'Hoarding situation': 400 guinea pigs saved from California property
The Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue (SCGPR) said in a July 21 Facebook post that it received a request from the Los Angeles Animal Services (LAAS) on July 15 regarding "a hoarding situation" in South Los Angeles involving up to 200 guinea pigs in need of rescue.
The LAAS told the nonprofit that the owner of the guinea pigs was facing eviction from her rental property unless all the animals were removed by July 19, according to the social media post. At this point, the SCGPR made contact with the tenant, who allowed them to come by the property on July 17 to begin removing the guinea pigs.
USA TODAY contacted the LAAS and SCGPR on Saturday, July 26, but has not received a response.
Guinea pig removal process begins
While removing the guinea pigs, the SCGPR said in the Facebook post that "it became immediately clear that the situation was critical." Rescuers noticed "pervasive medical conditions" in the animals, including ringworm, pregnancies, open wounds and neurological issues, the post continued, adding that the guinea pigs also "lacked access to adequate space, bedding, water, and food."
The number of guinea pigs may have increased without intervention due to the males and females not being separated, or fixed, according to the SCGPR. Guinea pigs can reproduce at 3 weeks of age and can become pregnant within hours of giving birth, the nonprofit added.
The SCGPR managed to rescue 33 guinea pigs from the property, while the nonprofit said the LAAS would remove the remaining animals.
Remaining guinea pigs removed from LA property
In a July 24 Facebook post, the SCGPR wrote that LAAS removed all remaining guinea pigs from the property that afternoon.
"We know that females and young babies went to (Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue and Adoption Center), and the remaining boys were booked into LAAS to be split up between the 6 city shelters," the post reads.
The post also contains SCGPR Co-founder and CEO Valerie Warren's written reaction to the entire situation, "The last week has been one of the most draining ones of my rescue career. The emotional toll of being on that property a week ago with my 4 rescue colleagues has been a heavy one, but tonight I will be able to breathe a sigh of relief and sleep much better than I have in a week."
According to Warren, LAAS does not have the exact headcount for the rescued guinea pigs, but she said the SCGPR's early estimate of 300 to 400 animals appears to be correct.
"We are SO relieved these pigs are out of that situation," Warren wrote.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 400 guinea pigs rescued from California property
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