Young guinea pig dumped next to bins

The young boar was found in a tiny cage next to a lamppost and a rubbish area, close to a block of flats on Perry Green by a member of the public, late on Friday, May 20.

RSPCA carers have taken the animal in and named him ‘Perry’ after where he was found - but they are keen to find out more about him and why he was dumped.

Animal collection officer Kate Wright said: “Guinea pigs are sweet and sociable animals that like company. To have been kept living in a tiny, bare hamster cage like this is inconsiderate and cruel.

“He was also left underweight with a nasty, bloody gash on his side that, according to the vet, was not a new wound, and so this clearly had been left untreated by his owner. This could have got seriously infected and made him very sick indeed.

“It is really sad that people who can no longer care for their animals get so desperate that they just discard them in this way, as if they are a piece of old furniture that can just be dumped on the side of the road for someone else to deal with.”

She added: “We don’t know how he came to be in this position but being left injured out in the street like this is callous and cruel. We would really like to get to the bottom of what happened here.

“I run a small guinea pig rescue in my free time and so this poor little chap is staying with me at the moment. He was on antibiotics and I have had to nurse him back to good health but he’s on the road to recovery. He’s doing great right now, his wound has completely healed, and he’s eating very well - he’s certainly got an appetite and is a lovely little character!

“Perry has had a really sad start in life so my hope now is just that he will have a much more loving and brighter future.”

Anyone who has any further information on Perry or how he might have ended up being dumped is urged to contact the RSPCA immediately, and in confidence, by contacting the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

The RSPCA is a charity which relies on public donations to exist. To make a donation text HELP to 78866 to give £3. Texts cost £3 + one standard network rate message.