SELLERSBURG, Ind. — The guinea pig was first documented in the Andes Mountains 3,000 ago, and they are still primarily used for food there. The name is of unknown origin; perhaps traders in the 1500s passed by the island of Guinea on their way to Europe, and the animals had some pig-like characteristics.



Peruvian populations then, and now, however, would never guess there would be organizations in the United States dedicated to rescuing them. But that is exactly what Crystal Humphrey is doing.



She started Rescuedguineapigs.com in September, and since then has adopted out 30 guinea pigs to families in the area desiring one for a pet. Humphrey says that in the last nine months, it has become more than a rescue organization — it is a passion.



“I’m having a blast with them,” she said. “Sometimes I’ll get one out and it’ll follow me around like a puppy dog.”



Humphrey’s passion is a unique one. She said she had heard of another guinea pig rescue group in Indianapolis, but they are rare. The Humane Society, PetSmart stores and many other stores and agencies know who she is, and are always ready to bring her any guinea pigs that get dropped off.



It all started with a friend. She was a housekeeper, Humphrey said, and took in a guinea pig a customer was keeping in their garage.



Her friend ultimately didn’t have the time to care for it, and Humphrey agreed to take it in as a pet. And then she fell in love with an animal that gets a lot less attention for its pet qualities than a cat or a dog.



Guinea pigs are surprisingly intelligent, excellent swimmers and can even be litter-box trained. And Humphrey should know, she has housed more than 50 since September.



She has nine now, and adopted two out — a mother and its baby — recently. Two of the guinea pigs, Pinky and Charlie, are her personal pets, but all the others that come and go from the 3-foot by 1-foot cages stacked around her living room are up for adoption.



Humphrey has adopted guinea pigs to families from as far away as Indianapolis and Bowling Green, Ky., after they find her Web link on petfinder.com.



The guinea pigs — currently Lucky, Fat Jack, Lloyd, Joey, June and Tulip — do get outside for a little exercise and some fresh dandelion greens. But Humphrey has to be careful — “a hawk will snatch them up in a minute.”



She said she always looks for squirrels before taking any of her furry boarders outside; if she sees the squirrels they can play, if not they stay indoors.



“We have hawks living on the back of our property,” Humphrey said.



She said the squirrels know better than she if the hawks are around.



Rescuedguineapigs.com is a project of the Sons of the American Legion. The organization allowed Humphrey to use their nonprofit tax codes for her effort, so that she didn’t have to fight through the red tape to get those herself.



She relies solely on donations, and the adoption donation she requests — $15 for one or $25 for two guinea pigs. The Hartz Corp., which sells pet-supply products, donated treat sticks, hay and 100 pounds of food to Humphrey for the animals. She also sells guinea-pig-shaped cookies at pet fairs, and raffles that can’t be used directly to care for the animals.



Humphrey lived in Jeffersonville, Ind., before coming to Sellersburg, to live on eight-acres with her husband and son. Lucky for them, the guinea pigs have plenty of space to roam, even if they don’t really need it.



Melissa Moody writes for The Evening News in Jeffersonville, Ind.