What does it mean to be a rescue?
This is something that plays on my mind a lot. What does it truly mean to be a rescue? Rescue work, whether it be for guinea pigs, horses, cats, dogs etc. is not an easy job. It takes a tremendous amount of work and patience.
I have learnt a lot about rescue work in the few years Masons’ Cavies has been around. At this point in my blog, I will point out that I AM NOT A RESCUE! but we hope to become one one day. I know Mr Mason is buzzing with ideas.
Over these few years, I have come to realise that not everyone cares for guinea pigs as deeply as we do and some of the things I have seen are horrifying. Not just through my own work but watching others on social media.
My main purpose of this blog is to shed light on the not so nice side of rescue work and by this I mean – the people.
Don’t get me wrong, 9 times out of 10 the people who run rescues that I have spoken to and assisted have been fabulous but there are always exceptions. I have never known such vicious people in all my life. Masons’ Cavies has been under attack for a few years from rescues within the UK.
I have to wonder why? Does everyone not have the guinea pig’s best interests at heart? I am sure everyone does but there is one factor that always leads to arguments and a feeling of entitlement – money.
I know that Masons’ Cavies can become an amazing rescue at some point in the future, because Mark and myself have done things differently. We have built several social media platforms and created strong bonds with people all over the world. That success comes with privileges. To put that in simple terms – it means we can earn money from our passion.
Is that wrong? Maybe to some people it is. I never expected to be called a con artist, an animal abuser, have literally every company we work with bombarded with abuse on how they shouldn’t work with us, be reported multiple times to HMRC, the RSPCA and DWP. Endless emails, texts, phone calls and fake profiles commenting horrific things like I’m a drug user and abusing my children and that isn’t even the worst of it. I hit my lowest point when I was recorded in floods of tears, believing to be talking to a solicitor. Just to find out it was a wicked plan of these rescues to cause problems between myself and my family.
Over the last few weeks I have come to realise that a lot of what I was accused of was being projected onto me so that people wouldn’t look at the dodgy things these people are doing. I see it everyday on social media and want to scream at my phone!
Nowadays, I wonder whether I truly want to be involved in rescue work. I love the guinea pigs and I know Mr M does too.
So back to my original question – what does it mean to be a rescue? It means you love the animals and do what’s best for them – whether it be 100 animals or 2. They all need help. There is no need to be in competition with people. All animals need all rescues. I will never understand why and how people can be so cruel.
Over time though, more people came forward to tell me that they too, suffered at the hands of the same people. What makes me sad is, they have surrender and closed their doors to rescue work because the abuse was too intense. I will never understand the mentality of the bullies – but I do believe that money is the root of all evil.
If you want something – you have to work for it and Mr M and I are willing to work for it and have worked very hard so far.
Leave me a comment about what you expect from a rescue and if something like this was going on behind the scenes – would you really want to know about it or is ignorance bliss?
This is Willow. She and her siblings were by far the hardest rescue case we took on. All girls were painfully thin and covered in mange. It took months for them to recover. Thankfully they are now in their forever home and doing incredibly well 🙂
Thank you for all you do. A rescue should be when the animal’s well-being come first.
And that’s exactly what you are doing.
It angers me to see some people try to wreck the great work you are doing, and that they are trying to hurt you and your family.
Chin up. You’re winning! And you have many supporters around the world cheering you on.
Hugs.
In my opinion, it takes a special kind of human to want to do rescue work. You have to know how to separate your heart from your head. Many times it is more heartbreaking than heartwarming. It is not a lucrative business though you must put in an incredible amount of work with marketing to spread the word just to have the slightest bit of success in knowing that you are doing right by the animals.
The Masons are those type of humans!
I feel that the best part of rescue work would be to see the happy faces of the families who are adopting the animals that you took out of a horrendous situation and nursed back to health. Where I live, there are very few guinea pig rescues so I have to hope that there are those who are willing to put in the blood, sweat, tears, and money to allow me the opportunity to adopt from them.
Many times I see ‘official’ rescues get way over their head by taking on much more than they can care for. Part of knowing how to be successful in the rescue world is to know when to say NO, to know when you are at your limit and know that you cannot keep every animal or even that not every animal can be saved.
The Masons know when they are at their limit. They are smart about it and have the plans to be successful.
I would love to see all of the rescues working together for the one common goal, but sadly many of them have their own agendas and are not very transparent when constantly asking for money and supplies.
I caught one of the Masons’ videos on Facebook one day and have been hooked ever since. The daily posts and videos make it easy to want to follow, support, and one day see them fulfill their dreams of becoming an official rescue.
Just know that you have many many people who believe in you.
Masons’ Cavies may not call themselves an official rescue but you have been doing the work for a long time and know your stuff. The love and care for the piggies is without comparison and I am sure one day you will have your own rescue – and we will all be here to see it through and share the joy.
Rescue is defined as… an act of saving or being saved from danger or distress.
So of course Masons’ Cavies is a rescue for piggles and humans alike. But I think you’re already so much more than a rescue. You don’t need a license to be good, kind, generous, crazy and loving people. I see it everyday when I visit your pages… You reach out to lift someone up when they’re down, you share your grief and struggle which others see your strength and feel they can do the same, you provide a vehicle for other piggie loving people to support each other through various difficult times and you’ve given all of us a much needed escape from reality where we can live vicariously the soap opera that is a piggie herd. I searched many other piggie sites when we got our piggies and none of them were as welcoming and judgement free as yours.
Our piggies are living better lives because of the information you and other followers are sharing.
Maybe your goal isn’t lofty enough because I think you’re already a haven for the piggies and the piggie community.
Rescue what does it mean? Mark & Sophie devote so much time, work and money to care for these darling piggies. It’s amazing how much sweat and tears, love and tender loving care you both show your piggies and those you save. I love to watch, laugh, learn and listen to you banter away!! Your live broadcasts are so entertaining to all of us! We support you, we love you and most of all we respect you.
I have been a supporter almost 3 years. I wake up watching, laughing and you are the last thing I enjoy before going to sleep!
I have loved guinea piggies since I was a little girl. But unfortunately my husband would prefer no more animals. (We have had a dog, a few rabbits and many piggies. But no more.) So I get such altruistic pleasure from you both. It’s my fix!
Thank goodness you do what you do and I found you!! I adore everything you do. I can not wait to see the new space and what the future holds! I am with you now and always. Congratulations for a job well done. Take a bow. You should be so proud of what you have created. 🥰🥰❤️❤️😍😍🐽🐽
Josie Reiter
I have only been following you both for about 10 months and you have helped a lot of people as well as wiggies. Your supporters are like a big family with the only thing they all have in common which is the love ❤️ for the guinea pigs. You have helped with any questions on how to look after their gp and help the people who have been so unhappy with lockdown. The same as us all trying to help you. You are both more than a rescue you have saved lives, guinea pigs and people ❤️❤️❤️💙💙💙
You rescue people as well, as shown by the many folk who have said again and again how you, the wiggies, the woofers and your followers have been a lifeline in dark times….
Those words are so true
A rescue for me is somewhere that does just that, removes or takes in animals from bad situations and looks after them until they are well and can be rehomed or if not they keep them safe which is exactly what Sophie and Mark do now and with so much love and I believe in time they will be able to fulfill their dream of doing it permanently. They have so much love to give and their knowledge is endless xx
As always I believe that you and Mark will get the rescue status when you’re ready. You both would make all those piggies healthy, happy and loved.
No matter what you do in life there will always be someone in the background trying to pull you down. That’s just life… I’ve been a supporter for almost 3 years and have learned so so much about the care and feeding of guinea pigs from you both. Keep up the amazing work that you do.
I have been a supporter for just over a year but in that year you might not be a rescue but you have opened my eyes to things that I never knew. Both you and Mr M are caring, thoughtful, but most of all passionate about all your guinea pigs past and present.
I have cried with you, laughed with you but I always will be team 🥒🥒
If the haters have not realised by now that the true followers are going nowhere then they need glasses.
I am excited to see the new shed when you move, and one day the big move to your very own rescue.
Keep up the good work, dreams do come true xx
A rescue is a sanctuary for animals in need that is run by people who care for those animals and provide them with everything they need whatever the cost. Mr and Mrs M spend a lot of time and money doing just that. All the guinea pigs in their care are loved equally whether they are rescues or have been bought. Keep up the good work, Mark and Sophie xx
I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I think maybe it’s worth repeating…
To me, a rescue is only half the job. Rescue work is about getting the animals out of a bad situation, or preventing them ending up in one, and then rehabilitating them, whether that just means addressing their mental health and helping their confidence, or attending their medical needs too, which can be way more expensive. I say it’s only half the job, because what happens next?
You might also become a sanctuary, where the animals become residents and spend the rest of their lives with you, being given the best care you can. That’s wonderful, but not always sensible or possible, depending on how many you rescue!
You might also be a rehoming centre, so animals you’ve rescued then go on to live with other people, hopefully in their forever homes.
Personally, I think Masons’ Cavies is already a bit of all three, but the only one you do enough of to say it’s a vocation is the sanctuary. That’s going to change as you progress! I think you’ll become a wonderful Rescue, Sanctuary and Rehoming Centre.
At what point do you become a rescue? Do you have to do a certain number a month? Is it about time? Is it about money? To me it’s about your calling, and what you work at. It’s what you invest your time and money into.
As for the haters… well, my opinion is they’re a bunch of criminals, probably doing some very dodgy dealings, running scams, and you’re very useful as a high profile target they can use to distract petite from looking at their actions too closely. So much of what they say doesn’t make any sense and even denies biology at times. That’s just my opinion of course, and I realise you couldn’t possibly comment. 😉
Masons’ Cavies has broken the mold. You’re doing things your own way. That takes guts, determination, and unfortunately attracts criticism, particularly from those who are unable to do what you do. Their level of entitlement makes them think they should automatically just get what you’ve worked hard to build, and when they don’t, they have to pretend you’re stealing it from them. They want you to feel guilty for that, but you shouldn’t. You have both worked yourselves into the ground to get where you are, and it’s extremely unfair that they want to stop you being proud of that.
You will succeed!
So many good points here. I concur.
I believe you already are a rescue. Maybe not yet in an official registered charity kind of rescue, but in a true, heartfelt love for guinea pigs kind of rescue. Knowing what goes on behind the scenes helps us to support you. We can’t stop it but a problem shared is a problem halved.
Do these tormentors think we supporters and followers are stupid? Do they believe we have no common sense? Do they believe we are gullible? Probably. But hey… Guess what. We are not! We are strong, informed (a lot by you guys) and definitely not stupid. We stand with you because we believe in you. Keep up the good work, Sophie and Mark. We have got your back xx
I think a rescue is a place where you get help when you need information about animals you have so you can care for them in the best way to give them a good life. That is what you and Mark do. You show us what you learned and ask everyone the different bedding they use and food because we are all learning to give wiggies or any other pet the best life we can. I can’t wait to see your dreams come true.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say again. Just because you’re not registered as a rescue you have rescued guinea pigs, therefore you are a rescue. What else would anyone call it? If other so-called rescued want the social standing that you and Mr M have then they need to interact with the members and talk to them like they’ve known them for years. You and Mr M do the work, put in the hours and have helped not just the pigs but a lot of members who had nothing or no one else during lockdown… Diolch yn fawr iawn (thank you very much) 😀
I have been following you since 2018 and am totally smitten by the love you both share for all the wiggies. You have made such a difference to so many of these beautiful little creatures and I know that you will be able to make such a difference to so many more. For me the 2 that stand out the most are beautiful Hope and Alice. How anyone could let those poor girls get into that state is beyond me. I know you both share the same passion for the rescue work and you would be awesome.
Sophie, I can hand on heart say you and Mark would be amazing running a rescue. You both would focus on each piggy and their needs and make sure they are well cared for. For me this is the key point to be a successful rescue. These gorgeous piggies need a lot of love, and compassion and to feel safe and secure. There is a lot of things people don’t think of when they get a piggy, like fresh food, hay, grass time or readigrass, cleaning them daily, spending time with them and of course vet bills and nursing them better it’s a lot of work. You and Mark show us all the highs and lows and what to expect. I feel Masons’ Cavies would be a perfect rescue when your dream comes true xxxxxx You’re both wonderful kind people and so caring for all the piggies in your care.
You may not be an ‘official’ rescue (whatever that actually means) but you do rescue work. You take on pigs that others can’t care for anymore and give them a forever home. Treating them if they have any problems and giving them a healthy, happy life. You have also taken on piggies, brought them to full health and rehomed them responsibly. Can’t wait for the future when you can help even more piggies. You are amazing.