Georgia Magazine - September 2022 - 29

Oakhurst Guinea Pig Rescue,
Decatur, ogpr.org
Thomas and Mukang Pederson started Oakhurst Guinea
Pig Rescue (OGPR) in 2015 after the closure of another metro
Atlanta rescue where Thomas Pederson volunteered. In the first
four months of this year, OGPR took in 118 guinea pigs.
" A lot of shelters are seeing an increase in surrenders "
following COVID-19 lockdowns, Thomas Pederson says.
One of the rescue's biggest priorities is education.
" We make sure people have the proper information and
know what they're getting into, " he says.
That includes making sure guinea pigs have adequate
habitats, good nutrition and veterinary care. OGPR also shares
information at schools and at events such as the Atlanta Veg
Fest (now called Georgia VegFest) in Duluth and Woofstock in
Smyrna.
OGPR adopts out guinea pigs in pairs and offers bonding
meet-and-greets for potential adopters to find compatible
matches for the guinea pigs they have at home. That's because
guinea pigs are happiest with companions. Many pet stores
misidentify the sex of their guinea pigs, Pederson cautions,
which means people can " end up very quickly with 12 or more. "
Guinea pigs like Mr. Moo and Chewy are happiest in pairs,
so Oakhurst Guinea Pig Rescue adopts them out together.
OGPR relies on its 13 foster homes and two regular
volunteers, who make finding loving homes for guinea pigs
possible. Pederson also appreciates people who go out of their
way to save abandoned guinea pigs.
" We've had construction workers contact us where they've
found a family of guinea pigs in a ditch, " he says.
Georgia House Rabbit Society,
Kennesaw, houserabbitga.com
Since 1996, the Georgia House Rabbit Society's (GHRS) mission has
been to rescue domestic rabbits, find adoptive homes for them and educate
the public.
Assistant Shelter Manager Courtney Gurley says rabbits are " the thirdmost-popular
pet in America. " They're also the No. 1 most-dumped.
" People see them as starter pets, " Gurley says.
That's why education is a big part of the GHRS mission. Many people
don't realize that rabbits can live up to 12 years with proper care, which is a
commitment.
The GHRS averages 350 adoptions each year. In 2020, the GHRS moved
into a 6,500-square-foot building in Kennesaw. The organization has about
30 foster homes and 111 animals available for adoption.
The rescue has made some changes to its operation because of
concerns about RHDV-2, a highly contagious, hemorrhagic disease among
rabbits that has begun to spread in the United States in recent years. It
has restricted services like boarding and bonding (in which potential
adopters find companions for rabbits they have already) to vaccinated
rabbits only. Promotional events like the Hair Ball and Bunny Fest are
on hold, but potential adopters can view rabbits by appointment.
The shelter takes surrendered rabbits and rescues them from
Rabbits are " the third-most-popular pet in
America, " says Courtney Gurley, assistant shelter
manager for the Georgia House Rabbit Society.
dangerous situations.
Last year, " we took in 150 rabbits from a hoarding case in Lithonia, "
Gurley says. In March, staff members and
volunteers spent hours catching 18 rabbits
behind a Hooters restaurant in Roswell.
" We let the vet techs name all of them
after different wing sauces and different hot
sauces, " Gurley jokes.
MORE
www.georgiamagazine.org 29
COURTNEY GURLEY
THOMAS PEDERSON
http://www.ogpr.org http://www.houserabbitga.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org
Georgia Magazine - September 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - September 2022
