Rescued New Forest Guinea Pigs to be rehomed
Eleven of them were abandoned under wooden arches
Eleven Guinea Pigs who were left to fend for themselves in the New Forest are to be rehomed after being rescued.
The group made up of four adults and seven babies were let loose in a car park close to the Wiltshire/Hampshire border but fortunately were soon found by a client of dog walker Julie King.
The dog walker took them home and placed them in in a large run in her garage, before contacting the RSPCA.
RSPCA inspector Graham Hammond, attended the incident, said it was a ‘completely reckless and callous act.’
“This is nothing new unfortunately and we saw similar abandonments in pre-covid times but now it seems the cost of living is having a big impact and incidents like this are all too common.
“We suspect this incident may be as a result of accidental breeding which has gotten out of hand and the owners have quickly found they have a large number of guinea pigs. There are two litters and one of the mothers may be pregnant again.
While the animals were left under two wooden arches, they were at risk of being preyed upon and despite being wet after their ordeal, the group were in good health when they were found.
The RSPCA is working with the dog walker to rehome the Guinea Pigs, who say it’s the latest in a spate of abandonments.
Up to August, the charity has taken in 37% more Guinea Pigs than through the same period last year.
Julie King, who lives near the woods, brought a pair of cat baskets to help her client recover the animals.
It was distressing to see as some of the babies were only a day or two old, so anything could have happened to them.
“One of the mothers is just two to three months old and she already has two babies.
“I have a number of people who are interested in taking them and with the advice I have received from the RSPCA I will make sure they are adopted by owners who are going to meet their welfare needs. When they are rehomed I will also direct other potential adopters of guinea pigs towards the RSPCA and their advice.”