Yee-haw! Saddle up and get ready for some adorable small animal action as Guinea Pig Awareness Week 2024 launches in true frontier style at Northumberland Zoo. The stars of the show? None other than a posse of rescued guinea pigs living it up in their very own Wild West town, Hog Springs!
Complete with tunnels to scurry through and little frontier hideouts, these furry adventurers are thriving in their custom-built home, which provides a perfect place to kick off the week-long celebration of all things guinea pig. As the days grow shorter and we swap outdoor barbecues for snuggly nights in, Guinea Pig Awareness Week is here to remind us that our small, squeaky companions need just as much attention—and a whole lot of care.
Now in its fourth year, Guinea Pig Awareness Week, which runs from 23rd to 29th September, highlights the five key welfare needs of guinea pigs, with this year’s theme: ‘nibble, nourish, thrive’. It’s all about giving our guineas the best lives possible, from their diet to their housing, and making sure they stay as healthy and happy as they are cute (which, let’s be honest, is pretty cute!).
To mark the launch, Burgess Pet Care delivered a six-month supply of their Excel Guinea Nuggets to the lucky residents of Hog Springs. Not only that, but the team at Burgess has rolled up their sleeves for a fundraiser, helping to provide shiny new flooring for the ever-expanding guinea pig playground.
Curator Lucy Edwards couldn’t be prouder of the team’s work on Hog Springs. “We’re delighted to host the launch of such an important week in the small animal calendar,” she beamed. “For Hog Springs to be recognised like this is fantastic, and it’s all thanks to the amazing team who worked so hard to create it. Our little frontier town is the perfect playground for the guineas—they’ve got plenty of tunnels to explore and all the hidey-holes they could dream of!”
This isn’t just any guinea pig enclosure—it’s a Wild West wonderland, with a theme inspired by the Bradley family’s time spent out in Kansas before they settled in Northumberland. It’s the kind of place any guinea pig would want to hang their hat!
The week is backed by some of the UK’s biggest animal welfare heavyweights—Blue Cross, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, the RSPCA, and Woodgreen Pets Charity. Even the British Small Animal Veterinary Association has thrown its support behind the campaign.
Dr Suzanne Moyes, Burgess Pet Care’s in-house vet and deputy managing director, says Hog Springs is exactly what guinea pigs need. “This set-up is fabulous! The guinea pigs’ welfare is front and centre, and they’re really thriving in their second chance at life. Guinea Pig Awareness Week is crucial because, despite being one of the nation’s favourite pets, guinea pigs are still misunderstood. Many people don’t realise how important their diet is—without enough fibre, their teeth can overgrow, so feeding hay is essential to keep their teeth in tip-top shape.”
So, as we settle into autumn, let’s all take a leaf out of Hog Springs’ book and make sure our guinea pigs get the care they deserve. Whether they’re munching on hay or exploring their little hideaways, it’s their time to shine!
This is one showdown you won’t want to miss—Guinea Pig Awareness Week is here, and it’s bigger (and fluffier!) than ever!