When a Chicago couple headed out for a weekend hike, they had no idea their quiet day outdoors would become a rescue effort. They only wanted a calm escape into nature.
Then, as they made their way down the trail, a soft rustling sound made them stop.
They glanced around, curious, and noticed a small white shape tucked among the leaves. Something was hiding there, but they had no clue what they were about to find.
An Unexpected Discovery
Hikers Carolyn McCabe and Conor Keeling carefully approached the area, unsure of what to expect. When they finally got close enough, they were stunned by what they found.
Nestled in the underbrush was a tiny white guinea pig. The couple couldn’t believe their eyes. How had a guinea pig ended up all the way out in the woods?
After recovering from the shock, they realized they couldn’t just walk away and leave the little creature behind.
“We immediately were like… ‘We have to do something about this,’” Carolyn told The Dodo. “He was just so sweet. So it was a very short hike that day.”
At first, they thought the guinea pig might have escaped from a nearby home, so they started knocking on doors to see if anyone recognized him. Unfortunately, no one claimed him, and it soon became clear the animal had likely been abandoned.
Offering Comfort And Care
Determined to help, Carolyn and Conor decided to take the guinea pig home with them.
They gently bathed him in a tub lined with soft towels and offered him a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables.
They named him Quinn after the park where they had found him.
After a few hours of being fed, dried, and given comfort, Quinn began to relax. His initial fear faded, and he started to show curiosity and joy.
“[W]hen he first got here, he was a little bit scared,” Carolyn said. “But then, he really opened up and he loved all the fruits [and veggies] we gave him … He was just running around and having a blast.”
A New Home For Quinn
For two weeks, Quinn thrived in the calm and loving environment of his temporary home. However, Carolyn soon realized she had an allergy to guinea pigs, forcing the couple to make the difficult decision to find him a permanent home.
They reached out to One Tail at a Time, a well-respected Chicago rescue organization, which quickly found the perfect match.
Quinn was adopted by a family who had recently lost their own guinea pig and was thrilled to welcome him into their home.
Though it was bittersweet for Carolyn and Conor to say goodbye, they were comforted by the fact that Quinn was now in a safe and loving environment.“This whole thing [was] so funny and sweet,” Carolyn said. “He’s in a good place [now]. It was a happy ending for everybody