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Meet
Did you know that guinea pigs are exotic animals?
It's true! Though they are often regarded as a "kids' pet" or a "lab animal", guinea pigs are exotic animals that require specialized care.
At CWI, we observed that many people are fighting for cats and dogs, but few are working for guinea pigs. And since we specialize in advocacy for exotic animals, we decided to take on the job!
We are already working toward bans on the sale of guinea pigs in the four governmental districts in the Las Vegas Valley, where we are headquartered. We are starting to see some success!
Until these bans are completed and guinea pig sales stop, the flood of homeless guinea pigs will never end.
With lifespans exceeding 5 years, the suffering of guinea pigs, as can be the case with many exotic animals, can be long. Help us help them by supporting the CWI Wheeks of Hope guinea pig microsanctuary!
We endeavor to grow the number of animals we can support at the sanctuary, and, if funds allow, to support other guinea pig rescue efforts and medical needs first in the Las Vegas area and then -- hopefully -- nationwide.
Meet our residents
The CWI Wheeks of Hope guinea pig microsanctuary currently permanently houses 8 male guinea pigs: Mochi, Saffron, Tony the Werewolf (aka TDubs), Bakyn, Pinto Bean, Peppy, Earl and Tater. We also have numerous foster guinea pigs on site.
Mochi and Saffron. Mochi arrived at the CWI office in September 2022 when we responded to a crisis call from the regional animal shelter. They were overflowing with guinea pigs and other animals!
At the shelter, we requested to take the two oldest guinea pigs they had, since older pigs are often overlooked. Mochi and Nibs (RIP) were already a bonded pair and over 3 years old.
Saffron came to us with an enormous slash from shoulder to shoulder. Learn more about his story here.
Tony the Werewolf may look unusual or ill to you. Good news: he's just fine! Tony, aka TDubs, is a "werewolf pig" which is a subset of a "skinny pig". Skinny pigs are naturally hairless, but TDubs is a werewolf due to having tufts of hair.
Sadly, skinny pigs are the result of the animal testing industry. TDubs joined the CWI team after becoming a clearance item at a pet store and then being rejected by his adoptive family. We are glad to have him as our animal testing ambassador. You may recognize him from the "Tony's Corner" section of our monthly enewsletter! Learn more about him here.
Bakyn joined us after being rejected by two different homes in his young life. We felt Bakyn deserved better, and with the passing of Tony the Werewolf's cagemate JB, we felt a good match could be made.. We are happy to share that after many months of living side-by-side, Tony and Bakyn are now happily sharing the same space as friends.
Bakyn suffered the same fate that a large percentage of pet store guinea pigs do: he was purchased and then discarded, and then discarded AGAIN. Skinny pigs require specialized care. They are NOT a natural breed, but were created for the animal testing industry. Never buy or breed skinny pigs.
Pinto Bean joined us in December 2024 after a sitting in a barren cage at a local shelter for many months. As an older male guinea pig, Pinto was not highly adoptable. He also suffered from emotional trauma, which resulted in him being extremely anti-social.
We are happy to share that Pinto has now blossomed and is an extremely curious and friendly guinea pig. He is living his best life at CWI in an oversized enclosure with plenty of beds, hammocks, lofts and treats. Pinto will stay with us as a permanent resident.
Peppy was found abandoned in front of a local regional animal shelter in a disgusting enclosure that contained no bedding or water. His fur was overgrown and matted all over his body. He reeked of pee and his nails were desperately in need of a trim.
Today Peppy his living very happily and comfortably with his new best buddy Pinto Bean. His fur is maintained and he is never without water, hay, and lots of cuddles! He will remain at Wheeks of Hope along with Pinto Bean for life.
Earl was yet another male guinea pig languishing with no interest for months at a local shelter. When we went to visit him, his nails were overgrown and he was lying on dirty newspaper. Our heart broke. Though CWI's Wheeks of Hope is a microsanctuary, our space is extremely limited, so our focus is on ending the cruelty causing abandonment in the first place. Still -- our hearts broke for Earl.
As our largest guinea pig, Earl's demands are many. But we cannot resist him! We never want to see Earl's spirit crushed again, so he remains with us enjoying hay, veggies, and always a clean cushion to rest on.
Tater (aka Coco) arrived at CWI at only 284 grams! He was one of the hundreds of guinea pigs suffering due to a horrific hoarding situation in Los Angeles. You can read more about his story here.
Unlike other guinea pigs who joined us from that same situation, Tater always had something unusual about him. He preferred to stay alone and he frequently demonstrated a pronounced head tilt. And -- the poor little guy was prone to biting (he still is). So we made the decision to house him with Earl and fortunately that pairing worked! Tater will remain at Wheeks of Hope where he can receive the best possible care throughout his life.
Support our residents!
Support
It's true! Like humans, guinea pigs cannot manufacture their own vitamin C. As rodents, they also require constant chewing in order to maintain their teeth. Endless amounts of hay, fresh veggies and exotic vet care are MUSTS for guinea pigs.
Help to keep our crew in food, bedding, treats and other necessities. Or support their medical care. You can purchase something from our Amazon Wishlist, or click here to make a donation.
Thank you.
With your help, we have also been able to assist with the medical expenses or temporary housing of other suffering guinea pigs in the Las Vegas region.
If funding becomes available, we aim to support other rescues outside of Vegas, too.
Contact us if you are a sanctuary or rescue in need of help with a medically compromised guinea pig.
Winston
Rhino
Malcolm
Murphy
Treasa
Ozzie
Scotty
Cynder
Coco
JB
Dusty
Samantha & Dora
Learn more about
guinea pigs.
BEFORE adopting a guinea pig, be sure to read our fact sheet. Understanding what is involved in guinea pig care in terms of time and expense is important to ensuring that you can offer a forever home.
Also, be sure you understand guinea pig behavior before bringing someone home. Remember that popular videos on social media may not represent what you can expect from guinea pigs, who are often easily frightened and may not enjoy being handled.
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Ready to learn more about guinea pigs? There are many great resources available!
A few we recommend:
Care tips: https://www.laguineapigrescue.com/guinea-pig-care.html
Feeding guide: https://vegasfriendsofgprescue.org/guinea-pig-resources-care-101/
Medical information: https://www.guinealynx.info/
We also recommend:
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Guinea Dad products and care information:
https://guineadad.com/blogs/news/the-complete-guide-to-american-guinea-pigs
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Small Pet Select hay and treats: https://shop.smallpetselect.com/
Learn
Help for rescues
WE OPPOSE THE EXPLOITATION OF ANY ANIMAL.
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