Hospice at Home, Tuna's Guinea Pig Rescue

The Hospice at Home program offers assistance for owners with terminally ill and senior guinea pigs. The program provides help with supplies (hay, pellets, bedding), medications and cremation.

To qualify, the a guinea pig must be

1. Over the age of 7.5

and/or

2. Suffering from an incurable terminal illness with a life expectancy of less that 1 year, they can be placed in our Nursing Home or Hospice programs.

Owners are responsible to ensure pigs receive appropriate nutrition, live in appropriate conditions, recieve proper medical care and medications, see vets when required and communicate with Sanctuary staff on quality of life decisions. The program is NOT intended to cover all expenses, and is designed to assist with end of live care.

At this time, our Hospice at Home program is only available in Virginia and Florida.

To apply for our Hospice at Home program, complete the following form:

Name

First

Last
Date / Time
Pig Name
Current Weight
Coloring and Breed
Gender

Male Female
Is the pig over 7.5 years old?

Yes No
Does the pig have a current diagnosis?

Yes No
If so, what is the diagnosis and who made it?
Hospice at Home Program Requirements
To qualify for the program, current owners must:

1. Agree to a preliminary home visit/live digital walkthrough to determine the condition of the pig(s) and home environment. During the the initial visit (or subsequent visits), the Sanctuary volunteer will perform a health check and may administer approved maintenance medications.

2. Provide an approved home environment that meets foster home level standards. This includes at least 8-10 square feet of living space, clean dust free paper/fleece bedding, at least one enclosed hide, timothy-based pellets, unlimited timothy hay, fresh veggies daily and clean water. Home must also be smoke and toxin free.

3. Transport the pig(s) to a Sanctuary approved Vet Hospital for assessment. This program is only designed for animals over the age of 7.5 or/and suffering from a terminal illness. Those that do not fit this criterion will need to be moved to the Adoption by Owner program.

4. Complete program paperwork and agree to regular health checks and home visits.

5. Re-certify pig(s) yearly to remain in the program.

Hospice at Home Program Outline
As part of the program, TGPR commits to assist with:

1. Veterinary care for initial assessment and pain/condition management medications (as approved).

2. Costs of euthanasia if determined necessary by approved Vet Hospital.

3. Hay, pellets, bedding and supplements as needed and available.

Note that support is depended on available funds and vet approved next steps. Regular communication is key for program success.
I agree to all of the information and requirements above, and will adhere to the necessary actions as outlined. *
By agreeing to participate in the program, you agree to relinquishing custody of the pig(s) to TGPR. You will serve as an end-of-life foster. If you do not adhere to the requirements of the program, you agree to allow TGPR to take physical custody.