E.Y.'s cavey maven 'writes the book'
By Andrea Cranfield Filed September 26, 2008, from the Centre for Creative Communications
MURRAY TO THE RESCUE: Timmy, a representative
of the Guinea Pigs R Us Rescue organization, is now
one of Marilyn Murray's guinea pigs - after being
found in a field in Hamilton. (Observer, Andrea Cranfield)
Marilyn Murray has dedicated her life to helping some furry friends without a voice of their own - and she couldn't be happier about it.
"How can you not fall in love with them?" she gushes.
For more than two years, Murray has been a volunteer at Guinea Pigs R Us, opening her East York home to guinea pigs in need of a place to stay. There are six volunteers in the organization who take in different types of small animals, but guinea pigs - also known as caveys, from their scientific name - are Murray's specialty. She has four of her own and fosters four more.
"Some have been severely abused when they get here, and it's hard to get them used to being handled," she says. "Some are just happy to have human contact, a proper diet and room to move."
Murray seems very committed. She says that despite what some people think, guinea pigs are actually time-consuming animals who require a lot of care.
"People think they can go spend 20 bucks and then when (the guinea pig) gets sick or they get bored with them they can just throw them away," she says. "They're considered disposable pets, when really they are high-maintenance animals."
As a result, people end up ditching guinea pigs in fields, shelters and even dumpsters. Some of those end up at Murray's house, where they receive the care and attention they need.
Since she looks after so many sick, injured and abused guinea pigs, Murray had to learn how to give them proper care and medical attention. So she decided to write a book to share her knowledge with others. Titled Caring for Your Guinea Pig, the book came out in July.
"There's a lot of information in there - everything from quarantine to introduction to cleaning to food - and some survival medical tips," she says. "If your pig gets sick one night, what's in that book will save your pig's life until you can get him to the vet in the morning."
Murray says part of the reason for the book was that some others found in pet stores carry misinformation that can actually be harmful. She wants people to know what's really involved in looking after these animals before buying them.
"That's my goal, to stop this 'disposable' idea. These animals are far from disposable," she says. "They have feelings just like any living, breathing creature or human, so why treat them as a little toy that's disposable?"
She believes all animals deserve love and respect, and is in the process of writing two more books - with all proceeds going to the Guinea Pigs R Us Rescue. Caring for your Rabbit is due out in late spring 2009 and Caring for Your Rat is due out in late fall.
She hopes her books will help people understand what their pet really needs to stay happy and healthy, so they don't end up at her shelter.
"We want to be put out of business, because if we go out of business that means there's no animals that are needing homes. We know they're safe and we know they're being taken care of," she says. "This is one job that I wish I would lose so I know there's no need for rescues anymore."
For more information go to http://guineapigsrusrescue.com.