Penny & Wild Smalls of South Florida is a volunteer run, foster home based rabbit & guinea pig rescue. We are currently caring for 25 rabbits and 20 guinea pigs, many of whom are life long sanctuaries due to ongoing medical care needs. Our priority is providing excellent care for them in their time with us.

We DO NOT have a shelter facility to house a large number of animals and operate out of foster homes in Miami-Dade, Broward & Palm Beach counties. Our ability to help with strays, colonies or larger groups is limited but we are happy to assist with corralling and transport as well as sharing supplies.

If YOU (or someone you know) can temporarily foster a stray animal WE can offer guidance on care and help getting them inside, lend supplies and food, help coordinate veterinary care and find a forever home.

Please email: foster@pennyandwild.org

We DO accept a limited number of strays, shelter and rescue partner transfer requests, and owner surrenders on a case-by-case basis each month. New animals are accepted via a Wait-list (see below). Despite our volunteers tireless efforts we can only accommodate 2–4 new animals per month.

ESTIMATED WAIT TIMES: 2 – 4 months

We are unable to accommodate immediate intakes or accept new intakes during the summer and winter holiday periods due decreased foster availability.

All rabbits and guinea pigs accepted into our rescue are vet checked annually ($80–100) and spayed ($250–400) or neutered ($150–350) unless medically exempt prior to being re-homed. Each intake costs approximately $250–500 per animal, not including the ongoing monthly expenses for food, hay, and litter, which average $25 per animal per month.

Our $100 adoption fee covers only a small portion of these costs.

To help bridge the gap we ask for a Surrender Fee (see below) at intake. We are happy to waive the surrender fee if the animal is already spayed or neutered with a veterinary record. If so they will be placed on our accelerated intake list.

SURRENDER FEE (this price is per animal):

$100 | spayed or neutered

$150 | unneutered male

$250 | unspayed female

Those who find strays or owners who are unable to afford the surrender fee, can apply for a full or partial sponsorship.

• “If you do not take this animal I will dump them outside in a week” Threats will not create additional space or funds and neither will a short deadline. It is also cruel as the rabbit and guinea pig are will likely get hit by a car or attacked by a predator. If you or someone you know can keep the rabbit or guinea pig for a couple of weeks or months, a rescue is much more likely to be able to help you.

• “I can foster until they get adopted” Space is often the biggest limiting factor for rescues. If you agree to foster until the rabbit or guinea pig is adopted, the rescue is more likely to approve your request.

• “I can help cover the cost of veterinary care or getting them spay/neutered” Before re-homing a rabbit or guinea pigs, a legitimate rescue will take them to a vet for a wellness exam, provide treatment for any parasites, and have them spay/neutered. This can cost around $250-500 per animal. If the animal is sick or injured, veterinary care can easily cost $900-1500 or more. Rescues are donation based and many times have to pay out of their own pockets to save an animal.

• “They are already spay/neutered and have been to the vet” You can also be pro-active and take them to the vet yourself to be examined and spay/neutered. Have a look at our VETERINARIANS page for a list of exotic veterinarians and low cost clinics and shelters that see rabbits and guinea pigs.