In this issue

• Pg 2 ACS Brisbane Shelter open day event

• Pg 3-4 Shelter news

• Pg 5 Guinea pig weekly health check list

• Pg 5 Adoptable of the Month

• Pg 6-7 Feature article ‘Pododermatitis’

• Pg 8 Case story

• Pg 9 Being a foster carer

• Pg 10 Herbs for guinea pigs

• Pg 11-12 Feature story ‘El’s piggy story’

• Pg 13 ‘The Cushy Cavy’

• Pg 14 Adoption update

• Pg 15 Your piggy photos

• Pg 16 Kids corner

• Pg 17 Shelter Wish lists

• Pg 18 Shelter contacts

The Australian Cavy Sanctuary Issue 2 winter 2011

Welcome to the second edition of the Australian Cavy Sanctuary Newsletter. First of all we would like to thank everyone who submitted names for the ACS newsletter competition. Lots of creative names were submitted and we faced a very tough decision in picking the winner. We’d like to congratulate Carmen Blatchly with her winning entry “The Cavy Chatter”. Carmen has won a credit of $25 to spend at the ACS Brisbane shelter. Just a reminder to everyone to make sure they keep their guinea pigs nice and warm now that the cold nights have well and truly arrived. To read tips on how to keep your piggies warm please refer to our last newsletter or go to the ACS website at www.australiancavysantuary.com. This issue is full of interesting articles from shelter managers, volunteer staff and members of the public and also includes a new cute piggy photo section. We hope you enjoy the second edition of the Australian Cavy Sanctuary Newsletter. ACS shelters are non-profit and are managed entirely by unpaid volunteers who are truly passionate about the welfare and awareness of guinea pigs. The shelters rely solely on the generosity of the public for support and to survive. It is with your support that we are able to keep our ACS shelters open and able to cater for 1000’s of homeless guinea pigs each year to give them a second chance at a new life. Ways in which you can help to show your support and help to spread awareness about ACS and what we do and stand for include: • Passing on the ACS website details to friends/work colleagues/family • Spreading the word of opting to adopt and why • Making a donation (items of need or monetary) to any of the shelters • Volunteering at or foster caring for one of the shelters • Joining our ACS shelter Facebook pages (see ACS website) • Starting a fundraiser or having a donation tin within your local school/workplace or

community • Keeping your eyes open to what’s going on around you and making a report to the

ACS or the RSPCA if you see an act of cruelty or neglect • Joining the ACS Message boards www.acs.7.forumer.com/ Jessica Proietti ACS President 1

A laid back fun family day out while also experiencing an inside view of ACS Brisbane Shelter. Meet with or have an up and close tour of the shelter with ACS Brisbane Shelter Manager 'Jessica' and her outstanding team of dedicated volunteers. Take a walk down 'William's Hollow' our adoptable area, bamboo canopy and walking path. Join in the mini 'Pignic' and set up camp on the grounds with your guinea pigs. Catch up with other guinea pig lovers and adoption families!

Information leaflets to take home on the day! Stallholders on the day including Tracy's home-made soaps stall and 'The Cushy Cavy' piggy winter beds stall. All stall holders attending will be helping the shelter fundraise by donating some of the proceeds from items sold on the day. Help support the shelter for a small fee by purchasing your lunch from our BBQ and Drinks stall (All BBQ food will be cruelty free and food available will also cater for vegetarians and vegans). Tash from the ACS Pignic in the Park 2010 will also be holding a stall and offering cheap face painting for the kids on the day!

Pamper package on the day! For $5.00 your guinea pig will receive a bath and organic leave in coat moisturiser, nail clip, worming/mite treatment and blow dry or towel dry. Janelle Manning (photographer) will be offering reasonably priced guinea pig portrait shoots with props! To register to attend the day and for further information please visit the event website to submit an online registration form here: http://australiancavysanctuary.com/openday.htm. All who would like to attend must register.

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ACS Sydney Shelter ‘Cavy Central’ News

Well these past few months have been very busy for me with a few piggies finding forever homes and even more piggies coming in through surrender. I guess the good aspect is that some of these piggies were past adopted, and to know that the owners bring them back if anything goes wrong is fabulous. It ensures the piggie will have a great chance at a wonderful home.

Wildlife is also keeping me on my toes and of late with a pair of baby lorikeets – only 28 grams and less than 10 days old. Crazy bird having babies at this time and not spring!

The Sydney face book page has also been the latest addition and takes some time to update and catch up. However I am finding that people from all over are contacting me and from there can take the appropriate action. ACS Sydney Shelter ‘Cavy Central’ face book page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cavy-Central-Guinea-Pig-Rescue-ACS-Sydney/202973096392489

The most notable news was that Neelix, a permanent member here ended up being on the Kerry Anne Kennerly show on channel 9. For anyone that saw it, he is just a beautiful stunning piggie and I don’t think he minded it at all.

Please tell your friends and post them the face book page in the event they are looking for a pet piggie. We have so many that need loving homes.

Cheers

Lyn 3

ACS Brisbane Shelter News

As usual ACS Brisbane Shelter has been extremely busy the past few months. Finally the shelter move is over and we love our new premesis. I know the piggies do to! We’re currently preparing now for our upcoming ACS Brisbane Shelter Open Day. The first ever since the shelter first opened many years back. The shelter has been bubbling with life since the move to the new location with our Saturday open days in particular keeping all the shelter volunteers busy on their feet. Adoptions, surrenders, foster carers, regular feed and bedding pick-ups, boarding, general visitors…you name it it’s all been happening at the shelter every Saturday. The volunteers and I have been enjoying seeing quite a few adopted updates with adoption families bringing their piggies in for visits when they come to pick up their piggy food orders.

Luckily the shelter has not endured any large-scale surrender cases of late which is a good thing because our funds seem to be needed at the moment to go towards the de-sexing of quite a few of our male guinea pigs that have come back from foster care all healthy and ready to be adopted. The guinea pigs came from a large-scale case earlier in the year. Sadly due to the overcrowded poor conditions of their past and males being placed together in with females, it resulted in the majority of them becoming aggressive and dominant towards other males leaving us with only the choice to de-sex them.

The ACS Brisbane Shelter Facebook page has become THE PLACE for piggy people to hang out and it personally brings me so much joy knowing how much support is out their. I’ve been doing my best to create a welcoming space for all guinea pig lovers where we can share our passion for these beautiful little animals alongside adding daily latest news of the happenings within ACS Brisbane Shelter, spreading the word of the ACS cause and what we’re all about. I’ve been personally making an effort to make our page a place filled with informative articles so that people can take away information that they may not have known about guinea pigs that will in turn help aid in the care of their own guinea pigs. If you’re not on our page as yet and would like to join, please visit the ACS Website for the link.

Jess

ACS Ballarat Shelter ‘Eureka Cavies’ News

Well ACS Ballarat has had a few pregnant sow’s give birth and has recently adopted a few piggy’s and bunnies to lovely homes, and has received a very good response to foster carers that were needed for July so am very happy with the amount of people willing to help.

Ballarat also had a bunch of piggy’s come in with coccidiosis which was sad we lost a lot of the piggies over a course of 24 hours but managed to save 4 of them from this surrender.

Thanks

Simone 4

ACS Melbourne Shelter ‘Chuffnut Cavies’ News

"What's new at the Melbourne shelter”? Well, the shelter shed has been extended - finally! This effectively gives more than half as much space again than the original shed, and will keep the entire area dryer. At the moment, the extension is just an extra roof area, with temporary walls. Permanent walls will soon be constructed, and the entire shed is still due to have a new concrete floor installed.

In the very near future, the public face of the shelter may be moved to a new address. The new location will be more accessible to the general public, making it easier to process more adoptions. Currently the remote location of the shelter has deterred many new homes and also makes it very difficult to have volunteers assist. The new location may offer better conditions all round! Watch this space for updates!

In the last 2 months, we've also taken in as many as 22 pregnant (or suspected pregnant) sows. Most of these have been placed into foster care, with two sows, so far, having given birth to a total of seven bubs. A further four litters have been born at the shelter, adding another 7 bubs to the mix. One sweet pup was born with a severe head tilt and was incredibly weak - it is suspected that she had a difficult birth. As she was too weak to leave with her mum and sister, she has been hand raised! Tootsie has beaten all odds and is now thriving, with the head tilt almost completely gone. But she will not be re-bonded with her mum - she is in love with her syringe full of milk replacement formula!

Sadly, despite the huge number coming into the shelter, adoptions have been slow. Let’s hope next month improves.

Lil

Adoptable of the month

Basil and Harry have been at the shelter for several months now and have gone un-noticed. The boys would love nothing more than to find their forever new home. Their souls are just not shining in the shelter environment. We have no idea why the boys are still here with us they are so special and deserve so much. The boys are best buddies and they adore snoozing together in their little piggy igloo it’s very previous. The two boys have spent lots of time between two foster care homes receiving lots of cuddles in a home environment. We are soon to send them off on foster for the third time due to how long the boys have been at the shelter and because this is not the best environment for these two particular boys to thrive in. The boys love their one on one attention and they love lap time cuddles. The boys were a private surrender to the shelter alongside 15 other guinea pigs. The guinea pigs were kept in some of the most appalling conditions that we have seen. The guinea pigs were extremely scared of people and were being bred for the local pet shop. The guinea pigs were suffering from severe coccidiosis on arrival to the shelter. Even with vet care and foster care for all the guinea pigs we lost half the guinea pigs from this case they were so sick. Those that have survived are walking miracles that fought for their lives. Basil and Harry are 100% healthy and well and they have been vet checked. If you wish to enquire to adopt these very special boys and give them a place in your family please visit the ACS Website's ADOPT section to send through an adoption enquiry form at www.australiancavysanctuary.com.

GUINEA PIG WEEKLY HEALTH CHECKLIST Guinea pigs are prey animals and are very good at hiding illness or health problems they may have. It is important to give your guinea pigs regular health checks as simple illnesses or injuries can quickly develop into critical medical emergencies. As a guide it is a good idea to check your guinea pigs weekly either during a cuddle session or even when you are cleaning out their cages. The following is a basic guide on what you should look and feel for when carrying out your guinea pig’s health check. • Check your guinea pig’s weight – Mature pigs should weigh similar each week. Immature pigs should be slightly heavier than the previous week or at least similar. • Your guinea pig should be fit and active. Any changes in usual behaviour can be a sign of illness. • Look at the eyes for any discolouration or crustiness/discharge. • Check nostrils for any discharge. Has your guinea pig been continuously sneezing? • Look around the mouth for sores. Check front teeth to see if wear and growth of both upper and lower teeth are evenly aligned. Check for any drooling/smelly breathe (can indicate teeth problems). • Listen to your guinea pigs breathing for any raspy/odd noises. • Check nails to see if they need trimming. (This should be done at least once a month). • Examine under your guinea pig’s feet to see if they are dry, inflamed or have any cuts or scabs. • Check your guinea pigs bottom to make sure it is reasonably dry and there is no diarrhoea or smell. Inspect droppings to make sure they are normal. Check male guinea pigs genitals for any foreign objects that may be protruding such as hay or sawdust, and remove these. • Does your pig have any scabs or lumps on their body? Check by stroking your guinea pig from head to rear, then neck to chest looking and feeling for any scabs and lumps. Check around the eyes and nose and behind/under the ears. • Check your guinea pigs skin and hair for any bald patches, coat thinning/dullness, hair loss, dandruff, mites, objects stuck to the hair shafts, sores, cuts or wounds. To do this use your index finger and starting at the pig’s rump, draw your finger through its coat towards its head so you can see down the hair shafts to the skin. • Finally give your piggy a good brush or comb and check if there is any looseness of coat or more than average hair loss. Piggies generally love this attention and it gives you very good social contact with them. Emergencies Contact a vet immediately if your guinea pig shows signs of the following: • Bleeding that won’t stop • Makes a ‘raspy’ or odd noise when breathing, has laboured breathing • Seems to be in obvious pain and discomfort • Has gone off food and/or won’t eat or drink Written by Rachel Findlay (ACS Brisbane Shelter Volunteer and Foster Carer) Photos by Bonnie Wright (Border Small Animal Rescue)

Snotty Nose Uneven teeth Hay poke – eye infection Hair loss

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Pododermatitis better known as bumblefoot, is a painful inflammatory bacterial infection of the guinea pigs foot pad. If left untreated, this condition can spread to the bone (osteomyelitis) and tissue, resulting in amputation of the toe or limb and/or spread to other internal organs resulting in other medical conditions/symptoms such as kidney failure, followed by death of the guinea pig. Other animals can also suffer from this disease including dogs, birds, other rodents and poultry. Guinea pigs have soft foot pads and there are several causes which may contribute to the development of the disease. Cause:

§ Prolonged periods of walking on wire, hard flooring or course bedding (clay/paper/wood pellet litter included) § Damp/wet bedding § Poor/filthy living conditions § Lack of activity/obesity/old guinea pigs § Poor/weakened immune system/other underlying health issues § Infection - Staphylococcus aureus, fungal or underlying Demodex mite often entering from abrasions through the skin. § Overgrown nails that have dug through into the skin of the foot pad § Foreign bodies that have dug into or caused wounds to the foot pad § Poor circulation/heart condition (rare)

Symptoms:

§ Swelling/inflammation or redness of one of more of the foot pads (redness only in early stages) § Pus or blood filled blisters (more severe cases - often pus is found underneath scabs) § Scabs and dry scaling of foot pads § Difficulty walking on affected feet § Dead limb (extreme case examined by ACS whereby a guinea pig with bumble foot was left untreated so long that the

infection spread to the bone and travelled up the leg. The guinea pig also had a pressure bandage on which was not taken renewed regularly or loosened causing circulation issues. The limb died and fell off. The guinea pig had to be euthanased.

Treatment: Unfortunately bumblefoot is a frustrating disease for pet owners and vets and can be difficult to cure in some cases. In saying this there are several medical treatment options available to utilise with the hope for a full recovery from the condition. Some guinea pigs may respond well and heal within 4-6 weeks once treatment begins, for others it may take months for the guinea pig to fully recover. In some cases the guinea pig will never completely recover from the condition and may need treatment off and on for the rest of their life. Treatment for bumblefoot needs to be applied daily. Treatment options:

§ Antibiotics – if your guinea pig is past the point of minor redness of the foot pad (early stage of the condition which can sometimes be treated within 1-2wks using the other methods below without antibiotics) then you will need to see your vet for a course of antibiotics. Baytril is the usual antibiotic administered although in more severe cases a stronger antibiotic such as Doxycycline may be used. Some vets may wish to inject the antibiotic directly into the affected foot pad once a day for 7 days.

§ Metacam – your vet may prescribe Metacam which is a painkiller and anti-inflammatory. § Betadine or Blue Kote spray – you will need to soak the affected foot at least once a day in either of these

antiseptic/antifungal products. It is recommended to bath the foot in salty water before application.

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Treatment options continued…

§ Ivomec – it is recommended to place your guinea pig on a four week course of Ivomec in the possibility of demodex mite involvement. Your vet can prescribe this product for you.

§ Aloe Vera gel or Paw Paw ointment – it is recommended to apply either of these products to your guinea pigs foot once daily while in treatment to keep the foot from becoming dry. Aloe Vera also contains natural antiseptic properties.

§ Colloidal silver – Colloidal silver is an alternative natural supplement wish you may wish to use during treatment to aid in healing. You can soak your guinea pigs foot in the product and/or give orally.

§ Scab removal - if your guinea pigs foot pad has a large wound on the foot pad that has scabbed over in the early stages of treatment, you will need to bathe the foot in warm mild salty water to soften the skin, and while softened, remove the scab. Infection/pus is usually found beneath. You will need to clean the infected area daily with an antiseptic/antifungal solution. Betadine, Blue Kote spray or Panalog ointment (bought through vet) are recommended.

§ X-ray – your vet may wish to X-ray your guinea pigs foot at some point during treatment in order to see whether the infection has spread to the bone.

§ Pressure bandage - in the case of ulceration some vets may place a pressure bandage around the infected foot which will need to be kept clean and changed daily in between treatments applied to the foot. Pressure bandages should not be used unless in the case of ulceration. Always check to make sure that the bandage is not too tight or it may affect circulation causing further damage.

§ Epi-Otic – Epi-Otic is an ear and skin cleaner and is used for cleansing necrotic tissue and debris from superficial skin lesions. This ointment can be applied once a day prior to application of Betadine.

§ DuoDerm – Duoderm is a hydrocolloid dressing used to protect wounds from contamination. It provides moist wound healing. The product adheres to the skin and draws out liquid from open wounds. It should not be used for closed wounds. Applying this product every couple of days to open wounds during treatment may aid in healing.

§ Chlorhexidine – Some guinea pig owners have had success using chlorhexidine solution in liquid or in ointment form daily instead of Betadine to treat bumble foot. Note that this product can be drying though so use of Aloe Vera gel or Paw Paw ointment once a day in between applications is recommended.

If an X-ray confirms that the infection has spread to the bone and antibiotics amongst other treatment has been applied for more than a month with no improvement, your vet may discuss amputation of the toe or foot in order to prevent further spread of the infection. Bedding and Diet: Clean bedding, good hygiene and a good diet play a very important role in the recovery from the condition and in preventing a re-lapse of the condition. During treatment you will need to house your guinea pig on soft, dry, clean bedding at all times. The best bedding to use are layers of towels covered with a top layer of fleece or soft wood shavings covered on top with a towel. You may also wish to try placing puppy training pads on top of towels or wood shavings, changing as needed. These pads are a disposable product and are plastic backed with padded clean fleecy material on top. Vitamin C is essential in building a strong immune system to aid in recovery. It is recommended that unwell guinea pigs receive between 80-100mg Vit C daily. Every day you can supplement your guinea pigs diet with high Vitamin C vegetables such as capsicum or cos lettuce. It is also recommended to purchase some Vitamin C tablets and to crush approx 100mg with a teaspoon, mix with water and administer orally via syringe once daily. A good guinea pig diet in general needs to consist of fresh grassy hay or grass daily, a constant supply of water, a variety of vegetables daily including at least one high Vitamin C veg, and an optional guinea pig mix. During treatment it is recommended to give your guinea pig probiotics either Inner Health Plus (from the chemist) or Protexin (from your vet). Make sure that your guinea pigs toenails are clipped as needed so that they do not curl under or into the affected foot. Article written by Jessica Proietti. © Copyright 2011.

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Case Story Millie Pig’s Story ACS Ballarat Shelter Millie pig came to ACS Ballarat by a supporter of my shelter Lisa who called me saying she had found a guinea pig living with chickens at a friend’s house. She approached her friend about the guinea pig and told her that the sow needed vet attention. The owner said she could not afford it so Lisa called myself and asked if she could bring her to my shelter. She told me she was in a not so good state. Once she arrived I was shocked to see her full body with mites and mange but worst of all her leg was almost chewed off to the bone (self mutilation) from internal mites that had been affecting her so badly. She had almost removed her own leg. It was massively swollen. She had a few seizures and was in so much pain. I did not think this little sow would make it she was in such a state, but now weeks later and with a few vet visits (thanks to Millie pig’s fantastic sponsor and ACS Ballarats foster carer Manu), she is still with me recovering well. All the mites, mange and large wounds over her body have now completely healed and her leg is slowly healing and she has started putting a little weight on. She still has a lot longer to go before she is completely recovered and I don’t think she will ever walk normally again. Millie Pig in turn has become ACS Ballarat’s special needs piggy resident as I just cannot risk anything like this happening again to her. She is the sweetest little girl who I am love seeing enjoy a better life every day.

I would like to thank Lisa and Manu for giving this little sweetheart a new life without the painful lonely life she had.

The below photos were taken of during treatment. Note that the photos below are of a graphic nature.

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I have been a foster carer for the ACS Brisbane shelter for about a year now. I started as a volunteer and quickly became a foster carer when I saw how many poor guinea pigs desperately needed extra help to enable them to be adopted out. There are three main types of foster care that guinea pigs require: 1. Handling/cuddling – handling timid guinea pigs so they are able to be adopted out. 2. Pregnancy watch – female guineas pigs which may be pregnant go on care until their babies are born and weaned, or are

kept until it is certain that they are not pregnant. 3. Medical care – guinea pigs that have minor or major medical conditions that need to be treated before they can be

adopted. Foster carers need to be able to dedicate a lot of time to the guinea pigs in their care. Timid and scared guinea pigs may require weeks/months of handling to get them quiet enough to be adopted out. Pregnancy watch guinea pigs need to be in care for a minimum of 9 weeks (the length of their gestation period) to ensure they are not pregnant, with a further 3 to 4 weeks of care required if pregnant, until the babies are weaned. Guinea pigs requiring medical treatment may be on care for several weeks/months depending on the type of illness or injury. I tend to foster care the pregnancy watch and medical care guinea pigs. Many people want to do pregnancy watch care as they want to experience the joy of having baby guinea pigs running around without breeding the guinea pigs themselves. People interested in becoming this type of foster carer need to understand that not all pregnancies end happily. Some babies may be still born, die soon after birth or have disabilities such as missing eye/s or limbs. Mother pigs can also suffer complications before or during birth and might die as a result. Medical care fostering can be very heart breaking when you have a guinea pig that is in so much pain it squeals when touched. But I also find it the most rewarding type of care. When a guinea pig is again healthy and able to be adopted out I feel a great sense of achievement and happiness. This type of care involves treating cases of mange, fungal infections, open wounds, eye injuries, and pigs suffering coccidiosis or other serious medical conditions. I currently have two guinea pigs in my care that all need/needed medical care. One had fight wounds and required weeks of treatment. The second guinea pig had fight injuries including an ulcer to the eye. After weeks of treatment the vet has decided that his eye cannot be saved and he will be undergoing surgery to have his eye removed in a few of week’s time when he is strong enough to survive the operation. I will be adopting this piggie myself. I love doing foster care and helping guinea pigs to have better lives. The hardest part of being a foster carer for me is having a guinea pig die. Sometimes no matter how much I try and what treatment a guinea pig has, the damage has already been done prior to the guinea pig being surrendered. This is very heart breaking but I continue to be a carer as there are many more guinea pigs needing help. I ask everyone to please consider being a foster carer. If you have the time and heart to help, there are always plenty of guinea pigs that need care. If you would like to be a foster carer please fill out the form on the following link and forward it to your nearest ACS shelter. http://www.australiancavysanctuary.com/fosteraguineapig.html. Article written by Rachel Findlay (ACS Brisbane Shelter volunteer and foster carer) 9

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Herbs for guinea pigs

Basil is a popular herb for people and is also safe to feed to your guinea pig both the leaves and stem. Sweet basil better known as Ocimum basilicum is the most commonly found in Australia and most guinea pigs will eat this variety.

Basil is a fantastic antioxidant and also contains antiviral and antimicrobial properties.

Oat Grass Want to easily make your own delicious treat for your guinea pigs? Oat grass is healthy, high in fibre and a natural source of nutrition for your guinea pigs. Oat grass contains vitamins A, B, C, E and K and is a fantastic antioxidant. Oat grass is very easy to grow. You need to first get your hands on some oat grass seeds as pictured above. If you purchase your guinea pig mix through an ACS shelter the good news is that you are already well stocked to grow oat grass as our mix contains some oat seed within it. Simply get some oat seeds (or a couple of handfuls of ACS guinea pig mix) and place about a quarter of an inch deep into a garden bed which receives good moisture regularly and some sunlight. Alternatively you can DIY by getting a styrafoam box of planter box and make your own little oat grass garden bed. Water your garden once a day or as often as you would with your garden. The oat seeds will soak in the water and begin to sprout within a week or so. Oat grass grows rather quickly so you should have a nice supply within no time at all! Pictured right is some freshly picked oat grass with the oat seeds still attached to the bottom of the shoots. This grass took only 3wks to grow! Guinea pigs go nuts over oat grass it is definitely one of their favourite treats! Article written by Jessica Proietti. 10

Hello, my name is Elyse and I am addicted to guinea pigs. I first became a cavy slave in August last year when I fell in love with my first two guinea pigs, Patches and Smudge, looking at their online profile through the Australian Cavy Sanctuary. Their little button eyes said it all, they wanted to be loved. Before I adopted any guinea pigs I did a lot of research as I was determined to give them the best of care. I am an avid animal lover but had never owned guinea pigs before so I had no idea what to expect when they joined the family. Eight months on I now have 21 guinea pigs and I have never been happier. I have 8 boys and 13 girls. The boys are all housed separate from the girls as I do not support the breeding of guinea pigs. One of the main reasons I don’t support breeding is because of the huge amount of guinea pigs, and other animals, that end up living their life in rescue shelters mostly because of people’s lack of awareness. My guinea pigs are part of the family like any other would be (should be!). They have brightened my life up so much, and I could never thank them enough. These little fur balls have weaselled their way into the hearts of all my family members including my dad (who would deny it if you asked him). I did actually catch him when he thought no one was around, talking to my guinea pigs (in a baby voice I might add) asking them if they liked the new cage he built for them! Most people wouldn’t believe it but each and every single one of them has an individual personality and their own quirks, just like we do. It was amazing for me at first to watch their personalities develop. I bet I could write an essay on each piggy and their personality!

I always ask myself before I adopt, can I afford another mouth to feed? Can I provide a high standard of care? Are they going to get the love and attention they deserve? Some people might not be as crazy as I am but cavies are a huge part of my life and I devote a lot of time everyday to keep them well fed, happy, loved, and clean. I am a foster carer for the Australian Cavy Sanctuary and have been a part of two rescues so far. I am also becoming a regular volunteer. I have adopted my guinea pigs from two not for profit rescues – the Australian Cavy Sanctuary (managed and founded by Jessica Proietti) and Cavy Angels Guinea Pig Rescue (managed and founded by Monique Davenport). Unbeknownst to most there are quite a few guinea pig rescues across QLD (and Australia) including these two amazing shelters. Jessica and Monique and their volunteers work so hard to care for literally hundreds of guinea pigs every year. With the amount of cavies I have people often wonder where I keep them. My piggies are housed in what are call cage banks. I have two different ones. One set has 4 levels and each level is 2m x 60cm. The other is also 4 levels but 2.5m x 50cm. The largest number of guinea pigs one level holds in my banks is 4. I make sure my guinea pigs have lots of room to run and play when they want. They also get grass time most days if the weather is nice. I make sure there is shade and it is not too cold or windy when the piggies get their playtime on the grass Their cage banks are undercover to protect them from the elements and we have chosen a lovely area where they get a bit of filtered sun light in the afternoon. Piggies are very susceptible to heat stroke and also the cold.

In winter especially, I love to give my piggies soft beds to snuggle in and fleece blankets to snooze on. They will usually show their appreciation by pop-corning. If you have lazy pigs like most of mine they will usually just run over and plonk themselves on their new items and have a nap! I house my guinea pigs on wood shavings. There are a few different products you can use i.e. shredded newspaper, fleece etc. I find, with my amount of guinea pigs, that wood shavings are very easy to use and very absorbent which is especially great for long haired cavies. Each level is rather large so I generally do a big clean once a week. In between cleans I make sure all veggie scraps and hay are cleaned out everyday. In their cages they have many different hidey holes and things to play in/sleep on. It is really lovely if you can supply your cavies with things like tunnels, hidey holes, soft beds to really keep them stimulated (and comfortable), they will love you for it!. My guinea pigs LOVE having tunnels. I bought soft fabric tunnels from Pigalicious. My pigs love zooming through them or laying on top of them. A guinea pig must have is a hide out! I use a variety of items including plastic igloos, wooden houses (make sure it is untreated wood and non toxic to pigs), cardboard boxes and fiddlesticks. Guinea pigs, like humans, can’t store vitamin C. You can make sure you give them enough vitamin C by providing them fresh vegetables every day. A tool I found handy is the vitamin C calculator BBEVS provide on their website. It is fantastic in making sure you are getting enough Vit C into your pigs. 11

Every day I feed my piggy’s capsicum, cucumber, and an assortment of leafy greens. I feed the following items maybe twice a week. Tomato, broccoli, apple, watermelon, honey dew melon, parsley, carrots, wombok, sweet potato. There is actually quite a large list of fruit and veg that are safe for guinea pigs to eat. I found the list I use on the Australian Cavy Sanctuary website. Guinea pigs teeth grow constantly so they need a constant supply of good quality hay. I refresh their hay as much as it needs and if there is any soiled hay on the ground I remove it daily. Hay needs to make up about 80% of your guinea pigs diet. They always need fresh water to! I also give my guinea pigs a chaff mix, it is really important that this doesn’t have seeds in it. I usually bath my long haired guinea pigs once a month just because they tend to get dirtier faster. I also brush them often to remove loose hairs so their coats do not matt. It is also a good idea to give them a little trim to keep them tidy. I bath my short hairs when they really need it. I also make sure their nails are clipped regularly to prevent them from curling under which can be really painful. When I clean the cages out once a week I do a general health check to make sure they are in good shape. If ever your guinea pig is in need of vet attention the best thing to do is to take them to an exotic vet which specialise in guinea pig care. I found out about BBEVS through the Australian Cavy Sanctuary website and after having experienced their exceptional care and expertise I would never take my guinea pigs anywhere else. Guinea pigs are such wonderful animals. My guinea pigs have brought so much happiness into my life. They are now my favourite animal. They are so unique and you could spend hours watching them and what they get up to. Guinea pigs are often seen as disposable pets, this is so far from the truth. Most people think they are very timid animals that are impossible to bond with and this is not true at all.

I had a very special moment the other week with my beautiful guinea pig Waffle who I adopted from ACS. In her previous home she had been bought as a child’s pet and put in an outdoor hutch in the backyard and they never really got time to spend with her. A beautiful foster carer and volunteer for ACS, Margot, took her in and I adopted her shortly after. Waffle was very timid and would twitch and wheek when you tried to pat her because she was so scared. I persevered with her every day and the other week I took her out for a cuddle, laid down on the couch with her and she toddled up to my neck and proceeded to fall asleep on me. She was so comfortable she even stuck her little foot out. This was a special moment. Most of my guinea pigs and the guinea pigs that are surrendered to shelters such as ACS and CAGPR have some pretty horrific background stories. My very special girl, Wombat, was left to die in someone’s backyard with little food and water after they had moved out. An animal rescue org found her a week later and then ACS took her in and put her on foster care. This special lady is my best friend. We do everything together. She will follow me around, give me kisses and watch all my favourite TV shows with me. Whenever I think about what my baby girl has been through and how far she has come, it brings tears to my eyes. If you let guinea pigs into your family and give them what they need and deserve…proper diet, housing, food, LOVE, they can be the most beautiful pets. From thinking popcorn was just a snack to eat, to associating it to my guinea pigs happiness, I have learnt so much. Once you let a guinea pig into your life they will have you hook, line and sinker.

One of my favourite quotes is… When given a chance to shine a guinea pig will warm the heart and soul for life. – Jessica Proietti, Manager and founder of ACS. 8 months ago I knew nothing about guinea pigs. I have learnt so much thanks to these websites and the people involved with the Australian Cavy Sanctuary, Cavy Angels Guinea Pig Rescue and the staff at BBEVS. http://www.australiancavysanctuary.com http://www.cavyangelsguineapigrescue.com http://www.guinealynx.info/ http://www.bbevs.com.au/

Written by Elyse Kennedy (ACS Brisbane Shelter volunteer and foster carer)

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Introducing Carmen and “The Cushy Cavy” My love for guinea pigs began when I was 9. My parents surprised me with 2 girls – Cappuccino & Princess Jasmine! They were always part of happy playtime with me & my brother, enjoying rides in the back of his toy Tonka truck. If I had been bullied at school, I knew that I always had my little friends when I got home. I was allowed to keep them in my room at night – their happy chatter comforting me from being scared of the dark. Now in my twenties, I wanted to have pets back in my life. I’d moved out of the family home on the farm & relocated to the city for work. Then a year ago I found ‘Peanut’, a baby boy from Toowoomba. It took some convincing my boyfriend but Peanut soon won him over. Peanut lived without a companion but was part of our family, receiving plenty of attention & cuddles. We had heard of the Pignic in the Park advertised so decided to go along - this is how I found ACS. I was so impressed by the values of the organisation & to meet other people with a ‘passion for piggies’! I realised Peanut needed a friend. It was definitely a challenge to find him a perfect pal with a few meet-&-greets not resulting in a match-made-in heaven! Jess at ACS was determined & kept persevering with our adoption. Her dedication to guinea pigs is inspiring. She introduced us to a rescued piggie who had just had 2 babies. This is when ‘Cashew’ came to complete our happy home. My experience with the ACS & speaking with Jess encouraged me to try my hand at making piggy products, as sourcing products was proving to be difficult at times for her. I hadn’t sewn since high school but had been given a sewing machine for Christmas from my mum. I now have created ‘The Cushy Cavy’ – a range of fleecy blankets, beds & other accessories to make the lives of guinea pigs as comfy as possible. I am still developing my range, with plenty of ideas in the pipeline. Prices range from $8 for small snuggle sacks to $20 for my ‘Pork-Couture’ bedding collection. Products are available at the ACS shelter in Narangba and I also custom-make. Orders can be placed via Face book or thecushycavy@gmail.com. I am really excited about my new venture & look forward to learning more, meeting people with a shared interest & to help piggies live a ‘cushy’ life!

Written by Carmen Blatchly

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I’m not new to Guinea Pigs I got my first female pair from a pet store in Shepparton nearly 6 years ago. It was quickly discovered that I had a boy and a girl (a common occurrence for pet store purchases). My girl, Josephine, was pregnant by the time we got Charlie fixed. Those two pigs and their 3 babies began my love affair with guinea pigs. I know I get a lot of funny looks when I start talking about them because to me they are my babies. Ask me how they are and you’ll get a complete update (including photos!). I adopted Emma as a friend for Josephine in early February. Josephine’s cage mate (and daughter) had passed away a few months earlier and she never adapted well to being a single pig, so when a woman I met on a live journal community offered me her female guinea pig I jumped at it. Josephine and Emma got along from the start. Unfortunately, for my Jo, she passed away in late April and Emma regressed into a fearful, nervy pig in the space of a week. A decision was made that Emma needed a friend however I was going to do it the right way this time. No pet store. No breeder. Not from off a live journal community. A shelter was where I was headed to and a place dedicated to guinea pigs. I contacted the Australian Cavy Sanctuary this time. We quickly arranged for me to come out with Emma to have a play-date with some guinea pigs. We did make it out to her place, but our little city car was not going to make it down her driveway. I was disappointed but I did not give up hope that Emma would have a friend! I contacted Lil (who was wondering where I was) and she decided to bring out a selection of female pigs for Emma to pick from. So out came 12 pigs in the back of Lil’s car. After a nervous few hours Emma decided on Fizzy (Fizz wizz as she’s nicknamed), a 6 month old Abby Himalayan who is just a darling guinea pig and puts up with my bossy little Emma! I had a pair again and a noisy pair at that. My house is once again filled with happy and wheeking guinea pigs and my heart it feels whole once again. For some people, they are just Guinea Pigs. For me they are amazing lifetime companions. Once you get a guinea pig you will always have them in your life in some way. Written by ACS message board member.

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Spot the six differences between the two pictures of ACS mascot ‘William’.

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Solve the puzzle and find the hidden word!

(All words go downwards except the hidden word which goes across).

Help Max the guinea pig eat his way through the pear.

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Hidden word

Shelter Wish Lists!

Thank you in advance for your invaluable support! ACS Brisbane Shelter The ACS Brisbane shelter urgently needs the following: • Pavers (square) and timber logs (need for grounds before open day on July 2nd) • Whole newspapers (not shredded) • Revolution for cats or dogs • Malaseb wash • Sterilizing hand gel

Ongoing needs: • Wood shavings • Glen 20 spray disinfectant • Monetary donations • Cleaning vinegar, Ammonia or Bleach (used for sterilising) • F10 disinfectant or alternatively hospital grade disinfectant • Disposable gloves • Unneeded guinea pig cages and accessories (If the shelter does not have a direct use for your cage/accessories your donation still is greatly appreciated. The Shelter often raises essential funds by re-selling some donated items. All proceeds go directly to the animals in our care. • Fruit & Vegetables (Please no citrus, pawpaw, stone fruit, pumpkins or potatoes as the guinea pigs don’t eat them. Vegetable scraps boxes are fine although please preferably have only single types of vegetables in each box. Sadly it takes us ages to sort through all the vegetables in the box and much gets thrown away). ACS Ballarat Shelter • Monetary donations • Wood shavings • Hay • Water bottles • Milk thistle weeds (The piggies love to eat these and they can be found in most people’s gardens) ACS Melbourne Shelter The ACS Melbourne shelter urgently needs the following: • Outdoor patio/gas heater (tabletop or industrial blower version) • Cattle Ivermectin (bought online or at produce stores) • Water bottles Ongoing needs: • Oaten/wheaten combo chaff and quality oaten hay (or grassy hay without rye) • Steamed and rolled oats • Barastoc Completo (horse mix) • Vegetable donations • Outdoor patio/gas heater (tabletop or industrial blower version) • Monetary donations to assist with vet bills ACS Sydney Shelter • Blankets and towels (urgent need) • Monetary donations

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Make a donation Your donation will help make a difference to the lives of the homeless guinea pigs being cared for at ACS shelters. By giving, you are helping us to be able to continue to expand, supply aid, awareness and sanctuary to the 1000’s of homeless guinea pigs that we receive each year. The Australian Cavy Sanctuary is a non profit community purpose organisation and every dollar makes a difference. You are able to make a donation to an ACS Shelter of your choice via shelter pay pal accounts, cheque, money order, bank deposit or cash or you can make a general donation to the Australian Cavy Sanctuary bank account. For further information on making a donation to the Australian Cavy Sanctuary please visit our donations page on the ACS website at: http://australiancavysanctuary.com/makeadonation.htm

Our Shelters

QUEENSLAND ACS SHELTERS

ACS Brisbane Shelter Location: Narangba, Brisbane

Contact Name: Jessica Contact Number: 0431 966 054 Email: fizzygirl28@hotmail.com Visiting Hours: 11:00am-4:00pm

Saturday &Thursday by appointment.

VICTORIA ACS SHELTERS

ACS Ballarat Shelter ‘Eureka Cavies' Location: Ballarat

Contact Name: Simone Collins Contact Number: 0400 055 756 Email: scollins@ncable.net.au Visiting Hours: By Appointment.

ACS Melbourne Shelter

‘Chuffnut Cavies’ Location: Melbourne, Victoria.

Contact Name: Lil Contact Number: 0417 494 794 Email: acsmelbourne@gmail.com Visiting Hours: By Appointment

NSW ACS SHELTERS

ACS Sydney Shelter ‘Cavy Central’

Location: Mt Colah (Near Hornsby) NSW

Contact Name: Lyn Contact Number: 0403 155 810

Email: admin@ozfairs.com Visiting Hours: By Appointment.

For all non shelter specific enquiries including general and medical enquiries please email: australiancavysanctuary@hotmail.com Want to make a contribution to a future edition of the Australian Cavy Sanctuary Newsletter? For all feedback, contributions and article ideas please email: australiancavysanctuary@hotmail.com For every edition we are also featuring a section called ‘your piggy photos’. If you have a cute shot of one of your guinea pigs and would like to see them in the next edition, please send photos to fizzygirl28@hotmail.com

Kids corner answers Max’s six differences – additional piece of hair at top of head, smaller nose, no chin line, hair missing on left side, no toes on right foot; and grey hair added on back.

Word puzzle solution Hidden word: Grass

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LOVE . CARE . AWARENESS

All content, images and articles contained within The Australian Cavy Sanctuary Newsletter are © Copyright of their original author. They may not be reproduced in any shape or form without written permission from the author or the Australian Cavy Sanctuary.