The Oregon Humane Society in Portland took in 250 guinea pigs Wednesday from an overwhelmed Lane County pet owner.
It’s not known exactly how the unidentified owner got inundated with the furry little rodents. But experts say it can be difficult to determine a guinea pig’s gender — and they’re best kept in pairs -— because they keep each other company.
Video courtesy of the Oregon Humane Society.
Oregon Humane Society spokeswoman, Laura Klink, said an adoption timeline will be determined over the next few days. “We certainly would love to see some of these guys go home in pairs, whether it’s two males or females. But obviously, we’re going to be giving a lot of counseling on how quickly they can reproduce if you’ve got a male and a female together,” said Klink.
The Oregon Humane Society’s Cat and Kitten Intake Center has been closed because of COVID-19, so it was able to accommodate all of the guinea pigs. And because there are so many of the little critters, the society is working in partnership with the Greenhill Humane Society and Lane County Animal Services in Eugene.
The Oregon Humane Society took in over 250 guinea pigs on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2020, from a Lane County resident. They are receiving any needed medical care and are not yet available for adoption.
Courtesy Oregon Humane Society
“A crisis of this size called for collaboration. We are pleased to be working with our Lane County partner and Oregon Humane Society to help the guinea pigs and the people impacted by this situation,” said Cary Lieberman, Greenhill Humane Society Executive Director.
There will be a special process for people hoping to adopt the guinea pigs and OHS said its small-animal specialists will work with potential adopters to ensure a good fit.
“Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the need to help pets and people continues,” said Sharon Harmon, OHS’s president. “This situation is a great example of animal welfare agencies working together to serve our community.”