NEWS
January 2012
Started the year being ill, thank you to my partner Kane for feeding and watering the animals. Helping both New Hope Rescue in Kent and Little Angels Rabbit Rescue with guinea pigs. We have a waiting list for rabbits to come in and getting booked up for boar dating. Starting to also get organised for the summer fetes and fairs.
December 2011
Very busy month, long termer Peggy found a home with a very gentle neutered boy. Taking the slow approx to introducing her to him paid off and they are now living together nicely. 3 boys came in to be bonded with other boys. They all went home with friends even though 2 had to have 2 goes with different piggies. 2 of the chinchillas found a home together on the South Coast.
We dont just help guinea pigs, I was at another rescue when a call came in that someone was bringing a pigeon in that they picked up in the park. He had canker and needed antibiotics so I was able to take him to Folly Wildlife Rescue near Tunbridge Wells on my way home. We also helped to get a labrador to a rescue in Hampshire.
November 2011
Already been a busy month and its only the 8th. A rabbit rescue in Essex put a plea out to help some guinea pigs, 14 in total, I said we would take them all. They were in bad conditions, stunk of wee, mite infested, stress or over breeding related hair loss in a few, malnourished. They have all been treated for worms (due to living conditions) ivermectin for mites, vetsect for mites on the outside but most of all, now getting food, We will be going to pick up the 9 boys which the lady has shortly.
October 2011
Been a busy month, thank you to the people who have handed piggies in and made generous donations. Every penny is spent on the piggies, whether it is to pay for a neuter, pay for vets bills or food for the them. This is my hobby but as my partner said, its a very expensive hobby at times. My priority is the health of the animals and if they need to visit our vets they go. I pay for petrol for trips to rescue piggies, I pay for food and bedding, basic medicines and equipment.
As an example, we had a piggie come in today who upon closer inspection had a huge fungal infestation (treated with a medicated shampoo), has teeth that are not straight so will need to see the piggie dentist on monday and is underweight probably due to that so had some build me up food syringed, also she has a vitamin deficiency so a multivitamin was given immediately and fresh veggies and calcium supplement will be in order. So she has cost already in the region of about £40 and has only been here a few hours. Im glad she is here so we can fix her and give her intensive care that she needs.
We (and I refer to myself and my foster carers) dont just care for piggies. Currently we have 2 buns waiting to go to another rescue in Northampton that we are caring for at the moment, if we can help buns to get into rescues we will (I am full of my bunny quota).
We were also asked to help catch a feral cat and her 4 kittens who had made their home under a container at a building site. To cut a long story short, we did it, took 4 hours! but this all costs money, in this instance mainly petrol money, to get the humane trap, to drive to kent to the building site, to then drive to the rescue who had offered space and then drive home. Oh to have someone who would pay our fuel costs!
September 2011
Sadness came 3 weeks ago in the form of a very disabled baby bunny. He was named Harry Higgins and initially we were picking up another unwanted bunny and the people knowing we were a rescue offered the baby. I am sure if the baby was left he wouldn't of survived another week. He was very underweight and because he didnt have proper mobility he was sitting in his own wee. He was treated like a king here for the 2 short weeks he had. He knew my voice and loved his syringe food, one afternoon he developed severe fits, he died in my lap the following day. He was a fighter in the wrong body. The morale of the story is 1. Don't breed and 2. If you do and have a disabled bun find someone who can help. RIP Harry Higgins, you were a special bunny
August 2011
I now have 4 resident buns, all rescues, rolo came to me from a man whom I went to collect some hutches from off ebay, Noco who lives with rolo in their new shed that we have put up and large run came from not a good place, toe missing and been used for breeding, very sore back feet and McBunny and Bingo who are not yet spayed/neutered or bonded. If a bunny has an ongoing medical problem or isnt quite right then unless a special home is found they will stay here as in the case of Bingo.
Heard there is an outbreak of VHD in bunnies in Haywards Heath and myxi in Ardingly. Two horrible killers of bunnies. Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate.
July 2011
We will be at the Turners Hill fete on 17th July (it was very very very wet!)
June 2011
Connie (bunny rescued from awful place in Lymmington last year) has now been speyed, many thanks to Debbie her fosterer for this. I am hoping to bond her shortly with a neutered male.
Boris (guinea pig) has just been neutered and all being well he already has a home to go to with some wivies!
Sad news that one of my resident piggies Moon pig died (she was only 2 years old and died with hay in her mouth so suspected heart attack), she was bonded with a very difficult sow of mine Bubbles who I have intergrated into another group successfully and she seems to be enjoying their company.
We did 2 summer fetes one at smallfields which was excellent, talked to a lot of people, and a wet cold day at Waterloo Summer fete in Lewes which again was pretty good considering the rain.
If people do come and see us have a bit of thought if you have dogs and put them on the lead near the piggies. The piggies here are use to seeing our dog in the garden but he doesn't rush up to the run and bark.
End of April 2011
3 baby rabbits born in rescue have all found homes, this is thanks to Caroline at Eastbourne Rabbit and Guinea Pig Rescue, many thanks for helping out, this is such a great example of how rescues can help each other. Thanks also to Caroline for fostering 4 bunnies for me.
We have done 2 car boot sales, one at Dorking and a massive one at PeasePottage near the services, I am very proud to say we raised just over £90 on the first one and £89 on the second one. These amounts might not mean much to some people but to me it means I can get bunnies neutered, spayed and vaccinated ready to find homes.
So far
Billy has been neutered.
Chocolate has been myxi vaccinated
Connie has been myxi vaccinated
Rosie has been myxi vaccinated
Muffin has been VHD vaccinated
Next will be
Chocolate with VHD vaccinated
Connie to be VHD vaccinated
Rosie to be VHD vaccinated
remained of the money will be carried over to the next session
April 2011
Already been a busy few days of April, I took in a 4 year old girlie who had lost her companion, she is now the new wife of Jay Jay.
Went out to a nearby town to look at a pet shop whom someone had concerns about, on our way there we saw a donkey marching down a lane by himself. We tried to get him back in the field, even my boot full of hay was tempting enough and with no bridle or harness we couldn't do it. Phoned and knocked on the house next to the field, no reply. Phoned Surrey police who were very helpful and infact had a mobile number for the farmer!!!! Donkey is now safely back in his field.
Jo who ran Cheylesmore Guinea Pig Rescue in Coventry shut her doors as someone had got into her garden and stolen 3 piggies. The piggies were safely returned but she is now fearful for their safety. I now have her remaining piggies to rehome here.
March 2011
With some generous donations and Sharon's hard work with fundraising we can now get some of the boys neutured, Beano, Bertie and Asbo Joe have now successfully come through their ops and all have potential homes as long as they are nice towards their new wives.
I am a moderator and active member of The Guinea Pig Haven forum and they have just had an auction and raised a huge amount of money to enable us to get 6 more boys neutured. I am very humble and grateful for all who took part. I will now endeavour to find the best homes possible.
January 2011
We have now been up and running for 2 years, it doesn't seem 5 mins! This is a hobby and a passion of mine and I love doing it. I am going to have to alter some of the hutches as I cant physically kneel any more for the time being, if I said my patella has sublax that probably wouldnt mean much but it means my kneecap doesn't slot nicely into where it is suppose to! Lets hope the physio and exercises I can get it back to normal!
I have secured places at the Smallfield Fair, Copthorne Fete and Waterloo Bonfire Society Fete so far. Our stand is to educate people about keeping piggies, the need for a rescue, not keeping piggies with rabbits and fundraising.
December 2010
A sad start to the month as my beloved Lord Charles died in my arms after a short illness. He was anywhere between 5 years and 6 years and was a 'Free to good home' ad. I was happy to be his slave for 4 wonderful years. RIP
One of the rescue piggies who hadn't been with me long also passed away. RIP Mr Black Jack, you will be missed by your wife who now lives indoors with the ladies.
On a happier note I have a table full of presents for the piggies from Secret Santa. Christmas is coming early and tomorrow (16th) we will be opening them.
I have also helped Niall out at New Hope Rescue in Kent with placing 10 bunnies into rabbit specific rescues. Loved doing this and so nice to see them on their way to a better life. RIP the ones that didn't make it. Their story is heartbreaking.
October 2010
Not sure what happened to August and September, they seemed to fly by. I have been donated a large, infact massive chicken coup/run/hutch which McBunny is living in, he has 2 bedrooms, a day room and a toilet area. Thank you for Nic and her hubby for bringing it up.
Exciting news that Crawley Guinea Pig Rescue is now working in conjunction with another rescue in Crawley
www.palacepiggierescue.org so now we can offer around 40 ish rescue places. What put the icing on the top of the cake for me was a call from Lynn (one of the ladies who runs this) to say 'can I borrow your mummy pig and babies as someone is bringing me an orphan piggie'. This piggie has now been brought up by Treacle with her two babies and is ready to go and live with his Daddy. This little piggie might not of made it had it not of been for the joining of our 2 rescues.
July 2010
All going well, rehoming slowed down, Lord Charles one of my resident pigs had a stroke one evening, nursed him through and now he is on the slow road to recovery, he is an OAP so things have slowed down with him, very keen on Daves syringe mix!
We have been given a free pitch at the October Autumn Fair at the South of England Showground which is a 2 day event so hopefully this will be good fun and to get the rescue name out there and a bit more known plus educate people on keeping piggies.
June 2010
Had a weeks holiday in the South of France, the animals were in very good hands, looked after by Debbie, many thanks. Managed to bond one of my moody fiesty sows with another sow, have tried with many sows over the last year and a half, they are now inseperable.
The Guinea Pig Haven forum have had an auction and along with Cavy Corner up in Doncaster we were given a very large donation from the proceeds. This will be spent on piggie things. I am not sure exactly what yet, I will have to consult Lord Charles who is top pig.
May 2010
I have also booked my stall space at the Copthorne Carnival, West Sussex for June 26th. This is an all day event for us and we are entering the competion of best dressed stall....photos to follow!!!!
For our first ever stall we took £63.20 which was excellent, I paid the stall fee of £22 out of my own money so the money we took was used to buy veggies for the following week!
Thank you to my helpers on that day.
Beth from East Grinstead won the guess the weight of the piggie, well done.
Rehoming going well with a couple of the long stays getting good homes.
Squeak is 100% well, he is putting weight on and is no longer on the dining room table, he has had a gungy eye but with a quick wipe this seems to clear up within 24 hours.
April 2010
Well things don't always go to plan and the summerhouse didn't get put up until March so all the guinea pigs have been indoors in our sitting room over the winter.
4 of the boyz are now in a foster home as they haven't had any interest.
Squeak hasn't been too well, he lost nearly 100g in weight but with some intensive nursing he is back up and running. He was undiagnosed so I will keep my eye on him over the next few weeks. Thank you to all the lovely donations for the piggies that come in.
December 2009
Myself and my partner have been working very hard in laying hardcore, sand and cement for a base for a summer house. This summer house will house about 18 guinea pigs through the winter months with heating and power. We hope to have it finished by Christmas.
The summer house was free from a property in Cornwall, I just had to pay for the van hire and petrol to get it back here. Luckily the building material I had a discount of about 20% which all helps so thanks to
www.buildbase.co.uk for that.
November 2009
Please remember about bonfire night and the other nights around this time of year with regards to frightened guinea pigs. If possibly cover them up if in outside hutches or better still take them indoors for the evening for a cuddle.
I have registered Crawley Guinea Pig Rescue with the charity commision, now need to get £5000 going through the bank account to obtain charity status. I am hoping I can get this status by 2011
October 2009
At the moment I have some nice new 4ft hutches for the single boars and single sows but I have 4 guinea pigs who are in old, small hutches. This has been manageable as during the summer they are out in the runs during the day and only come into the hutches on a cold night, now, they are in the hutch for longer due to the weather. So......... I am launching
Rent a Hutch! click on this link or copy and paste
http://crawleyguineapigrescue.org/Rentahutch.aspx
September 2009
I have decided that I need a holiday! I am very lucky in the fact that I can go away for a few days and leave my fiance in charge but we would like to go away together for a whole week!!!
I am going to have to find someone who is local to Crawley who would like a small part time job of feeding, cleaning, watering etc around 23 guinea pigs for 7 days.
I will obviously pay so please do get in contact if interested.