Photo by Travis Pratt Martha and Jonathan Lopez take at look at guinea pigs on display Saturday at Regal Westview Stadium 16 theaters. Small Angels Rescue were on hand for the opening of the new movie “G-Force,” raising awareness about guinea pig ownership and adoption. Purchase this photo

Michelle Clowe, vice president of Small Angels Rescue, a Frederick -based animal rescue, joined representatives of the Frederick pet community Saturday at Regal Westview Stadium 16 theaters to educate the public about guinea pigs.

People see movies about animals and say "Oh, they're so cute" and then buy them, Clowe said.

Then, a few months later, area animal rescues see a surge in unwanted pets, she said.

"We encourage people to do the research first," she said.

The groups set up information booths at the theater for the opening weekend of "G-Force."

Children perusing the information booths, including a travel cage with a few guinea pigs, also had the chance to have their faces painted and hop in a moon bounce.

The first thing people should know is that guinea pigs are social, herd animals, and do better in same-sex pairs, Clowe said.

A pair also needs about 8 square feet of floor space to live comfortably, she said.

Guinea pigs live for about five to seven years, so people wishing to acquire them as pets should understand the time commitment involved, she said.

Pet owners should also be prepared to pay for veterinary care, and feed the animals hay, fresh vegetables and plain feed, Clowe said.

Guinea pigs are also noisy, eat feces, have fragile bones and can't swim. Young children should not carry them, she said.

Clowe also encouraged would be guinea pig owners to adopt, instead of buying them from a pet store.