Smaller pets (rabbits, rats, mice, guinea pigs just to name a few) can be wonderful additions to your family. They are often adopted by people that think that they will be less work than a dog or cat, and while it's true that you won't have to spend dedicated time taking them for daily walks there are still some very important questions to ask yourself! These little cuties are often returned to shelters/rescues when their owners become overwhelmed with the care involved. So do your homework and know the answers to some of these questions to be best prepared:

*What type of housing is required?
*What type of bedding is safest for them?
*How often does their habitat need to be cleaned and what cleaning products are safest to use for them?
*What will they eat as their primary diet?
*What treats are safe for them and how many can they have each day?
*How much interaction do they need?
*Do they need to be housed in pairs? (Most types of smaller pets need to be adopted with a friend--make sure you are adopting same sex companions or spayed/neutered pets to prevent any surprise litters.)
*Will they be most active in the day or at night?
*What type of veterinary care will they need? Is there a veterinarian in my area that can help you in an emergency situation?

If you know the answers to these questions and have determined that a small critter might be a great fit for your home, see our adoption hours below. The adoption fee for guinea pigs is $5 (cash, debit or credit accepted - please note that there is a $10 minimum when paying with debit or credit).

Adoptions hours (no appointment needed) are M/T/W/F 10 am - 12 pm and 2 pm -4 pm; TH 10 am -12 pm and 2 pm -6 pm, and SAT 9 am -1 pm. To schedule an appointment outside of those hours, and/or to learn more information regarding a particular animal, please call the Feline Department at 410-848-4810 ext 822. If no one answers, please leave a detailed message with your name and phone number, and the call will be returned by end of business Monday - Friday.

Adopters can prepare for their visit by being 21 years of age or older, having permission from their landlord to bring a new pet into their household, having some form of ID that shows their current address, and by bringing a suitable carrier to take their new companion home in.

For more information about this animal, call:
Humane Society of Carroll County at (410) 848-4810