Landing up at an animal shelter is a very stressful situation for any animal. Animals are emotional beings and are affected by outside stimuli as well as by the fact that they have no idea how they ended up at the shelter in the first place.
Despite being a haven as far as physical protection, fresh food and water are concerned; animals do not understand that shelters are trying to take of them.
Many animals can be seen hiding in the back of their cages, timid and at times even obviously petrified. This often results in people passing by those cages when they are looking for an animal to adopt, as the animal is perceived as being timid and afraid.
However, these are the same animals that will often bloom personality-wise, as they come into their own in their new homes.
At the end of the day, we all need someone to love. Whether your hobbies include reading or playing sports or online betting, adoption and rescue of animals in need is always a good idea.
Whether you’re looking to adopt a cat, a dog, or a guinea pig, we have compiled some handy hints when looking for a new pet to become a part of your family.
Planning Ahead
First up, remember that adopting an animal from a shelter is a life-long responsibility. Furthermore, more than one visit to the shelter may be required before a final decision is made. We have put to together a list of questions in order to help you plan and to get the process underway:
· What type of guinea pig are you looking for? There are many breeds of guinea pigs and not only do they differ in physical appearance, but also in personality. For example, some are much more social breeds than others.
· Do you want a baby or a fully-grown guinea pig? This is of course very much a matter of personal preference.
· Would you consider adopting a senior guinea pig that may have special needs?
Assessing General Well-Being
Next up, its important to assess the general health and demeanour of the animal before adopting. It’s often the case that shelters will display an information card on the cage of the animal containing basic age, health, and personality information.
But it’s also important to try and make a personal assessment based on what you see and on what your instinct tells you when interacting with the guinea pig.
Does the animal appear to be in good health? Or the eyes shiny or are they slightly clouded over? How does the guinea pig appear to respond to you when you approach the cage?
Guinea pigs are as a rule not as responsive as dogs or cats, but a lot of information can be picked up on by anyone paying close attention.
Looks Can Be Deceiving
That having been said, it cannot be stressed enough that many animals have probably had a very hard time of it before ending up at an animal shelter.
Oftentimes, it’s but a matter of days after living in a loving and caring and nurturing environment, before they start to show massive signs of improvement.
