You may think the place to get a guinea pig is at the pet store, but did you know you can adopt a homeless guinea pig from many animal shelters and rescue organizations?

March is Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig month, a good time to remind potential owners that there are plenty of guinea pigs available for adoption near you!

An article on the pet adoption website petfinder.com notes that in addition to being surrendered to shelters, many unwanted pet guinea pigs have also been abandoned outdoors, left behind in vacated homes, seized in animal cruelty or neglect cases, or even—literally—thrown in the trash.

There are many advantages to adopting a pet guinea pig.  Here are just a few:

• Guinea pigs from rescue groups have been correctly sexed, so you won’t end up with a breeding pair by accident. You also won’t end up with a pregnant female, as unspayed females are often put on “pregnancy watch” before adoption.
• Guinea pig rescuers are experienced at identifying and treating common guinea pig health problems.

• Shelters and rescues are good places to find guinea pigs of all ages, including seniors. You can also find bonded pairs if you’re looking for two.
• Guinea pig rescues are also a great source of information on guinea pig personality and care for first time owners. They will make sure that you and your new pet are the perfect match for each other.

For more information on bringing a new pet guinea pig into your family, check out this article from the Humane Society of the United States.