Woman claims guinea pigs are her 'spirit animal'

Saskia Chiesa loves guinea pigs. She enjoys that they come in all different colours, shapes, and sizes, and that they have great personalities. 

She and her team of volunteers at Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue take guinea pigs in, nurse them to health, and ultimately find them new homes. Saskia says: "I decided to rescue guinea pigs because it’s my spiritual [sic] animal."

Saskia recalls the first time she picked up a guinea pig, saying that she was "mesmerised", and from then on she has had a special place in her heart for the animals. 

Saskia also loves introducing children and their families to guinea pigs and encourages everyone who comes to Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue to play with and get to know the animals.

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One of Saskia's co-workers, Melissa Brown, believes dedicating her time to helping guinea pigs has helped her immensely with her mental health: "They’re life changing - I have suffered from anxiety, depression, just a lot of emotional problems growing up, and I feel now that the therapy that they give me, I definitely could have benefited in my earlier years and I wish I could’ve known that."

Guinea pigs are more than a popular pet for Saskia, they are her means of providing a lifeline for those in her community who might need it most. 

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