MARCH'S PIGS OF THE MONTH-Josh and Yetti!

Meet Josh and Yetti

from the Scottish Rescue

Thistle Cavies!

Josh and Yetti are just two of 15 special needs piggies at Thistle Cavies, and they are the best of buds. Josh is 6.5 years old and has been with the rescue for 3 and a half years. Yetti is a white rex who developed heart problems about 18 months ago, at the same as Josh, who had already suffered from a host of other medical problems.

We'd like to fundraise enough to pay for the expensive dental growth removal (£45.oo or $62.04), six weeks worth of medication: Fortekor (£22.50 or $31.02), Frusemide (£2.20 or $3.03), Rimadyl (£18.30 or $25.23) and Critical Care (£29.29 or $40.38), as well as two additional packages of Critical Care for the boys 2x(£29.29 or $40.38). This is for a total of £175.87 or ~$242.46, using an exchange rate of £1:$1.37864 as of 3/09/2009.

Please see donation links at bottom of entry!

Prior to his heart issues, Josh required extensive surgery for a jawbone abscess shortly after his arrival. An infection had eaten away part of his jawbone and part of his jaw had to be removed, as well as one of his bottom incisors. Despite the most meticulous of care the rescue feared they might lose Josh, and for two months his recovery seemed unsure. But eventually he started putting on weight, and never looked back!

Now his surgery site needs to be maintained with regular procedures, but Josh is the definition of a patient piggy. He is a calm sweetheart who loves being syringefed, despite his mouth issues. He is also a super cuddle piggy who just snuggles into you as soon as he's picked up.

Yetti is his best friend, and the two simply can't be separated. Yetti's heart issues make him a candidate for Sponsor a Guinea Pig alone, but with the close bond they have it's doubtful Yetti would let Josh go on without him anyway! We hope to help ease the financial burden of this small, home based rescue by fundraising for part of their care, just as the medications will be easing the physical burden on these small boys' dear hearts.

To donate in US dollars:

To donate in Sterling Pounds:

FINAL TOTAL FOR MADDIE

We've reached our goal in the second week!
And in total we raised $370 out of $230!

Thank you so much to everyone who made a difference in Maddie's life this month (whether by donating or passing the site along)-you've really warmed my heart, Maddie's mom's, and just happily astonished the folk over at All Creatures Rescue and Sanctuary.

It's wonderful seeing everyone pulling together and making a big difference for someone so small. Thank you.

FEBRUARY'S PIG OF THE MONTH-Maddie!

Meet Maddie

from the NC rescue

All Creatures Rescue and Sanctuary!

Maddie puts the special in special needs. She is an adorable, lovable guinea pig who has won hearts all over the internet. Not only is she just that cute, but she is a medically demanding type of pig known as a "lethal" pig. Maddie is a very characteristic lethal pig-she has small, deformed eyes (a condition called micropthalmia), she is blind, deaf, and has severe dental issues, including absent incisors, overgrowing teeth, and a malformed jaw.

Maddie requires monthly dental trims because of her special needs. These cost $70 ($50 for the trim, $20 for the anesthesia). We'd like to raise enough for two months of trims ($140), as well as pay for a three month supply of metacam ($30), a three month supply of critical care ($20), and a one month supply of veggies ($40)! In total we'd like to fundraise $230.

Maddie was surrendered to a Virginia shelter with no explanation by her owner. At the shelter Maddie was terrified, and ran around her cage crashing into the walls and her pigloo, screaming. She was completely panicked, and as her cage was on the shelter floor she was vulnerable to all of the action and vibrations of the building. She was rescued by an ACR&S volunteer, and Maddie became calmer immediately once in her car.

Maddie has received the best of care since being rescued-in the most literal sense of the word. Now Maddie is an incredibly sweet and friendly pig who enjoys being held and petted. She is the loudest wheeker of her herd, and brings a smile to faces as she begs shamelessly for treats. She tends to beg to the wall since she can't see where the veggies are. Although she has a heightened sense of smell, she is easily confused and often stands in the middle of her cage and wheeks as loud as she can until someone shows her where the food is-then she dives right in!

What is so sad about Maddie, and lethals, is that despite even the best of care they generally will have reduced lifespans because of their medical issues and genetic compositions. Unfortunately, lethals are a result are of accidental, ignorant, or dangerous breeding practices. Sadly many breeders continue these practices even knowing the medical disabilities they may inflict on a fraction of the litter.

Maddie with her Valentine, Wesley:

Guinea pigs are social animals, and so always do better in pairs, but lethals like Maddie have difficulty communicating with other guinea pigs (and vice versa). This complicated her foster mom Andrea's search for a friend for her. When Andrea finally found a potential buddy (after a long quest) there was one problem-he was a boy! Luckily All Creatures Rescue and Sanctuary has a cavy savvy vet experienced with neuters. Now Maddie is spending this Valentine's Day safe in her forever home surrounded by the ones she loves.

Or to avoid Pay Pal fees, send a check to:

ACR&S
PO Box 1231
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 249-7758

Final Total for Jackie and Chester!

We've Reached Our Goal!
Sponsor a Guinea Pig has raised $281.56-
That's $20 over our $261.28 goal!

We've raised enough for the eye drops, dental bur, one dental trim, the metacam, the critical care, the anesthesia, and the Torb injection!

Thank you for supporting Sponsor a Guinea Pig!

JANUARY'S PIGS OF THE MONTH-Jackie and Chester!

Meet Jackie and Chester

from the TX rescue

TX Rustlers!

Jackie (R) and Chester (L) are a newly bonded pair of special needs sweethearts. They both have expensive dental needs, and Jackie is going blind. Their needs are actually so expensive that we hope to raise enough money for meds for the pair for the month, and pay for the dental procedure for one of the piggies. Any donations received over our goal will go toward a second dental procedure.

Our goal is $261.28. The meds are: Metacam $14.72, Eye drops $10.50, and Critical Care, $25.oo. The dental procedure's costs are as follows: Torb injection $28.06, Anaesthesia $88.00, Dental Trim $75.00, and Bur $20.00.

Please consider donating toward these guineas' medical needs, or passing on the site to someone who might :)
Learn more about their story below.

Jackie has been in the rescue since she was one month old, when she came from a local animal control. When she was weaned from her mother the rescue noticed she wasn't gaining weight--and then realized she didn't have any top teeth! A year and a half later Jackie requires some careful dietary considerations, an expensive monthly dental procedure, and her beloved parsley. Jackie has recently had a hard time of it after losing her long time guinea mate, Claude. At the same time Jackie began going blind in her left eye, requiring medical attention. Meeting Chester helped her immensely.

Chester is three years old, and was owner-surrendered to the rescue four months ago. He also needs expensive monthly dental procedures, and has a painful infection in his mouth. The poor boy is on daily antibiotics and pain meds. This doesn't stop him from being a complete snuggler and cuddler with people, and cheering up Jackie again after her loss. They are a very practical, loving pair--if they were people they would have met at the orthadonist's office :) But instead the good folks at Texas Rustlers brought them together.

Please consider donating toward January's pigs:

Thank you for being an advocate for those who cannot help themselves. Please pass Jackie and Chester's story and this site on to others.

in order to avoid paypal's fees, consider sending a check or money order to:

Texas Rustlers
160 Cedarcrest lane,
Double oak TX 75077