Bring Hope to Elle with a New Guinea Pig

Hello, my name is Elle, and you probably already know me, but you might not know my story. I don't usually ask for things, but I really need some help financing my next steps in getting better mental health, and I am going to do this through pet therapy. Recently, I was approved to have an emotional support animal because I live with depression and anxiety. Especially over the last year, I have had to scale down on responsibilities and scale up on self-care in-order to make it through college.

My immediate family lives over 5,000 miles away serving God on the mission field and I don't have any close family living near me. Over the last few years I have had to make it on my own, and I have found tools and resources. I believe getting a guinea pig will be one more that can help me feel not so alone. I have spent the last two summers living on my college campus, and although I appreciate the discounted rate, it is difficult to be in one place year-round and during holidays when everyone else is going home. At the end of the year I experience a lot of overwhelm because when most people are looking forward to the summer, I am reminded that this is the time of year where I will be isolated for several months, without much social connection, and having to fend for myself. It is jarring.

Why do I want a guinea pig? For one thing, dogs are crazy expensive (even from shelters), and I honestly don't know if I could manage the upkeep right now. As a full-time student and someone working several part-time jobs, I don't want to commit to an animal that would need to be walked. Growing up I had guinea pigs, so it is nostalgic for me, and I am also already familiar with what foods they eat and their normal living habits. Some years ago, my mom got us several guinea pigs during Covid and it was a lifesaver. Not only did it bring the family together and bond us, but we had something to distract us from a devastating and lonely time. I hope that getting a guinea pig starting over the summer will be a nice consistency and something I can look forward to when I get home from activities or work. I have been dealing with several health issues over this year and faced a burnout 8 months ago that still affects me to this day.

I know that it might sound silly to say that one guinea pig (or two! they are social creatures so I might have to get a pair) could change my life, but I think it can help me cope with all the transitions going on in my life. I have one more year left of university, and the thought of having to pick up my life again is very scary. Having an animal that I can take with me can be something that is consistent in my life and won't change. Plus, we all know that nature is a great source of comfort.

One more reason I believe having a guinea pig would be good for me is to motivate me to continue working. This last school year was the hardest one I have faced, and I dropped hours so that I was only working once a week. I had to do this to balance out the things on my plate, but it did have consequences. Additionally, I took an unpaid internship (super rewarding, but the gas and car insurance bills add up), and have had to be drawing out of my savings. I told myself I will not get a guinea pig unless I can afford it, and so I have been desperately been applying to jobs. It is a good motivator to earn money, and getting outside my room to go to work will also distract me from depression. I am very happy to say that I have a gig job that I am looking forward to a LOT, but I still need some additional help with money right now as I get set-up.

I have calculated what is the closest number of the the set-up fee of adopting a guinea pig and what I would need to start of with for one year.

Adoption fee: $38 x 2?

Cage: $80

Reusable bedding: $40

Disposable bedding: $80

Cleaning: $75/yr

Food for one month: $60/mnth

Thank you for listening, and please share my story if that is something you are comfortable doing.