Dakin to the Rescue!

 

When the news came that there were 59 guinea pigs who needed to be taken in for adoption, the Dakin team rose to the challenge to provide a second chance for these animals in need.

On May 16, our intrepid team traveled a significant distance to a home that had 59 guinea pigs living with their caretaker.  The staff members found that the pigs were well-cared for and in a clean environment.  Their person had simply become overwhelmed by the number of pets that were occupying the home and had decided to have Dakin take them.  It was not an easy decision for her to make, but she felt it was the best course of action.

When the Dakin van returned to Springfield that afternoon, Dakin staffers were a well-oiled machine as they unloaded carrier after carrier filled with the pigs who were of varying sizes, ages and colors.  Their arrival had been anticipated by animal care personnel in the adoption center who had already cleaned and prepared cages for them.  In organized fashion the pigs were photographed individually, checked for gender and medically assessed.  It was truly a case of all hands on deck.

While some of the pigs seemed as if they might require some medical attention and were kept under supervision, the majority of them were in good condition and made their way to the adoption floor immediately.

Jumping in to help with no advance notice is standard procedure for Dakin when a call comes with news of animals who need care and re-homing.  Our organization has solid relationships with animal control offices around the Pioneer Valley (and beyond) and other shelters nearby and faraway when animals need rescuing.  In fact, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey has already taken 14 of the guinea pigs into their care to lessen our load.

When partnerships are formed in animal welfare, more and more animals are able to be saved and move on to loving homes.  Win/win!

Typically Dakin has around 8-10 guinea pigs in-house at any given time, but with this large number of recent arrivals, we are seeking extra volunteers to help care for them. If you are already a volunteer, or would like to help with this situation, please contact Jen Good-Schiff at (413) 781-4000 x 111.