Thursday, September 25, 2008

Final Week Update on Boots's Fundraising!

We Reached Our Goal!

Sponsor a Guinea Pig raised $242-
$20 over our $222 goal.
that's six months of medicine!




Monday, September 1, 2008

SEPTEMBER'S GUINEA PIG OF THE MONTH-Boots!

Meet Boots from the CA rescue
Orange County Cavy Haven!



Boots is a five year old Skinny pig who has been with OCCH since 2003. Five is ancient for a skinny pig, and is a real testament to the great care OCCH is providing him! He is a sweet, mellow boy who suffers from kidney disease and bladder sludge, but he is an angel at taking his daily meds. Boots is recently recovering from depression after losing his long time bonded mate, Winky. He loves tomatoes, and his fosterer says "if Bootsy won the lottery he would buy a tomato farm, some custom sweaters, and a closet full of fashionable cozies." Sponsor a Guinea Pig has to be a little bit more practical for Bootsy
Boy:

The goal is to raise money for a six month supply of meds for Boots!
Boots takes Alternagel, which costs $7 a month, and Polycitra, which costs $30 dollars a month. That's $222. Should Boots fall ill, this can serve as an emergency medical fund.


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Boots has had a hard time of it though. The photo of him up top is from when he first came to the rescue. This is his story: OCCH volunteers rescued Boots from a backyard breeder who was selling skinnies to Petco. The breeder had contacted OCCH to alert them that he had a herd of 40 skinny pigs, all diseased with ringworm--and because he didn't have the money to treat them, the breeder was going to destroy the herd.

The rescue notified Animal Control for aid, which in turn seized the guinea pigs and euthanized half of them before OCCH volunteers could arrive and intervene. OCCH volunteers also rescued multiple skinny pigs from a local vet which had tested the pigs for ringworm, then determined to euthanize them. OCCH volunteers hand fed unweaned babies covered in scabs. They wore gloves and aprons and dipped the guinea pigs in Lyme Dip and gave them Program mixed with Flax Oil to treat the ringworm.

After recovery, Boots had one unsuccessful adoption with his friend Arnold. The two pigs were returned without reason, thin, with long curling nails. "There were big chunks eaten out of their coroplast, as if they had been starving." After that experience, OCCH decided to never again adopt the skinnies out to people they didn't know. Skinnies have a terrible designer pet reputation that increases their demand, but decreases the supply of knowledgeable, prepared adopters. Boots was one of the skinnies who stayed with the rescue permanently. He is the last of the living skinnies from this rescue, and his medical conditions can take a toll on OCCH. But he is certainly well loved.


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Boots now lives with guinea pigs Itchy and Piggy Boy, who just love Boots
. All three pigs have lost their mates over time, so they really value their friends. Itchy and Piggy Boy cuddle with Boots, and have been buddy buddy from the start. Sometimes they can hog Boots' heat lamp, but it's always important to share with friends :) Besides, Boots can curl up in a fleece, or crawl up in a cozy, and think about how good life can be for an OCCH piggy!


*Don't want to pay those PayPal fees? Send a check to

Orange County Cavy Haven
2052 Newport Blvd. 6-189
Costa Mesa, CA 92627

memo "Boots" or "SAGP." Thank you for your generosity!