Whenever Brigette Brouillard needs a break from screens and the constant rhythm of animal work, she turns to trail running, letting the quiet outdoors reset her mind.
During one run, roughly three miles along the path, something unusual pulled her focus. A large cardboard box sat just off the trail, oddly placed and clearly out of context. Curiosity won, and she slowed to a stop to look inside.
The sight waiting for her was startling.
Six tiny creatures lay inside, some covered in delicate fur while others were completely hairless. She had set out hoping for a moment away from animal care, yet these vulnerable little lives found their way into her path anyway.
As the Executive Director of Second Chances Wildlife Center, a nonprofit devoted to wildlife rehabilitation and education, Brigette had the exact experience needed to help.
Anyone else might have walked past, but she was the right person in the right place.
A Box That Should Never Have Been There
The box was open and tipped onto its side, and Brigette’s instincts told her she needed to investigate.
That decision likely saved lives. If she had continued running, the animals left behind may not have survived on their own in Kentucky’s Cherokee Park.
“I looked inside and it took me a minute to process. Six adult Guinea pigs!! No people in sight. Someone had dumped them!” she wrote in her Facebook post.
Inside were six Guinea pigs, a combination of furry varieties and hairless ones. The hairless Guinea pigs, known as Skinny pigs, are smaller and burn energy faster, which means they require more frequent feeding.
Guinea pigs are not native to Kentucky, and Brigette immediately understood the danger. Without help, they faced starvation, predators, or injury from dogs passing through the park.
“Perhaps they were hoping someone would find them, or thought they would be OK at Cherokee Park,” Brigette said. “Whatever the case, I took the box and walked off of the trail.”
The box was awkward and heavy to carry, so Brigette waved down a passerby for help. A kind stranger offered her a ride back to her car, transporting her and her “six talkative guinea piggies” to safety.
The sudden change may have been confusing for the animals, but they were no longer abandoned or at risk.
Six Small Lives Find Stability And Care
Once home, Brigette made sure the Guinea pigs were fed, given treats, and properly cared for.
Through her wide network of contacts, she was able to secure loving homes for all six. A social media post about the rescue quickly reached people eager to help.
“Now I have six guinea pigs at my house waiting for their forever home peeps to pick them up. I have found all of them awesome homes and we may keep two. What is the luck that it happened to be me that ran past these little gals?” she wrote.
Because Guinea pigs do best with companionship, Brigette ensured each adoption included a bonded pair.
“All guinea pigs are in their new forever homes. They went to amazing families with experience and none of the piggies had to go by themselves,” she wrote in her updated post.
What began as a heartbreaking discovery inside a cardboard box has turned into six new beginnings, each filled with safety, care, and the comfort of companionship.