THE Scottish SPCA has appealed for information after two guinea pigs were found abandoned by a country road in the Scottish Borders.
Having received a call from a concerned member of the public, inspectors from Scotland’s animal welfare charity found the guinea pigs in undergrowth by the B709 between St Mary’s Loch and Traquair, near Innerleithan, on Friday, April 27.
The guinea pigs are now being cared for at the charity’s Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre by Balerno, where staff have named them Mac and Mick.
The guinea pigs are lucky to be alive
Inspector Jenny Scott said, “The nearest house to where we found Mac and Mick is around a mile away and that’s not where they’ve come from so we don’t think they are strays.
“Sadly, it seems likely they’ve been abandoned, which would not only be an offence but would also be a very cruel thing to do.
“It’s lucky they are still alive as guinea pigs do not handle cold and damp conditions very well and they could easily have been run over or preyed upon.
“They are very quick creatures and it took us quite a while to catch them in amongst trees, shrubs and grasses.
“Thankfully they are in good health though if they were dumped whoever was responsible can’t have cared whether they lived or died.”
Mac and Mick are both young males and will soon be available to be rehomed.
Abandoning an animal is an offence and anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.
In 2011 the Scottish SPCA cared for 13,437 animals and attended 50,039 incidents.
Anyone with information relating to the guinea pigs is being urged to contact the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.
