We specialise in the care of small animals, especially those with complex needs.

Species We Care For

  • A mouse with large ears sits on a human palm.

    Mice

    We take in domesticated mice, captive-born hopping mice, and orphaned wild mice.

  • A rat with striking markings leans out of a hammock with her whiskers spread out.

    Rats

    We take in domesticated rats and orphaned wild rats (of non-native species).

  • A large rabbit sits up on her hind legs and eats hay from a wooden rack.

    Rabbits

    We take in domesticated rabbits, as well as orphaned wild rabbits and hares.

  • A guinea pig with long black and grey fur looks to one side on a fleece surface.

    Guinea Pigs

    We take in guinea pigs, most commonly through referral from other rescues.

Saving Lives, Providing Care

At OOTP, we take in animals for a wide variety of reasons, but primarily exist to meet a community need for specialty care of high-needs rodents and rabbits. We seek to provide a safety net to prevent at-risk animals from being neglected, abused, abandoned, or unnecessarily euthanised.

Once they arrive at OOTP, we provide animals with a safe environment where they are recognised as the individual that they are. Each new resident is carefully integrated into a suitable social group, if appropriate, and is provided with any additional care that they require.

Most animals we take in remain with us in sanctuary, where they get to live out the rest of their life in peace. Others will be given vital vet work and adopted out to loving homes.

We spare no expense in seeking the very best veterinary care. We have paid for tumour removals, dental surgeries, and the provision of unconventional medications. We are not a large-scale rescue. Instead, we seek to provide exceptional lifelong care and rescue-rehoming to a small number of animals.

Our areas of expertise include the care of:

  • Orphaned animals

  • Elderly animals

  • “Highly aggressive” and “highly fearful” animals

  • Large groups of mice and rats, including pregnant and nursing mothers, that result from accidental breeding

  • Animals suffering due to poor prior living conditions, including those with parasite infestations, skin ailments, fight wounds, heavy soiling, and malnutrition

  • Animals with illnesses and disabilities, including congestive heart failure, kidney disease, respiratory infection and disease, hind end paralysis, blindness and glaucoma, malocclusion and other dental issues, benign and cancerous tumours, limb and digit deformities, and more

OOTP is currently home to 76 residents, including 5 guinea pigs, 4 rabbits, 13 mice, 37 rats, and 17 Mitchell’s Hopping Mice. Many are elderly, or have chronic illnesses.

  • A mouse sits facing away from the camera in a cozy little enclosure. She is eating seeds.

    Critical care.

  • A close up of a rat's face. He is cuddled inside a fabric bucket and has wounds on his ears.

    Rehabilitation.

  • A mouse is held on a human palm. One of her eyes is very small and cloudy.

    Disability support.

  • A fluffy mouse with no tail sits on a pink napkin. She has a large stitched-up surgical site on her side.

    Surgical intervention.

  • A rat with striking face markings lays on a hammock. Around her nose there is a lot of reddish mucus, and one of her eyes is larger than the other.

    Unconventional treatments.

  • A baby rat is held upright in a human hand.

    Orphan rearing.

  • A small rabbit with floppy ears sits next to a strawberry. Around his eye is shaved.

    Complete commitment.

  • 12 mice of different colours and patterns sit in a carrier.

    Mass rescues.

  • Rescue collaboration.