Latest news with #SouthernCaliforniaGuineaPigRescue
The Independent
4 days ago
- General
- The Independent
More than 400 guinea pigs found in hoarder's Los Angeles home, says animal charity
Animal rescue volunteers made a shocking discovery at a home in south Los Angeles; more than 400 guinea pigs were being kept in a hoarder's home in "unsanitary and overcrowded" conditions. The rescue group, Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue, is asking for the public's help adopting or fostering the animals or for donations to fund their recovery and care. The owner of the home where the guinea pigs were found was facing eviction if she did not remove the animals from her house. A Los Angeles Animal Services coordinator emailed the SCGPR to alert them to the situation, hoping they could help. The coordinator believed the woman had approximately 200 guinea pigs in her home, but when volunteers arrived to collect the guinea pigs they found the real number was double the coordinator's estimate. Valerie Warren, chief executive and co-founder of SCGPR, told the Los Angeles Times that they were told the guinea pigs belonged to a previous tenant who moved out but left the animals behind. 'They just continued to breed and breed and the rest of the people in the house were just overwhelmed,' Warren, who visited the home, said. Some of the animals were found sick, injured, dehydrated, malnourished, or dead, but many others were found alive and in need of a home and care. The animals, which typically eat grass hay, vegetables, or animal pellets, were living primarily off of corn husks. Animal shelters are already struggling for space. After the pandemic, many people gave up pets they'd adopted during lock down. Now, the rescue has hundreds of guinea pigs to care for — and it's taking steps to make sure they don't have any more to deal with by separating the male and female guinea pigs. Warren said the animals could number nearly 1,000 by November if they're allowed to continue breeding. 'This is a dire situation,' she said. 'This is just a cycle that's not going to end until these guys are all taken in.' In the meantime, it's unclear if the animals are actually going to be removed from the home. They were reportedly told that an LA Animal Services lieutenant visited the home and determined the animals were healthy and had proper food, water, and shelter — a view the SCGPR does not share. They put out a press release asking the city to take action to protect the animals. 'We urge City officials and the animal welfare community to fully investigate this case and improve systemic response protocols. Shelter officials must be accountable if anything happens to these animals,' the group said in a press statement.
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- General
- Los Angeles Times
‘Distressing and alarming.' More than 400 guinea pigs found at a South Los Angeles home
Animal rescue volunteers this week found more than 400 guinea pigs at a South Los Angeles home, living in 'unsanitary and overcrowded' conditions. Now they're asking the public to help foster or adopt some of the rescued animals or to provide donations that will fund medical support and supplies. Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue said volunteers found hundreds of guinea pigs on Thursday evening in what they described as a 'distressing and alarming' scene. Some of the animals were dead. Others had medical problems including ringworm and open wounds. The guinea pigs, some pregnant or newborns, didn't have enough water or proper food. 'As the tenant had stated, she was unable to feed the population of guinea pigs, the rescue team's initial objective was to provide food, evaluate potential health issues, and begin to source overflow rescues and responsible homes,' the group said in a press release. A group spokesperson could not be reached for comment Saturday. The guinea pigs, which eat grass hay, vegetables and pellets, were living off of corn husks. A video posted on YouTube showed guinea pigs scurrying around the residence, some hiding in beer boxes or crowded in a cage without food. The group contacted the tenant after learning from an email from a Los Angeles Animal Services coordinator that she had hoarded 200 guinea pigs at her home and faced eviction if she didn't relocate them by Saturday. But it turned out the woman had a lot more guinea pigs than was described. The group said they're concerned after being told that a Los Angeles Animal Services lieutenant visited the property and determined the guinea pigs were healthy and had enough shelter, food and water. A representative for Los Angeles Animal Services could not be reached for comment Saturday. 'We urge City officials and the animal welfare community to fully investigate this case and improve systemic response protocols. Shelter officials must be accountable if anything happens to these animals,' the press release said. The group along with the Rescue Garden, Wee Companions and Vegas Friends of Guinea Pigs Rescue removed 33 guinea pigs. They prioritized animals that were pregnant, newborns, those suffering from health conditions and others that were the most vulnerable. The Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue group can be reached at socalguineapigrescue@ or through its website. Contact information for other animal rescue groups is also listed in the group's press release.
