RSPCA Medway West Branch

31/10/2026

🎉 What an incredible Grand Opening! We are absolutely blown away by the turnout and support! 💙

A massive thank you to everyone who joined us, including our local community police officers, local councillors, and the TV crews who came out to capture the excitement! 📺✨

We were thrilled and honored to welcome representatives from the RSPCA Headquarters, as well as our fantastic local branches in Canterbury and North Kent. It means the world to have your support! 🐾

A huge shoutout to Tatty Cats Rescue that came out and supported us on our day. Also Medway Street Angels, an incredible organization we are proud to partner with by providing pet food for their food bank to support their vital work in the community. 🤝🐶🐱

Seeing such a warm community response gives us so much energy and momentum as we move forward together as a team. Thank you for making this day unforgettable! 🙌✨

30/10/2026

Day 5 – Health 🩺
Proactive healthcare keeps small problems from becoming big ones! As prey animals, guinea pigs are experts at hiding illness. Perform regular weekly health checks at home—monitoring weight, eyes, ears, teeth, and coat—and build a strong relationship with a exotic-savvy vet. 🩺✨

29/10/2026

Day 4 – Behaviour 🐹
From high-pitched squeaks (wheeking!) to sudden joyful bounces (popcorning!), guinea pigs have a unique way of talking to us and each other! Understanding their natural behavior helps you spot when they're excited, relaxed, or feeling stressed. What’s your piggy's favorite noise? 📢

corning

28/10/2026

Day 3 – Companionship 👥
Guinea pigs are deeply social herd animals and can easily become lonely or depressed without a friend. Keeping them in compatible pairs or small groups is essential for their emotional wellbeing! Always make sure introductions are done slowly and on neutral ground. 🐹💖🐹

# GuineaPigCompanionship

27/10/2026

Day 2 – Environment 🏡
Space to explore = happy piggies! Guinea pigs need plenty of flat floor space to run, zoom, and popcorn—not vertical levels. Make sure their living space is clean, well-ventilated, dry, and packed with fun tunnels and hideys so they always feel safe and enriched. 🏰

26/10/2026

Day 1 – Diet 🌾
Did you know hay should make up at least 85% of your guinea pig's daily diet? Unlimited high-quality feeding hay keeps their continuously growing teeth down and their digestion moving! Balance it out with a small daily handful of fresh greens (rich in Vitamin C!) and a measured portion of nuggets. 🥬

25/10/2026

Celebrate Guinea Pig Awareness Week (GPAW) 2026 with us! 🐹✨

Is your little furry friend feeling their best? RSPCA Medway West is offering FREE Guinea Pig Health Checks with our veterinary nurse next week to help keep your pets happy and healthy!

📍 Location:
RSPCA Clinic, 174 Walderslade Road, Chatham, ME5 0PQ

🗓️ Available Appointments:
• Tuesday 27th October: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Thursday 29th October: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Friday 30th October: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

📞 How to Book:
Spaces are limited, so give our clinic a call on 01634 681187 to secure your spot!
Give your piggy the care they deserve this GPAW! 💚 Tag a fellow guinea pig owner below! 👇

25/10/2026

🐹 Guinea Pig Awareness Week (GPAW) is back! 🐹

From 26th to 30th October 2026, GPAW is here to help us give our piggy pals the very best lives possible.

This year’s theme is ‘Happy, Healthy Guinea Pigs’, focusing on proactive healthcare and the essential everyday needs every guinea pig deserves to thrive.

Whether you're a long-time owner or new to the piggy parent world, GPAW is highlighting the 5 core welfare needs:
🌾 Diet – Getting the balance of hay, fresh greens, and nuggets just right
🏡 Environment – Safe, spacious, and enriching setups
👥 Companionship – Why company is crucial for these social little animals
🐹 Behaviour – Understanding what their chatter, popcorning, and squeaks mean
🩺 Health – Spotting early signs of illness and keeping up with regular check-ups
Small changes in their daily routine can make a huge difference to their health and happiness!

👉 Follow along this week for expert tips, care advice, and guides on keeping your guinea pigs thriving.

24/10/2026

Meet Simba—a beloved pup whose life was turned upside down when he tore his cranial cruciate ligament. 💔

Simba needed knee surgery to run and play again, but with a quote of £4,000, his owner was facing an overwhelming situation and didn't know where to turn for help.

Refusing to give up, Simba’s owner reached out to us at RSPCA Medway West. As soon as we heard Simba's story, our Branch Manager stepped in—reaching out to partner veterinary centres that work alongside our branch to make treatment accessible. Thanks to this incredible teamwork, RSPCA Medway West was able to make Simba’s life-changing operation possible! 🏥✨

Fast forward a year later, and Simba bounded through our doors for his check-up! Healthy, happy, and fully recovered, he was showered with endless cuddles and fuss from our delighted staff and trustees. 🐾❤️

Want to see Simba’s journey in action? The surgery was even captured on video—and can be found on YouTube but is a little graphic, so enjoy our video of beautiful Simba on his journey to recovery.

20/10/2026