“We couldn’t tell, at first, what the animal was.”
Carolyn McCabe and her boyfriend, Conor Keeling, were out on a hike in the Chicago area when they spotted what looked like a little white puffball up ahead of them in the leaves.
A Surprising Discovery
“We couldn’t tell what the animal was at first,” McCabe said.
After taking a closer look, they realized that the “fluff” they found was actually a white guinea pig. They were puzzled by how a guinea pig ended up alone on a hiking trail. Without hesitation, McCabe and Keeling set aside their plans to rescue the tiny creature.
A Quick Decision to Help
“We immediately thought, ‘We have to do something about this,’” McCabe said. “He was just so sweet. So it ended up being a very short hike that day.”
McCabe and Keeling first checked to see if the guinea pig had escaped from any nearby houses. They knocked on doors, but no one had any information. It was heartbreaking, but they realized someone must have abandoned him.
They hurried the guinea pig home and placed him in their bathtub, lined with towels to make him comfortable. They named him Quinn after the park where they found him. To help Quinn recover, they prepared a snack of fruits and veggies, allowing him to relax after his ordeal in the woods.
Quinn Settles In
At first, Quinn was quite skittish. But it didn’t take long for him to start feeling at home, thanks to McCabe and Keeling’s efforts to make him comfortable.
“When he first arrived, he was a little scared,” McCabe said. “But soon, he really opened up and loved all the fruits and veggies we gave him. He was just running around and having a blast.”
A Difficult Goodbye
Unfortunately, McCabe discovered she was allergic to guinea pigs. After about two weeks with Quinn, she and Keeling had to make the tough decision to say goodbye.
A New Beginning for Quinn
When Quinn was abandoned in the woods, he faced a difficult journey. To ensure he found a loving home, his rescuers sought out the best option.
Finding a Forever Home
One Tail at a Time, a dedicated animal rescue organization in Chicago, stepped in to help. They worked hard to connect Quinn with a family who could offer him the care and love he deserved.
A Perfect Match
The family that welcomed Quinn had recently lost one of their guinea pigs. They were searching for a new companion for their remaining guinea pig. Quinn’s arrival was a hopeful step towards filling that void and bringing joy to their home.
A Bittersweet Goodbye
Even though it was the right decision for everyone involved, McCabe and Keeling still miss Quinn. They think about him often and cherish the memories they have of him.
Fond Memories
McCabe reflects on the experience with warmth, saying, “This whole thing was so funny and sweet. He’s in a good place now. It was a happy ending for everybody.”