Inside the Guinea Pig Sanctuary in Salisbury, MA Caring for Nearly 400 Rescued Animals

A rescue shelter in Salisbury is housing nearly 400 guinea pigs and is one of the only operations of its kind in the United States. The Guinea Pig Sanctuary Salisbury MA has been quietly doing remarkable work, and most people in Greater Newburyport have no idea it exists.

What's Happening at the Guinea Pig Sanctuary in Salisbury, MA

Kimie Smothermon runs the operation. On any given day, she and a rotating crew of volunteers feed, groom, and rehome dozens of animals that were abandoned or surrendered by their owners. On July 10, 2026, a photographer captured volunteers clipping nails, offering corn husks, and greeting individual animals by name. Adoption coordinator Brittany Provencale and volunteer Brianna MacIntyre were both on hand, which gives you a sense of how seriously this group takes the work.

Guinea pigs are surrendered more often than most people expect. They're purchased as starter pets, especially for children, and then given up when the novelty fades or a family moves. Most shelters aren't equipped to handle them in volume. Smothermon built an operation specifically for that gap, and the scale she's reached — nearly 400 animals at once — is extraordinary for a rescue of any kind, let alone one focused on a single small species.

The sanctuary offers boarding and rehoming services, which helps fund ongoing care. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, small animals like guinea pigs are among the most commonly surrendered pets in the country, yet dedicated rescues for them remain rare.

Why This Story Matters to Greater Newburyport

This corner of Essex County produces stories like this more often than people give it credit for. The North Shore draws people who build things from scratch, whether that's a business, a garden, or in Smothermon's case, a 400-animal sanctuary operating out of Salisbury. That kind of community depth is part of what makes this area worth living in.

If you're curious about what makes Salisbury and its neighbors tick beyond the beach and the salt marshes, stories like this one are a good place to start. You can read more about the communities that make up this region on our communities page.

What This Means For You

• The Guinea Pig Sanctuary Salisbury MA accepts adoptions and boarding inquiries if you're looking to give a rescued guinea pig a home.

• Volunteer opportunities exist for locals who want to get involved without a long-term commitment.

• The sanctuary's national profile is a reminder that Greater Newburyport attracts people who build meaningful, unusual things — and that community character shows up in the real estate market too.

• If you're considering a move to Salisbury or the surrounding towns, operations like this one reflect the independent, community-minded spirit that defines the area.

Smothermon isn't trying to run a tourist attraction. She's solving a real problem, one rescued animal at a time, and doing it a few miles from downtown Newburyport. That's worth knowing about.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Guinea Pig Sanctuary in Salisbury, MA located?

The Guinea Pig Sanctuary is based in Salisbury, Massachusetts, on the North Shore of Essex County. Salisbury sits just north of Newburyport along the coast, roughly 40 miles northeast of Boston.

Can I adopt a guinea pig from the Guinea Pig Sanctuary Salisbury MA?

Yes, the sanctuary offers rehoming services for rescued guinea pigs. Prospective adopters should contact the sanctuary directly through their available channels to learn about current animals and the adoption process.

Does the Guinea Pig Sanctuary in Salisbury offer boarding services?

The sanctuary does offer guinea pig boarding, which helps support the cost of ongoing animal care. If you're a guinea pig owner in the Greater Newburyport area looking for short-term boarding, it's worth reaching out to them directly for availability and rates.

Source: bozemandailychronicle.com

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