Sanquhar animal shelter rescue abandoned guinea pigs
Six were found on the side of a road.
A herd of guinea pigs were found dumped at the side of the road in Mennock Pass – a scenic road through the Lowther Hills – and rescued by a Sanquhar animal shelter.
Six guinea pigs were found, four adults and two pups, running loose on the roadside.
Clark’s Little Ark team were able to recover three and bring them back to their other nine residing at the shelter.
Although they weren’t looking to take on more, owner Alison Shankly says she couldn’t turn them away and had to help.
“We had to try and get to these ones to safety before something else got to them.
“It looked like an impossible task trying to catch any of them amongst the bracken, brambles and grass not to mention the midges.
“Poor things were soaking and matted but we’ve got them safe at the Ark and will let them settle overnight and get them properly checked tomorrow.”
Three at remain at large but the Ark is hoping they’ll be able to find them soon.
Shankly adds: “Poor wee things don’t deserve to be treated like that. Why do folk do that?! The fact that anyone could dump pets like that is disgusting!”
She says on a happier note: “Also the third one to be caught is a male, the other two are females, so it is extremely likely there will be more on the way!”
Clarks Little Ark which is ran by a posse of volunteers was built in memory of Alison and Ian Shankly’s late son Clark.
Together, the couple took on animals to give them a new lease of life and in 2018, they were crowned the Community Project Winner in the Dumfries and Galloway’s Life Award.