She lost a grandson and dozens of guinea pigs; today, she cares for nearly 400

She lost a grandson and dozens of guinea pigs in a devastating house fire in 2019. Years later, Kimie Smothermon is running a Massachusetts sanctuary where hundreds of guinea pigs now depend on her every day. At the Guinea Pig Sanctuary in Salisbury, between 350 and 400 guinea pigs are housed at the facility, with many more living in foster and hospice homes. What began as a family effort to help abandoned guinea pigs grew into a full-time rescue operation after Smothermon's grandson Alex developed a bond with the animals. Today, volunteers clean cages, care for sick animals and help find suitable homes for guinea pigs surrendered by owners who can no longer look after them.Massachusetts sanctuary is filled with hundreds of guinea pigsSmothermon's sanctuary in Salisbury, about 40 miles north of Boston, operates from a converted office space where cages are stacked from floor to ceiling. The facility can house roughly 350 to 400 guinea pigs at a time. Volunteers move between the cages throughout the day, cleaning them, checking on sick animals and providing food and care. Each guinea pig has a name and its own personality. Some are friendly and affectionate, while others are shy or ...