AN ANIMAL-lover from Basingstoke has transformed her back garden into a guinea pig rescue centre after being forced to quit her career because of health problems.

Lindsey Keki has launched Keki’s Guinea Pig Rescue at her home in Black Dam and is already at full capacity, taking in around 30 of the animals since opening in March.

The mother-of-five was forced to give up work as a legal secretary for a conveyancing firm after suffering from health problems including fibromyalgia and blood clots on her lungs.

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In 2021 she decided to get two male guinea pigs. However, the pair didn’t get along so Lindsey had to separate them before adopting three others.

Her husband, Simon, then transformed their garden shed for the pets to use in the winter.

The couple visited a guinea pig rescue centre in October 2022 and came home with four more of the animals.

After posting about her pets on Instagram, Lindsey was contacted by someone in January this year asking if she would take her unwanted guinea pig.

The 44-year-old then realised the extent of the problem.

Lindsey said: “A lot of rescues are under pressure and struggling to take in guinea pigs because there are so many given up for one reason or another. The cost of living is partly to do with it. Some people don’t fully understand what they are taking on.

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“I had a conversation with my husband, it was a big decision. I’m not very well and have a lot of illnesses. I was diagnosed back in 2019 with fibromyalgia and have recently been told it might be multiple sclerosis so I’m waiting for tests. My husband and children have been very supportive and I said ‘I don’t want this illness to stop me and define me’.

“The guinea pigs are the thing that brought me out of my shell and got me out of depression and up and moving. Seeing those other rescues and the pressure they were under it was a real inspiration.”

Lindsey launched the rescue centre in March and now has around 30 guinea pigs.

She said: “We take them in and they are surrendered to us and we do any medical checks. If we find anything seriously wrong, we take them to a vet who’s offered to help us out. We pay for this. Anything basic we take care of. I do all the grooming, nail trimmings and we feed them which we pay for as well as hay and shavings.”

Lindsey is now hoping to raise £500 from an open day on April 29 to buy another hutch so she can give more guinea pigs a place to stay before they are hopefully adopted.

Anyone who adopts a guinea pig is asked to pay an adoption fee that goes back to the rescue centre.

Lindsey explained that she carries out thorough checks on anyone wanting to give one of the animals a new home, including checking they have a large enough cage.

She urged anyone thinking of getting a guinea pig to research first, saying: “It is a commitment. Taking on any animal is a commitment. You need to make sure you have the correct hutch size and they do get poorly so be prepared for vet fees and put money aside for that.”

However, she said the rewards from having a guinea pig are “worth it”, adding: “They are just so funny and loving. As soon as I open the door they are squeaking at me. Two have been with us since the beginning and no one wants to take them but one comes straight up to the door and says hello and lets me stroke him. They are the most loving animals.”

Anyone wishing to attend Keki’s Guinea Pig Rescue’s open day should get in touch to confirm their attendance as numbers are limited.

For more information visit Keki’s Guinea Pig Rescue on Facebook.