Guinea Pigs Left in Wimbledon Shopping Centre Car Park


RSPCA appeals for someone to adopt the pair

Guinea pigs thought to be unwanted pets abandoned ahead of Christmas
Guinea pigs thought to be unwanted pets abandoned ahead of Christmas

A pair of guinea pigs abandoned and left inside pet carriers in a shopping centre car park in Wimbledon are being cared for thanks to the RSPCA.

The guinea pigs were discovered by a shopper as they parked their vehicle in the multi-storey (on Tuesday 30 November) - they had each been left inside a pet carrier with some straw bedding and dumped under a ramp leading to the lower level of the car park.

After they contacted the charity, RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Mat Hawkins arrived to collect the pair- a black female and a brown male - and took them to a vet for a health check.

Mat said, “It’s likely these two little guinea pigs are unwanted pets and their owner decided to leave them in the car park ahead of Christmas, in the carrier hoping they’d be found.

“It’s really sad to think that someone took on these pets without thinking it through and then felt it was appropriate to abandon them in a car park like this, leaving them vulnerable to all sorts of danger, and no doubt really frightened too. It’s hugely irresponsible.”

The guinea pigs were checked over and luckily are in fair health. Mat took them to a local boarding establishment where they will be cared for until they are ready to find a loving new home.

Mat added, “The RSPCA received 51,000 calls last December, that’s one call every minute - and we received one report of an abandoned animal just like these little guinea pigs every hour. As we were in lockdown last year, we expect these figures to rise this Christmas. We’re asking people to Join the Rescue this Christmas to help bring animals to safety this festive season.”

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December 16, 2021