Our foster volunteers are the beating heart of our whole organization. 

Without them we couldn't do the lifesaving work that we do.

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• We serve the people and guinea pigs in Southern California across every community in Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. If you live in one of these three counties you can foster with us.
   

• We want to give our foster volunteers the best support to ensure that the guinea pigs get the top notch care they deserve. When you foster with us, you can text us anytime night or day, we are here for you.

 

• We agree to provide all the supplies you need. This includes everything except fresh daily salad that we ask you to cover. We will provide you with a list of safe vegetables.   

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• We agree to pay for any medical care the guinea pigs need while in your care.

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• We agree to take custody of or transfer the guinea pigs to another foster should you need a break or feel fostering is not right for you. We do ask that you give us as much notice as possible and allow us time to find a new place for them. 

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As a foster volunteer, you are part of the team. Here is what we need from you.

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• You agree to provide unlimited hay, approved pellets, fresh water daily, vitamin C and fresh veggies daily.

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• You agree to keep the size appropriate cage inside of your home, protected from drafts, family pets, and temperatures below 65 and above 85 degrees. 

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• Children cannot be the primary caregiver. You agree to be the primary caregiver and if there are children in the home, they will be supervised when picking up and handling the pigs.

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• You agree to keep the cage clean by spot cleaning daily and doing a full cage cleaning weekly.

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• You agree to perform nail trims and boar cleanings if necessary, we will show you how. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, you agree to drive pigs over to your head volunteer's home for them to do it for you. 

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• You agree to do weekly weigh-ins and keep a weight chart so health problems can be detected early.

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• You agree to monitor for any physical changes like loss of fur, thinning fur, flaky fur, sneezing, runny eyes and swollen feet.

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• You agree to notify us immediately if your piggies are showing any of the physical changes listed above, as well as: loss of appetite, weight loss, personality changes, nose or eye discharge, loose stools, no stools, injuries or anything else out of the ordinary.

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🐾 Foster-to-Adopt Program

Thinking about adopting guinea pigs but not sure if you’re ready to commit? Our Foster-to-Adopt Program might be the perfect fit for you!

This program is designed for individuals and families who are new to guinea pig care and want to make sure it’s the right match before adopting. Here’s how it works:

How It Works:
   1.    We provide everything you need to get started – including a cage setup, supplies, and a sweet, compatible pair of guinea pigs.
   2.    You foster them in your home for approximately 6–8 weeks while learning about their care and personalities.
   3.    We offer ongoing support during your foster period to answer questions, troubleshoot, and help you gain confidence.
   4.    At the end of the trial period, if everything feels like a good fit, you’ll have the option to adopt your foster pigs and officially welcome them into your family!

Why Choose Foster-to-Adopt?
   •    Ideal for first-time guinea pig guardians
   •    Low-pressure and fully supported experience
   •    Ensures a great match for both the pigs and the people
   •    Helps open up space in our rescue for other guinea pigs in need

We’ve had great success with this program — many of our fosters fall in love and choose to adopt. It’s a wonderful way to get started and give rescue guinea pigs a loving home.

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Communication is critical. Please read the following carefully.

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• You agree to respond when contacted within 24 hours. We will communicate with you using your preferred method whether it be phone call, text or email. If we have an approved adopter, need to confirm whether or not you can attend an adoption meeting or need to check in, we will need a timely response.

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• You agree to send us updated pictures so we can promote and help the pigs get adopted. If you are unable to take pictures and send them, you agree to drive the pigs to your head volunteer's home for them to do it for you. 

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• If you are going out of town, we ask that you give us as much notice as possible so we can make arrangements for them. If you are able to care for another volunteer's foster pig while they are out of town, that is much appreciated.

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Ready to proceed? You can fill out an online application here.

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Have a question? Contact us.