TWO guinea pigs dumped near a country road are now safe after being rescued by animal welfare officers, writes Mark Entwistle.
The Scottish SPCA has appealed for information after the two small animals were found in undergrowth alongside the B707 road between St Mary’s Loch and Traquair on Friday.
The charity had been alerted by a concerned member of the public and the guinea pigs, now christened Mac and Mick, are being cared for at the charity’s Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre near Balerno.
Inspector Jenny Scott told us: “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, although 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.
Anyone with information relating to the guinea pigs is urged to contact the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.