United Kingdom: Guinea pigs found abandoned, inside flower pot, to die

UNITED KINGDOM -- The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information after two guinea pigs were found dumped inside a flower pot in Kirkcaldy.

Scotland’s animal welfare charity was alerted on Tuesday night after a member of the public found the creatures under a rail bridge on Factory Road.

The male guinea pigs are now in the care of the Scottish SPCA’s Lanarkshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Hamilton where they have been named Bill and Ben.

Animal rescue officer Robert Ward said, “The lady who reported the incident to us said her daughter found Bill and Ben in a plant pot amongst rubbish which had been dumped on the pavement underneath the rail bridge.

“We don’t know how long the guinea-pigs had been there for, but they were very cold and had no access to food, water or shelter.

“It’s heart-breaking to think that Bill and Ben have been thrown away like rubbish and we hope they will both recover from this terrible ordeal. We would love to be able to rehome them together with a responsible and caring owner.”

Abandoning an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.

(Evening Telegraph UK - February 6, 2014)