Success Stories
Brandy's story
Brandy was only about 6-8 months when Austin Police Department (APD) removed her from her home as part of an animal cruelty case. One of our volunteers (Lucia) picked her up from Austin Animal Center (ACC) and agreed to look after her until the case was resolved and she could be put up for adoption. But then, five days after being picked up, ACC called and said we had to take her back as APD had said we had to return her to her owner. Lucia took Brandy back to ACC in tears and with a packed goodie bag, full of all the things Brandy liked best, to include little carrots and a little cozy bed. She also included all her contact details, in case Brandy's owner didn't want to keep her. Two days later, ACC called to say the owner had surrendered her, so Lucia rushed to pick Brandy up again, this time with no restrictions!
Lucia initially fostered Brandy but in the end she and her husband decided to adopt her, as Brandy and Lupi appeared to get on so well. The girls got a brand new C&C cage with an upstairs, so they would have more room, and the rest is history! It's so much fun to watch them together, and both seem really happy!
Brandy was only about 6-8 months when Austin Police Department (APD) removed her from her home as part of an animal cruelty case. One of our volunteers (Lucia) picked her up from Austin Animal Center (ACC) and agreed to look after her until the case was resolved and she could be put up for adoption. But then, five days after being picked up, ACC called and said we had to take her back as APD had said we had to return her to her owner. Lucia took Brandy back to ACC in tears and with a packed goodie bag, full of all the things Brandy liked best, to include little carrots and a little cozy bed. She also included all her contact details, in case Brandy's owner didn't want to keep her. Two days later, ACC called to say the owner had surrendered her, so Lucia rushed to pick Brandy up again, this time with no restrictions!
Lucia initially fostered Brandy but in the end she and her husband decided to adopt her, as Brandy and Lupi appeared to get on so well. The girls got a brand new C&C cage with an upstairs, so they would have more room, and the rest is history! It's so much fun to watch them together, and both seem really happy!
Brandy when she was first picked up, all scared and with urine scalds on her footsies :-(
|
|
|
Becoming friends with Lupi...
|
Happily ever after :-)
|
|
Candy's story
Candy was a baby who came in pregnant. She was so small and too young. She went into labor sooner than expected and then had some trouble. She had to be taken to the vet when the babies weren't being born. The vet did an x-ray and found one of the babies lodged in the birth canal. Candy needed to have a c-section to save her life and to try and save her babies. The one who was stuck did not survive, but the other three did. Thanks to careful monitoring and a very skilled vet, they all are healthy and have been adopted. Candy was also spayed and required some follow ups to be sure she healed and recovered from the ordeal. You can imagine the vet bills just from this one little pig, who came to us pregnant with no thought for her well-being or financial means from her former owners to help provide for the animal they had taken on. Financial support from kind donors go to help make sure piggies like Candy are given the medical attention they need & deserve. Take a look at these cute little fluff balls and you will see how worth it they are! |
|
|
Paul's story
Paul came from a hoarding situation, and had a permanent head tilt and one eye was smaller than the other. Possibly from birth, as the piggies (30 + all the babies born soon after) were inbred, or possibly caused by damage later on. He came into AGPR's care very shy and not wanting any interaction, nipping anyone who tried to put their hand in his cage for any reason. With LOTS of love and patience, he become one of the most outgoing and friendly little ambassador piggies we have ever had. He was a favorite among everyone who met him, and his head tilt was one of his most endearing qualities. He was with the rescue over a year. He required some vet visits, as all the hoarding piggies did, and of course all the food, hay, veggies, and bedding. Adding up his care it far surpassed the $25 adoption fee, but he was worth every penny. Every bit donated to the rescue makes a difference and helps make success stories like this possible!
Since writing up this story for our site, we received some heartbreaking news: Paul passed away in August 2015 following complications from a surgical procedure. His health issues put him at risk for so many conditions, and also made surgery so much riskier. We were, however, relieved that Paul lived the last few months of his life being spoiled rotten by his adoptive mom. Here are a few words from Paul's foster mom, which sum up perfectly how we all feel about Paul at Austin Guinea Pig Rescue:
|
R.I.P., little buddy. You were very loved and are very missed. You brought so much joy to so many people, many of whom had never met a guinea pig before. What a great little ambassador you were! You came from horrible conditions and blossomed into the most outgoing, full-of-personality piggy I have fostered.
|
|
Paul with Kelsey, his foster mom.
|
