Guinea Pig Donations
My name is Saskia Chiesa and I live in Los Angeles. I started LAGPR some 20 years ago. My love of guinea pigs began when when I held a little piggie in my hands for the very first time. It was love at first sight I started LAGPR after arriving here in 1998 from The Netherlands. I was blown away by the lack of rescue support and resources for guinea pigs here in LA. I learned there were not just dog rescues but breed specific dog rescues even. There were rat rescues, turtle rescues, pigeon rescues and tons of bunny rescues but nothing at all for guinea pigs. I haven't looked back from that first day I opened the doors.
"Guinea pigs are such gentle, humble and innocent little beings. Each one of them has a unique personality with endearing and quirky traits"
If I have learned anything in the years of doing this work is that there is a tremendous need for the services we provide. Surrender request come in every day, usually between 2 - 6 daily. We have a waiting list for intakes and not a day goes by that guinea pigs show up at some of the 12 local animals shelters we cover. We offer free wellness checks and nail clips for all guinea pigs regardless of whether they were adopted from us. We have a phenomenal team of volunteers who donate all their free time who assist with anything from adoptions, medicating, feeding, cage cleaning and guinea pig bubble baths.
Each year we rescue thousands of guinea pigs from private parties and the local animal shelters here in Los Angeles. People find them on hiking trails, in cages in or by the trash bin, in backyards and in boxes discarded by the roadside. We work with law enforcement when our assistance and expertise is needed for a neglect and or hoarding case. We specialize in getting sick pigs healthy and back on their feet. I make educational YouTube videos on everything guinea pig to freely share all I have learned in my many years of caring for these humble and gentle creatures.
"More than 2000 guinea pigs were rescued
and adopted out last year alone"
I think we are doing a good job servicing our local community but my ambitions go beyond that. My goal is to open up a low cost guinea pig specific teaching clinic. A place where guinea pig and their owners can get low cost treatment and veterinaries from all over the world can come and learn the intricacies of guinea pig medicine. We will also be able to initiate studies to learn more about common illnesses, their causes and treatments. A very exciting project that I am so very passionate about. Estimation is that we will need $150,000 to get the project going and hope is that the clinic will pay for itself.
"At any time we have as little as 120 and as many as
350 guinea pigs in our care"
Guinea pigs are such gentle, humble and innocent little beings. Each one of them has a unique personality with endearing and quirky traits. They are so very depended on their care takers which makes them so very vulnerable. I am so blessed and so very thankful that the universe conspired to make me the voice of these precious little fur-balls. It is very humbling to be able to do this work and I am deeply grateful to be in a position to do so.
Will you donate?
Your donation today will allow us to buy pellets and hay, pay the veterinary bills and all the other many expenses that come with operating a rescue shelter.
It costs over $150,000 a year to run the rescue at its current capacity and without funds from fellow guinea pig lovers we would not even get close to making the impact we make today.
Our donors
KG
Anonymous
donated
$30
LN
Santa Barbara Fish Market
donated
$259.92
For Minnie's surgery
B
Brad
donated
$50
Myrtle the 6 yr old skinny pig would like to donate for Minnie's surgery and wishes her well.
LN
Lisa Nobes
donated
$21.08
MS
Melanie Silva
donated
$150
In memory of Luca Bear, Odin, and Anton - for all your new little babies!
H
Heather
donated
$104.12
I appreciate everything you do to save so many Guinea pigs lives. Thank you!
M
Max
donated
$21.08
J
Anonymous
I follow LAGPR on Facebook and this rescue is awesome. Thank you for all you do for guinea pigs.
KW
Kathleen West
donated
$21.08/M
JH
Judy Hill
donated
$104.12
In memory of our sassy piggie Lars 2016-2022, who was always trying to take over the household, if not the world. We, the Gagne Gang, your loyal and obedient servants salute you!
AA
Anna Anna
donated
$135.50
These are proceeds from a garage sale and a lemonade stand my six-year-old organized, we had quite a few people donate specifically for the animal shelter knowing that it’s Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue! Hope you guys can put it to good use, thank you for all your wonderful Work!
ER
Emilie Resca
donated
$50
Thank you so much for what you do for your guinea pigs. It is rare to see people do so much for such small animals, and it is really great how much you guys care for them. I am donating in memory of my guinea pig Pickle.
CW
Anonymous
donated
$10.87
Keep up the amazing work!
BB
Brigitte Brunette
donated
$15.89
No one sees these. I placed an order for two raffle tickets and sending the rest this way. I hope my raffle tickets went through.🐹🐹💯
M
Megan
donated
$26.27
D
David
donated
$26.41
I am glad to support your wonderful rescue. Best Wishes.
CC
Charles Conner
donated
$40
I love the way guinea pigs talk to you - such sweeties
R
Rachel
donated
$156.07
I adopted from the lagpr earlier this week, and wanted to let you know that Zyra is settling in well and we are already bonding. I also wanted to donate in memory of my first 2 piggies, wouldn't be who I am without them.
S
Shana
donated
$50
Thank you for making so many piggies have good lives and helping teach people about how to take good care of them! My Syrup will forever be grateful.
A
Anja
Thank you so much for all you do, I just watched a Youtube video by the amazing Saskia about "Guinea Pig Vitamin C Supplementation?" - you saved me a ton of stress and I will be taking your advice as to how to supplement my piggies with vitamin c! One of my piggies is allergic to ALL forms of sugar/molasses (she goes into GI stasis every time) to the point she can't even have the Vitamin C tablets or Childlife liquid all the exotic vets recommended for them. I can't give her fruits (or even bell peppers), but your breakdown provided in this video about how much vitamin C a guinea pig needs and can get from dark leafy greens was so very helpful, I'm incredibly grateful because I've been stressing over this so much for my little girl. Thank you so much not just for this video but for everything you all do! I am also an Amazon Smile supporter of your organization...every little bit helps! <3
MM
Michael Mikulaninec
donated
$500
I will email to make sure matching funds are received. I hope you tried the bell I mailed recently that lets guinea pigs call you when they want something.
VR
Vina Ramos
donated
$57.42
Thank you LA Guinea Pig Rescue for your unending dedication helping Guinea Pigs from all places! Ms. Saskia’s videos are always so informative. I truly appreciate you all, especially Ms. Avery for always finding the time to help us ! Thank you!
AR
Alex Ruimy
donated
$104.15
AO
Andi Owens
donated
$20
Annalise and Lily performed an “Easter Guinea pig talk show” for the neighbors and raised money to donate to the rescue. Candy, StayPuft and Cupcake gave their opinions on the Easter Bunny and their roommates.
FS
Felicia and Tony Scranton
donated
$52.23
Saskia, we have learned so much from your videos about what to do for our rescue piggies. Thank you for all that you and your volunteers do . You are amazing!
H
Holly
donated
$15.89
CH
Claudia Hutton
donated
$104.15
A donation seemed to be a better way to aid LAGPR than me trying to buy stuff. Thank you for all the good work you are doing.
D
Dean
donated
$100
Year after year you take excellent care of these wonderful little creatures and I marvel at your dedication and your heart.
BB
Brigitte Brunette
donated
$10.70
I wish someone actually read these.
L
Lee-Folia
donated
$21.08
Thank you so much for all that you do for these darlings.