Los Angeles Guinea Pig Cooperative

Statement and Regulations

Purpose: The goal of Los Angeles Guinea Pig Cooperative (LAGPC) is to provide its

members with pet sitting services. While many of us have relied on friends and family, or pet sitting services in the past a co-op can replace this so that we no longer have to worry about what to do with our pets when we go out of town, burden our friends and family, pay expensive boarding fees, or worry that they are receiving proper care.  By forming a co-op, together we can overcome these issues and provide each other with guinea pig sitting services from other knowledgeable pet owners for free.

Regulations:

Membership: Anyone is welcome to join! In order to join applicants must have at least one member or small animal adoption center that can vouch for them and their knowledge of proper guinea pig care. This includes an understanding of feeding, housing, and basic health problems/care.  Members must be able to feed and provide enough housing for any guinea pigs they are sitting. New members will be added to the mailing list and be required to agree to this form and all rules. If your are interested in joining, please click on the link at the right to fill out an application.

Points: Similar to how child sitting co-ops work, LAGPC operates on a cumulative point system where members earn points by sitting and spend points by having another member watch their pigs. Each point corresponds to watching one pig per day (e.g. watching four pigs for three days will earn you twelve points). The points will be kept track of through a google docs spreadsheet which all members can view. New members are given 30 points.  While members are allowed to go negative, they generally will not be allowed to request services when negative except under extreme circumstances.

Requesting Service: Pet sitting can be requested by sending a mass e-mail to the entire group at LAGPC@googlegroups.com.  Please be sure to ask for service as soon as you are in need so that you can get the service you need and other members can plan appropriately. In a requesting e-mail be sure to include the following information: dates requested, number of pigs, sex of pigs, housing needs, any special dietary or medical needs, location^[1] (pigs can be watched at either the sitters home or checked in on once or twice a day at the owners home). Once the pet sitting request has been filled, please send a reply-all e-mail to your initial request to notify that the request has been filled and another to the secretary so the points exchange can be noted in the running spreadsheet.

Before Sitting: Once arrangements have been made the pet owner and sitter should remain in contact and possibly meet once.  The meeting can also occur when the pets are dropped off if ample time is allowed.  A meeting is strongly encouraged in order to allow the owner and sitter to get to know each other and go over their own care instructions.  Before this meeting the pet owner should prepare a detailed list of pet care instructions (please see the example page) and contact numbers. While all members have a good understanding of guinea pig care, guinea pigs may have special needs that should be attended to. At the same time, remember that we are all trying to help each other so please be flexible. Lastly, exchange a house key if the pet is being checked in on at the owners home.

Sitting: By this point, all the proper arrangements have been made.  Owners: please make sure that your are on-time for drop off and pick-up.  When dropping off be sure to bring all necessary housing, hay, pellets, water bottles, and vegetables (or have made arrangements accordingly with the sitter).  Sitters: please adhere to care instructions and be sure to treat the pigs as they are your own. Be sure to immediately contact the owner (or another one of their contacts) if you have any questions or there is any sort of problem.