After Guinea Pig Sanctuary Burned, She Built It Back Up

Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals and chirps of nearly 400 guinea pigs. Depending on who you ask, tending to the daily barrage of guinea pig needs can be either a fairy tale or a horror show. For Smothermon, it’s often a mix of both. “If I could figure out how to get out of this at this point, I probably would,” Smothermon joked. “But I do believe that … I probably wouldn’t get out of bed if I didn’t have this.” Smothermon owns the Guinea Pig Sanctuary, in Salisbury, Massachusetts, about 40 miles north of Boston, per the AP. On any given day, 350 to 400 guinea pigs are housed in a modest workspace, split into cages stacked from floor to ceiling.

The space is cramped and chaotic as volunteers and visitors squeeze past each other in a converted office space. People constantly move throughout the space cleaning out cages and checking on any sick animals. But there’s also joy. The squeals from the little piggies often spark laughter, while others cuddle and comfort some of the creatures. Each animal has a name prominently displayed outside their cage. “They’re very sensitive animals,” said Janet Woodman, a volunteer at the nonprofit. “I personally think they are probably the best therapy animal next to a horse.”

Smothermon’s operation is one of the handful of animal rescues in the US devoted solely to taking in abandoned guinea pigs, filling a need as people become overwhelmed with the responsibilities required to take care of these pets. The sanctuary additionally offers boarding for guinea pigs when their owners are traveling, as well as encouraging rehoming of the animals when they can. According to Smothermon, who regularly receives calls from across the US, guinea pigs often need to be adopted in pairs. They’re social and can’t be kept in cages full time. Smothermon’s mission initially began when her grandson, Alex, who’d fallen into a fire as a child, brought home a guinea pig.

From there, Smothermon said, her family became a resource to take in abandoned guinea pigs. The family ran the rescue out of their New Hampshire house until a fire burned it down in 2019. The blaze resulted in the loss of Smothermon’s other grandson, two dogs, and dozens of guinea pigs. The tragedy sent Smothermon into a depression, but when her family was living out of a hotel as they looked for a new home, people still kept dropping off guinea pigs that needed help. Seeing the need gave Smothermon and her family the motivation to continue Alex’s dream; eventually they relocated to Massachusetts. “If I don’t get up, they don’t eat and they can die. So even though it’s not a choice, I have to,” she said. More here.