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
S
Stephanie
donated
$104.42
I absolutely love you guys and all the work that you do, literally am obsessed. This is one of many donations to come, I wish there were more rescues like you. You have made so many guinea pigs happy, healthy, and saved so many lives. Thank you so much for the work that you do! 💕
G
Georgia
donated
$10.72
D
Anonymous
AR
Ashley Regalado
donated
$26.34
To help with the latest huge piggy surrender
DQ
Diann Quaranto
donated
$10.90
I
Anonymous
MB
Mark Baker
donated
$73.19
J
Jessica
BB
Brigitte Brunette
donated
$21.13
Since No One never read these. it don't matter what I type. Beavis has bigger nuts than Nacho, however, Nacho has an all dark brown body and whit fur on his nuts so you can't help but notice them. Beavis nuts are camouflaged. They're orange and black like the rest of his fur. 🤣
M
Maxwell
In honor Buttercup & Lily. Both pigs lived happily with their sisters and always had a belly full of veggies and treats. They even went to college. Rest easy sweet pigs, we will miss you ❤️
M
Maxwell
LM
Anonymous
Guinea Pigs are awesome
KT
Kyle Taylor
donated
$10
Just another small donation to thank you for the touching postcard about baby Skye ♥ Especially across the pond. I have adopted a new piggy called Milo and he's being spoiled too now :) I may even contact you guys in the future for advice, as I think I want to open my own rescue one day.
JT
James Taylor
donated
$52.23
Thank you all for defending these innocent beings!
BB
Brigitte Brunette
donated
$21.08
Here is the rest of my donation. I appreciate you responding to me. I know I sometimes go over board with commenting, So I decided I wont comment on your regular videos in-between lives. But I'll just give you a thumbs up for those. I'll only comment on the lives from now on, since you did acknowledge me for the timestamps and piggy shots. I very much appreciate it❗ 💯👍 I do really enjoy doing those. I am sorry if I make a pain out of myself and will work on chilling out and not freaking out when the timestamps are not edited in. I always try to get them up for the fans as fast as possible, because the majority of views a lives gets after it's done broadcasting is usually like the first 72 hours and than views slow way down. Anyway, I will do better at not keeping bothering your staff. I forget you don't always have as many people as needed for all the work you have. It makes me happy to know you and others like some of the piggy shots and other shots as much as I enjoy taking them. An I will comment less but still watch ads and at least give you a thumbs up. An only comments on the lives and share facebook piggy shots and whatever else cool appears on the lives, that way I'm Not commenting so much and I will stop assuming there's a problem with anything. I am sorry. My mind Never slows down 😟☮🌻
BB
Brigitte Brunette
donated
$10.70
I was going to send in a bigger donation, but since the timestamps weren't done. It just feels like only a small handful of fans actually care. I donate what I can each month, Sometimes more💲. An I do this knowing I am Not and NEVER will be good enough to be part of the team when all I ever wanted is just to approve my own piggyshots for FB and nothing more, so I don't have to bother you guys about approving them. I know I am not liked Nor trusted at all. Yet I still send in donations and do the timestamps and take piggy shots anyway. I really was going to send in more💲, but when I noticed the timestamps still weren't done! I had a change of heart. Maybe if they get done soon. I may have another change of heart and send in more IDK.
D
Daniel
donated
$100
My guinea pig, Rubble, sadly passed away this past weekend and I am heartbroken. He showed me a lot of love and I want to return that love, even if it’s just something small. The LA Guinea Pig rescue does so much for piggies. Thank you for everything that you do.
J
Jody
donated
$15/M
Couple of years ago I adopted a senior boy guinea pig named Phineas. He was my little man and work buddy. I work from home and can not explain the joy that the provided me. I did not own a guinea pig before and am so grateful for all the resources you provide that helped educate me along the way to ensure my little man had everything he needed to be healthy and happy. I miss him dearly now that he has passed, and wanted to give to the LA Guinea Pig Rescue in remembrance of him. May God bless you and all that you do, as you care for these precious little creatures, providing them with the care and love they all deserve. Thank you <3
NM
Nanette Mocanu
donated
$100
SM
Susan Marston
donated
$104.15
I love watching your videos and wish I could adopt a couple but I have 2 large dogs and it would be too much at this time. (Not to mention I live in Minnesota!) But I want to support your work and the love you have for these adorable creatures.
LN
Laszlo Nemeth
donated
$519.52
We love you guys! We love what you do. All our piggies Loki, Kiki, Pablo and Lucy sending you love. Laszlo
KL
Krystian L.
donated
$100
Thank you for all that you do :)
S
Sally
donated
$21.08
Thank you for all you do From: Sally and Henry and Ollie the Guinea pigs, Burnaby, BC
AV
Amy Valenzuela
donated
$26.27
In honor of Saskia and all the volunteers.
CL
Carol Lauver
donated
$52.23
My sister Valerie and her daughter Jasmine adopt piggies from shelters and folks no longer able to keep them. They love them and care for them everyday. This video made me wish the owner knew someone like them instead of leaving the piggie hidden behind your wall, or had rang the bell for help.
K
Kyle
donated
$21.23
In honour of my baby boy Skye, who passed away in my arms 12 hours ago. Use it to make more babies happy x
NM
Nanette Mocanu
donated
$52.23
Saskia, you're my SHEro! Two days ago you sent me your taming video. I started and it's working already. This is a very small example of the good work you do.
J
Jessenia
donated
$21.08
Thank you for everything you guys do!
K
Katherine
For a new washer!
BB
Brigitte Brunette
donated
$31.46
Even though No one reads these. I still mean what I say. Thank you for letting me do the timestamps and share cute piggy screenshots in Wheekers❗💯😊🐹🐹