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we're now on Facebook! Visit Pignic Central on Facebook for info and become a fan!
Photos from past Pignics are
available on the CavyMadness Photo Gallery
page.
Or, check out recent photos at Pignic Central at Flickr!
| date |
no 2010 date given yet; info is from 2009. |
| coordinator |
Jessica, Australian Cavy Sanctuary
|
| location |
Teralba Park, Everton Park, QLD. Cnr of Pullen Rd.
|
| time |
10am - 3pm |
| rain
plans |
--- |
activities/
bring: |
The ACS ‘Pignic in the Park’ is a fun filled day to raise animal awareness and much needed funds for the organisation. The Australian Cavy Sanctuary is a guinea pig rescue and awareness organisation and our focus for the day is brought in particular to raising awareness of small companion animals.
The 'Pignic in the Park' is also an event to raise some much needed funds for the organisation, as we struggle each year to cover the ongoing costs.
ACS shelters are overseen by Brisbane shelter manager and ACS Founder Jessica Proietti. ACS is completely non profit and non funded and all managers of ACS shelters pay for all costs of managing their shelters from their own pockets - including medical and vet bills, general care and feed bills, and other funds which may be spent on awareness displays and events. The long term goal for the ACS is to expand and eventually raise enough funds to purchase land in order to build a fully operational large-scale small animal shelter.
|
| directions |
Map and driving directions via WhereIs.com |
2 times a year, usually in early June and mid-September
| date |
Sunday, September 19, 2010 |
| coordinator |
Tammy
Rao (CavyMadness), and Sally
Hurley
|
| location |
Wellesley
Town Hall lawn ("the bowl"), Wellesley MA. Parking
is in the Town Hall parking lot, directly across the street
from the Library. (The
town of Wellesley does not treat their grass. This
link explains the town's policies on pesticides and
treatments.)
|
| time |
12 PM
to 4 PM |
| rain
plans |
Sunday, September 26, 2010 |
activities/
bring: |
Come
and meet your pig-loving neighbors! No alcohol allowed,
and restrooms are at a nearby Peet's Coffee. Bring your own pen if you do not wish to put your pig(s) in the large community pens. Bring
blankets and chairs, and please note: you must check in with one of the Experts to make sure your pig(s) are free of lice or mites, and please refrain from picking up pigs without speaking with their owner first.
|
| directions |
525
Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482
we
are in the grassy area called "The Bowl," next to the Town Hall in
Wellesley. Plenty of parking next to the building and around the park,
and the commuter rail is nearby. Coffeeshops
and pizza places are a five-minute walk (restroom is in Peets Coffee).
via
T: Commuter Rail to Wellesley Square. Head toward
the post office, and the Town Hall is a large pink-stone
building to your left. We will gather in the shady
area with a large depression (its called "the bowl").
Its hard to miss...
via
car: Directions are available at the Wellesley
City Website. Parking is available. From Route 16 west,
turn into the Town Hall drive, and park on the far side
of Town Hall. Directly in front of you will be a large grassy
area, with a huge bowl formation. |
| date |
Sunday, 6 June 2010
|
| coordinator |
Rose, info@crittercorral.org or Maegan, maegan@crittercorral.org
|
| location |
Bemis Woods Park, Grove #5, Western Springs, IL 60558 |
| time |
TBA
|
| rain
plans |
|
activities/
bring: |
Potluck
Pignic with fun and games for piggies and friends. A great
opportunity to network with fellow piggie lovers. There
will be piggies looking for forever homes.
Bring: A potluck dish to share and an item from The Critter
Corral Wish List. [some suggestions: AA batteries, large
garbage bags, stamps, hay, food, bedding, colored pocket
folders, gift certificates to Jewel or office supply stores,
etc]
Don't
forget blankets and/or chairs and of course, your adorable
piggies!! Please bring your own enclosures. |
| directions |
Take
I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) to Ogden Ave (U.S. Rte 34). Exit
East and proceed to park entrance on the left (north). Follow
signs to pignic grove. |
(usually held in November)
| date |
no 2010 date given yet; info is from 2009. |
| coordinator |
Rose
Pooler, zoo357@crittercorral.org
|
| location |
The Willard Wood Park Center
515 1st Street, Crete, IL 60417 |
| time |
1:30
PM to 4 PM
|
| rain
plans |
Be
there rain or shine
|
activities/
bring: |
SAME FUN EVENT AT A NEW LOCATION FOR 2007!!!
Indoor at the center will be games, contests, silent auction,
drawings and pig related items for sale. Food and fun for all!
Piggies are welcome. Wonderful piggies looking
for wonderful homes will be guests of honor. |
| directions |
Take Route 394 (Bishop Ford Fwy) south of I-80-294 to Exchange
Street (approximately 9.5 miles) turn right (west) on Exchange and
proceed 3.0 miles to Main St (aka IL Rte 1 or Dixie Hwy), turn right
(north) and proceed two blocks to 1st St. Turn left (west), proceed to 515 1st Street. The Willard Wood Center is approximately 2 miles from the previous
location. |
| date |
February 27, 2010 |
| coordinator |
Crazy Cavies: crazycavies@hotmail.com;
954-547-3201
|
| location |
Elfin Shelter at Tradewinds Park, just west of Florida’s Turnpike on Sample Road.
|
| time |
9 AM
to 5 PM |
| rain
plans |
none - we're keeping our fingers crossed!!!! |
activities/
bring: |
Crazy Cavies Guinea Pig Rescue presents their 2nd annual South Florida Guinea Pignic!
Please come and celebrate the kickoff for Adopt-a-Guinea Pig month (March) with Crazy Cavies Guinea Pig Rescue and other fellow Cavy Slaves. There will be raffle prizes for humans along with other exciting contests for the piggies. Tickets are $1 each and all proceeds benefit the guinea pigs we care for. No human food or drinks will be provided, so please bring your own chairs, food, drinks (non-alcoholic), and cubes or playpens if you have them.
Contact Crazy Cavies at 954-547-3201 or visit our website crazycavies.org for more information. Volunteer opportunities exist and are greatly appreciated. Weekend admission to the park is $1.50 per person, Pignic is free to attend!
|
| directions |
|
Hosted by Atlanta Metro Guinea Pig Rescue
| date |
Saturday, 30 May 2009
|
| coordinator |
Christina (no email address provided)
|
| location |
Heritage Sandy Springs, 6110 Bluestone Road, Sandy Springs GA.
|
| time |
12 to 3 PM
|
| rain
plans |
|
activities/
bring: |
|
| directions |
From I-85, exit going west on I-285.
From I-75, exit going east on I-285.
Either way, from I-285, take the Roswell Road exit, (exit 25) and go north, outside the perimeter. Drive approximately ½ mile, then turn left on Hammond Drive. Go one block and turn right on Sandy Springs Circle. If you're headed for the Historic Site, go one block and turn right onto Sandy Springs Place. The park entrance will be immediately on your left, and parking is available in the lots on your right. |
| date |
Sunday, September 26, 2010 - rain or shine!
|
| coordinator |
Deb Jackson, Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue
PIGSTRAVAGNZA Team Leads: Deb, Julie Malinauskus, Becky Wilson, Lisa Mock
|
| location |
Reisterstown Regional Park
401 Mitchell Drive, Reisterstown, Maryland 21136
|
| time |
12:00 to 4:00 PM
|
activities/
bring: |
This pignic began five years ago to compliment the Spring Pignic in VA and allow Marylanders to have a pignic in our area. Little did we know, our event would grow each year and we would soon have people coming not from just MD, but also from VA, PA, West Virginia, and more to attend our event! (Last year, we had people attend from NY and Ohio!) We hope that if you have not attended before, that you will consider attending this year's event. This annual event is held at the Reisterstown Regional Park Pavilion, in Reisterstown, Maryland.
Pignic Basics:
Lawns are not treated at this park, so piggies are able to frolic in the clover and grasses with their piggie cage-mates. Please be sure to bring your own play yards for your piggies, water rich veggies, water, and a blanket for them if they are clover sensitive, or have sensitive pads. Bring your lawn chairs if you'd like to sit near your pig-pen, or catch some rays. Feel free to bring a bag lunch, but leave room for dessert, as we always have yummy desserts available at our bake sale! We'll also have various supplies, and awesome piggie items, snugglies, tubes and toys available for sale.
Mark your calendars and we'll hope to see you there! |
| directions |
(Google Map)
From the Baltimore Beltway (I-695), take exit 19 for I-795N towards Reisterstown. Continue on I-795 until the expressway ends. Follow the signs for Reisterstown Regional Park, staying in the left lane. Take a left at the first light onto Rt. 140 west. Follow the sign that says to Mitchell Drive. Turn left onto Mitchell Drive (2nd quick opening in highway). Make left at STOP sign and proceed across interchange into the park. Park entrance is straight ahead. |
Sponsored
by Twin
Cities Guinea Pig Rescue
| next date |
2009: target date of June
|
| coordinator |
Allysse
at tcgpr@comcast.net
|
| location |
Cherokee
Park, St. Paul. Located
on Cherokee Boulevard, between Annapolis and Baker Streets.
Visit the Cherokee Park website for more information.
|
| time |
|
| rain
plans |
|
activities/
bring: |
Information will be posted on jpgpr.com (hopefully they'll update this listing, but just in case...). |
| directions |
Available
on the
Cherokee Park website |
| next date |
tbd
|
| coordinator |
Angel,
isaacshaven@comcast.net
|
| location |
Settler's
Cabin Park, Oakdale, PA
|
| time |
1
PM. We will be there by 12:30 pm to set up, so anyone staying
at the hotel the night before the pignic is welcome to come
meet with us while we set up.
|
| rain
plans |
|
| activities/
bring: |
|
| directions |
Settler's
Cabin Park is located at 1225 Greer Road in Oakdale, PA.
Mapquest
Directions and helpful information are available on the
park's website. |
| next date |
tbd |
| coordinator |
Dana,
dfhakes@aol.com
or Deb, debg43@ij.net
|
| location |
Largo SPCA Education Building,
9099 130th Avenue,Largo,FL
view
map
|
| time |
|
| rain
plans |
|
| activities/
bring: |
|
| directions |
Largo
SPCA Education Building
9099 130th Avenue,Largo,FL
view
map |
| next date |
|
| coordinator |
Selina,
arabandme@hotmail.com
|
| location |
Pinafore Park
St. Thomas, ON |
| time |
|
| rain
plans |
Pignic
is on, rain or shine! Hoping that no rain comes (close call the last couple of years)
|
| activities/
bring: |
There will be signs posted to show the way to the pignic. Please bring chairs or blankets to sit on. There will be some drinks and food, but don't hestitate to bring some food and drinks for people and cavies. Washrooms are nearby. There is a silent auction of a couple of items and the money raised will be donated to London Humane Society (where I got two of my guinea pigs). I will be constructing a large sow's and boar's pens (separate of course).
|
| directions |
from Windsor:
401 East, exit off Col. Talbot Road South (Hwy 4),
turn right on Sunset Drive, left on Elm Street and Park
is on right hand side
from Toronto: 401 West, exit off Wellington Road South in
London
(turns into Sunset Drive), left on Elm Street and Park is
on right hand side |
| next date |
tbd |
| coordinator |
Stephanie, stephpellatt@hotmail.com
|
| location |
Trinity Bellwoods Park
(by the logs, north of the children's play area) |
| time |
12
pm to 3 pm
|
| rain
plans |
tbd
|
| activities/
bring: |
your own pen/cage, as well as old towels or blankets to place under
your pens. There will be no spare cages, so you must bring your own! Best thing to bring are linking cubes for pens.
You will also need to bring a cavy water bottle. Hay and pellets are a good idea, too. If you have any cavy related items to sell, bring them along!
|
| directions |
Trinity Bellwoods Park (Wikipedia) |
I get a lot of emails asking how to start
a Pignic. It only requires a little bit of work at the
start -- you must find a gathering place that is easily accessible
to everyone, is not frequented by dogs, and is free of chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers. Having
shade is essential; for many Pignics, people meet near trees.
Bathroom facilities should be nearby. State Parks are a great
option.
For some parks, you must obtain a permit to meet.
This can easily be obtained through the park's governing authority.
Generally, these are the people who could tell you if the grass
is free of chemicals and generally dog-free as well. Once you
have chosen a date and have your permit, all you have to do is
get the word out! Some Pignics have planned activities, and others
are just a casual picnic gathering. Look at the Pignics featured
above for ideas.
Suggest that people
bring materials to help set up and expand pens. Popular options are cube-grid squares (make sure squares are small, not large); other options include wire shelving and a roll-up plastic chicken-wire option. With every pen set up, you'll need fasteners: twist ties, binder clips, and cable ties are all good options. If you choose to have a communal Pignic (many piggies in pens), set up a girls' pen, a boys' pen, and a couple "time out" pens for pigs that don't get along well with others. Large pens should generally be long and narrow, so people don't have to step inside to reach a pig.
Have a small team of "Pig Experts" who can help newcomers to your Pignic. This team should be knowledgable, and should check ALL piggies going into communal pens for lice, respiratory distress, or anything that can be transferred to the other pigs.( At the Boston Pignic, we've have lime green t-shirts for the PIG PATROLteam, who make sure that everything runs smoothly.)
Another essential item is "wet" veggies
and fruits, like cucumber and melon, that will help prevent the
piggies from becoming too dehyrated in the sun. Make sure your
spot has some shade and/or dappled sunlight, for both people and
pigs.
Once everyone arrives at your Pignic, it is a
great idea to get a general consensus of how often you would want
to meet, and whether the location you chose is ideal. Then, just
plan on returning to that spot the next time! The New England
Pignic, the original, ran from 1996 to around 2003 in Westfield, Massachusetts. The location
was chosen to accommodate people coming from upstate New York,
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Many people
will drive a couple of hours to spend a day with fellow piggy
fanatics. :)
Before you attend the Pignic, check your piggies for lice or any disease. If your pig shows signs of lice, please do not take him or her to a Pignic. If you are unsure about checking for lice, have the Pignic Coordinator check your pig upon arrival - and of course, if your pig is contagious at ALL, keep him or her in a separate pen!
Watch your pigs. Some people assume that their guinea pigs are just fine in a communal pen, and will go off to chat or play with other people. Meanwhile, some unsupervised pigs end up creating trouble, and it's up to strangers to figure out what to do and to whom that pig belongs. Be a responsible pig-parent and keep an eye on your own pigs.
Pens are for pigs, not for people. Please stay OUT of the pens. People stepping into the pens pose a huge risk of injury to the pigs. If the pens are set up to be long and narrow, people should be able to reach into the pens to retrieve guinea pigs if needed.
Label the pens. Signs clipped on the pen walls indicating Girls and Boys will help new arrivals get placed in the right pen.
Keep chairs/kennels/bags/etc a few feet away from the pens. People are by the pens all the time, and the less clutter around the pens, the less likely an accident will happen. And on that thought....
If you are next to the pens: kneel or sit. We love to chat about our piggies, and we all love to be right next to the pens. Keeping LOW while next to the pens allows everyone to have a clear view, and minimizes the risk of tripping over the walls of the pens.
Handle piggies with care. If you are still a novice, ask before you pick up ANY pig. Guinea pigs have different personalities, and people can be bitten if they hold guinea pigs incorrectly. Even worse, startled pigs can (and many have!) jump out of laps. Some more thoughts on handling pigs:
- Use towels to pick up and hold pigs. Many guinea pigs are nervous at being picked up. Having a hand towel available to wrap them up will give you a better handle on the pig, and give the pig a little more security. Towels are always available at Pignics.
- Do not hold a boar next to the sows' pen, or vice versa. The scent of the opposite sex can cause stress, or worse - cause fights! Keep boys and girls separate, and make sure you return the pig to the right pen!
- Be aware of stressful stimuli. Car horns, trains, and other ambient sounds can startle piggies and cause them to bolt.
- Finally, keep handling to a minimum. Children, especially, get excited about holding pigs, and often try to pick up many pigs during a Pignic. Try to be gentle, calm, and aware that Pignics are for relaxation - for piggies and people alike!
Pigs do not always play well with others. Observe your pig(s) throughout the Pignic. Even docile piggies can get aggressive, and many Pignics have seen some pretty angry fighting. Small "timeout" pens should always be available, and known aggressive piggies should be kept separate from the main pens. It bears repeating that you should always observe your own pigs during the Pignic, and be ready to help if there is a scuffle.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. There is a wealth of knowledge at Pignics. People come from a variety of backgrounds and have a ton of hands-on experience with a bunch of different issues. How to trim nails, clean anal sacs, what to look for illnesses, where to find good hay and pellets, where to find a good vet. If you are skilled in nail trimming, bring your tools and teach beginners how to trim nails!
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