How to help: foster, volunteer, sponsor or donate

Foster carers play a vital role in the behind-the-scenes work at Qld Guinea Pig Refuge. We constantly rely on the help of dedicated foster carers to take on guinea pigs until they are able to find their forever homes.

If you are over the age of 18 and would like to volunteer your time for a fulfilling and rewarding role as a foster carer for Qld Guinea Pig Rescue, please click the button below to fill out a foster carer application form. A member of Qld Guinea Pig Rescue will be in contact with you regarding the outcome of your enquiry.

Have you wanted to be more involved with the Refuge but not sure how?  ​Here’s your chance!  You can volunteer as little as once a month, or more often if you have the time to spare.  There are several tasks we need help with, including food mixing and Piggy Parlour at open days.  Full training will be provided.  If you can't help at open days, other behind-the-scenes tasks include helping to clean cages, fundraising, printing and sewing. 

If you feel that you would be able to commit to helping in any of these ways, even for a short period of time, please click the button below to fill out a volunteer application form.   Please note that the minimum age for volunteers is 16 years due to insurance and blue card requirements. 

Would you love to foster or adopt but aren’t able to?  Or do you simply just want to help more?  Sponsoring allows you to help us help guinea pigs in need.

You can sponsor a cage of foster guinea pigs for the small amount of $10 a week, which helps us to cover the costs of providing basic medical checks, mite treatment, worming, food and bedding. With over 60 cages of guinea pigs in our care at all times, every cage sponsorship helps.

Qld Guinea Pig Refuge often cares for many guinea pigs, that arrive into care with various painful medical conditions. Since we've opened QGPR has cared for guinea pigs with broken legs, bumblefoot, severe mange and dental disease, ovarian cysts, broken bones, kidney damage and so much more. These conditions can cost over a thousand dollars to completely treat, and treatment can last for the entire period of the guinea pigs life. Currently, QGPR is seeking sponsorship for several guinea pigs on medical foster care in order for them to be able to make a full recovery and experience a happy and healthy life.

Qld Guinea Pig Refuge is a not-for-profit organization, relying entirely on support provided by the community. Donations in various forms are always greatly appreciated and needed. Currently, our wish list includes the following:​

• Plastic base cages
• Fresh, guinea pig approved fruit and vegetables
• Fleece, towels, fleecy bedding items
• Fresh barley or grassy hay with no lucerne
• Triple blend chaff
• Betadine, Malaseb, Pyohex, Neempet skin solution products
• Gauze, adhesive bandages, general bandages
• 1ml syringes
• Accessories including water bottles, bowls, igloos, beds
• Disposable gloves, garbage bags, dustpans
• Injectable cattle grade Ivomectin
• Revolution for puppies and kittens
• Bravecto for cats
• Piglet Baycox
• Critical Care, guinea pig Wombaroo formula
• Hysorb woodshavings, Carefresh bedding, newspaper

Monetary donations are also always needed and greatly appreciated. These donations go towards the rescue, housing, medical care, food, rehabilitation and adoption of rescued guinea pigs.  These donations can be made directly to Qld Guinea Pig Refuge at our open days, via bank transfer or PayPal.  All donations over $2 are tax-deductable.  Click the Donate button below to donate via Paypal.