pair or more can be bonded to your piggie. 

  • The session can last about 45-60 minutes. Once we are comfortable that the guinea pigs get along, you can bring your new guinea pig home in A SEPARATE CARRIER. Once you get home, we highly recommend putting them together in a neutral area like we did during the bonding session while you prepare a clean cage WITHOUT any one way hiddies (like a Pigloo). 

Do you adopt opposite gender guinea pigs?

  • We only adopt single gender piggies in pairs or more. The only exception is if the guinea pigs are spayed/neutered. 

Do you spay/neuter your guinea pigs?

  • We do not routinely do this, nor do we recommend it. Spaying females can be dangerous and is only done if medically necessary (ovarian cysts, etc). Male neutering can be done but besides being expensive, there can be a risk with anesthesia. Neutering does not make a dominant male less dominant. 

What are your cage size requirements?

  • We require 8-9 square feet PER GUINEA PIG! They need a lot of room to run and play, and we want to ensure there is no fighting between the pairs.

  •  PET STORE CAGES  are too small, and MULTILEVEL CAGES are dangerous! Please click for full requirements and explanations about the different cages. 

What is the best bedding for the cage?

  • We recommend fleece bedding. It is better for the guinea pigs since it is soft on their feet, it wicks away the urine and you can easily spot clean the cage of the waste/hay daily. It is also economical since you can wash it weekly in a washing machine with fragrance free/dye free soap and diluted white vinegar. 

  • Other choices are paper bedding, Aspen, or KILN DRIED pine pellets. This can be messy and expensive and we recommend this in the “kitchen” area rather than the entire cage. 

  • DO NOT USE PINE OR CEDAR SHAVINGS! These can be dangerous to their respiratory systems and can make them ill. 

How do I make my own “kitchen” area for the cage to put the hay in?

  • You can cut and fold a piece of coroplast or just buy an inexpensive kitty litter tray. We recommend this for the hay rather than a rack or hay bag. The piggies love to play, burrow and eat here and if used as a litter box, can be easily changed out and cleaned.

What is your adoption fee?

  • We ask for a donation of $50 per EACH PIGGIE adopted. For hairless or “skinny” pigs, we ask for $15

How can I donate to the rescue?

  • There are many ways to donate:

  Text OGP to 89871

  •  Or click below for direct donations to PayPal or our Amazon/Chewy Wish list:

I have guinea pigs I cannot keep anymore. How do I get on your surrender waitlist?

  • Unfortunately, our waitlist is over a year out. Due to medical emergencies and pregnant piggies, we have not been able to take in as many surrenders as we did in the past. We are a foster-based rescue, so we are limited in how many piggies can go into foster homes. We increased our foster families from 3 to over 30 in 2022, and we still cannot keep up with the demand.

  • Some suggestions are to ask family and friends, post on social media sites like Nextdoor or Facebook, or post on guineapigfinder but ask for a fee like $25-30 so people looking to feed their reptiles will be discouraged. 

  • Oakhurst Guinea Pig Rescue is not a veterinary clinic and cannot provide medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. However, we understand how stressful it can be when your guinea pig is unwell, and we're here to help guide you in the right direction. With years of experience working alongside exotic vets and caring for hundreds of guinea pigs, we can share what we've learned and help you recognize when urgent care is needed. While we can’t replace professional veterinary care, we can offer support and help connect you with experienced exotic vets or trusted resources.

    If your family feels the medical needs are more than you can manage, we may be able to take your guinea pig into our rescue. Please note that this would be considered a permanent surrender. You are giving up ownership and allowing us to take full responsibility for their care, including any medical treatment they may need. Your guinea pig’s well-being is our priority, and we're here to help however we can.

    Email us at ogpr.outreach@ogpr.org

I would love to foster a pair of guinea pigs. What does this entail? How do I apply?

  • Please click the button for more information! Thank you!