To all our wonderful prospective adoptive homes,
After a crazy couple of weeks, and world-wide lockdowns to stem the number of COVID-19 cases, we continue to receive adoption enquiries.

We value your adoption enquiries, and we value you. We need wonderful homes for our precious furries...

However, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO ADOPT. We have decided not to hold adoptions until the treat of this virus has passes. Yes, this could be a while. It could be months. But until we fully understand the rate of spread and the risk factors in this country, WE ARE CLOSED TO ADOPTIONS. If not to protect ourselves against potential risks, then at least to DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM LEAVING THEIR HOMES FOR NON-ESSENTIAL REASONS.

Adoptions can wait. It is non-essential. Please, for your own sakes and for the purposes of not being an unwitting transmitter of this disease, PLEASE STAY HOME.
We will still be here in a month, in 2 months, maybe even in 3 months time. ADOPTIONS CAN WAIT.

Yes, other shelters around the country are remaining open - if they choose to do so, then that is their choice. The Chuffnut team, however, will NOT encourage people to come from their homes into potentially risky environments to make their way to the shelter.

The best way to reduce the time we are in lockdown is to TAKE THIS LOCKDOWN SERIOUSLY. If we ALL take this seriously, if we ALL self-isolate for a month, then perhaps we can get this horror disease in check much faster and STOP placing the LIVES of high-risk people people on the line every single time you and your family leave the home.

When you need to go out for ESSENTIAL items, only one member of the family should be going out, not family units.
Please do this, please. We don't want to be in lockdown/isolation for any longer than absolutely necessary, so if EVERYONE took this advice, then the entire process can be halted A LOT SOONER.

Thank you all for reading this rant, and we really, REALLY want to see you ALL out the other side of this, healthy, happy and adopting our beautiful Chuffnut piggies.

~Lil, shelter manager

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ACS is a non profit and non funded Community Purpose Organisation and is a combined effort by a dedicated team of individuals and volunteers across Australia who are truly passionate about the welfare and awareness of guinea pigs.

Our Objectives -

1: To educate the community on the correct care and humane treatment of guinea pigs.

2: A commitment to raising awareness and working to change the stereotypical low valued view guinea pigs have endured.

3: To supply aid and sanctuary to ill, injured, neglected, pregnant and found guinea pigs.

4: To re-home guinea pigs appropriately through adoption procedures maintained by the operation of shelters managed by ACS volunteers and staff.

5: To take whatever steps are necessary within the law to improve the quality of life, value and respect of all guinea pigs and to be the voice for those that are trapped in situations of abuse and mistreatment.

6: To support and actively endorse all aspects of animal welfare.

All ACS shelter members have had many years of hands-on experience working with guinea pigs and have a wealth of knowledge from general care to medical/health and genetics. We also are supported in conjunction by the help and advice of the best known small animal vets local to our shelters. As well as the rescue guinea pigs, shelter managers also have their own guinea pigs that they care for.

ACS does not support irresponsible breeding/selling and keeping of guinea pigs and in general we don't support the selling of live animals in pet shops. In saying this we are always more than willing to work constructively with any pet shop that is willing to work with us.
ACS is always willing to offer advice, to offer ACS leaflets and small animal care information and we are willing to take on or help with any sick or unwell guinea pigs that a pet shop may receive, as the welfare of every guinea pig comes first and foremost no matter where they come from.

ACS accept any ill, injured and found guinea pigs that people from the public may wish to surrender to the shelters. We accept ANONYMOUS PHONE CALLS from anyone that wishes to report a possible guinea pig mistreatment case. We will take steps to try to resolve the case ourselves first then can work with the RSPCA or DELWP in more serious circumstances where further action may need to be taken. Please feel free to contact us even if unsure if the case is serious enough as we are more than willing to check it out. We accept guinea pigs from interstate and pay for full transport costs to have them sent to an ACS shelter, if there is no REPUTABLE rescue located locally.

ACS is a NO-KILL shelter, and euthanasia is only considered for critically ill and/or unnecessarily suffering guinea pigs. This is done humanely by our trusted exotics vet. We will NEVER have a guinea pig put to sleep without first offering them every chance for survival.

We are dedicated to taking a stand for the quality of life, value and respect of all guinea pigs, and to be the voice for those that are unfortunately trapped in helpless situations of abuse and mistreatment. In modern society today guinea pigs are still very undervalued and can be viewed as " the cheap backyard disposable pet " or "child's play toy". It's time to take a bigger stand to try to change this - attitudes are changing, but the change will never come fast enough for the many gorgeous animals that still live in bad situations or are being used as a money-making "machine" by backyard breeders. We are committed to the ongoing challenge to change society's perception of these wonderful animals.

When given a chance to shine a guinea pig will warm the heart and the soul for life...

http://australiancavysanctuary.org/opt-to-adopt

OR
contact us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Chuffnut-Cavies-Australian-Cavy-Sanctuary-Melbourne-Shelter-132958846775921/