32 mistreated guinea pigs rescued! Our latest case! ( Warning graphic photos )

[enchantingcavy]

Hi Guys,

Sorry I havn't been on the forums to post much lately...it's been sooo hectic here lately I havn't had time to do much other than treat sick guinea pigs or organise rescue functions.

Anyhow I thought maybe it'd be nice to share out latest rescue case. It's a serious case of mistreatment. To cut the very LONG story short we travelled over 8 hours to rescue these guinea pigs. A giveaway ad for 50 guinea pigs was reported to us by someone so we enquired about the animals. The area they were located in was very very rural and the lady wanted the guinea pigs gone within the month and we knew they could not all be sold in such a small rural area...so we kept conversing with the lady and made a deal that we would just take the lot...now we figured we were getting healthy animals as apparently these pigs were their quote " pride and joy " and " very healthy animals ".....well nothing could've been farther from the truth....here is our story...

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Emergency c&c cages were made and things set up here at the rescue for the new arrivals. This rescue was a two day rescue we stayed overnight midway through the trip. It was also FREEZING the area in which these animals lived was definitely below 0 degrees at night. Was also an expensive trip the fuel cost us a mint!

Oh we had to drop an adopted piggy off halfway there so this is me with Jahzara the lucky girl that was going to a very lovely new home to meet her new female piggy friend.

This is the area near the town the pigs were located in...pretty desolate.

This is what we found when we arrived to pick up the piggies...The pig and pigeon pen/coop. Approx 20 pigeons housed WITH the guinea pigs...bird poop everywhere all over cracked old cement pipes and pvc pipes. The pipes inside were filled with rotting dirt/mud/poop. Bits of scrap chicken wire in different areas of the coop. Feathers all over the place. The floor stinking and covered in layers of old guinea pig poop, pieces of cement, rotting hay, feathers, bird poop...the water bowl filled with dirty brown water in a filthy container. The bird racks layered with poop. The food bowl filthy with the pigs and the birds sharing a plain round seed mix of only one type of seed. The entire coop approx 1.5m x 2.5m in size.

 

[enchantingcavy]

The woman takes a pig out and tells us how healthy they are. Volunteer and friend almost dies of shock as she pulls out a pig riddled with mites and mange, skinny, bare stomach and almost no hair...

We then proceeded ( biting our tongues very hard and pretending to be happy and not make it obvious how we really felt ) to catch all the very wild moth eaten almost dead guinea pigs which ran the floors of the coop. As rebecca picked each pig up they'd let out shrilling squeels and some ended up jumping from our hands and into the yard which we then had to catch they went crazy!!!.

 

[enchantingcavy]

The first two pigs caught...

We both ended up with cuts all over our hands from their very sharp claws and very wild behaviour. Had to go to the chemist after.

 

[enchantingcavy]

The sight was something like a horror film I honestly couldn't catch it on the camera the sun was glaring in the cam and none of these pictures seem to describe what we had to see or endure...

Several of the pigeons were riddled with mange and very sick and unwell. One had a beak that curved right under it's chin it was so overgrown while others had bare skin and feathers missing.

 

[Katie]

Oh how horrible. Those poor pigs and pigeons. How can anyone even think these pigs look healthy? A four year old could see there is definately something wrong.

I'm glad you were able to rescue them, hopefully she doesn't have anymore hiding anywhere. Did you contact anyone about the pigeons?

 

[enchantingcavy]

The owners told us the guinea pigs were living on PALM TREE LEAVES! Within 2 minutes of us leaving the property I asked to pull over I needed to make a phone call. I rung the rspca and just burst into tears and started shaking while on the phone. I think after all I've seen lately and with us completely NOT expecting what we found I just couldn't seem to contain myself. Anyhow basically they were reported there and then on the spot.

Sadly one of the guinea pigs passed away only an hour back into our drive home.

We decided to stop in to the RSPCA we wanted to see if the vet could have a look at the dead guinea pig. Anyhow they've now taken the dead guinea pig which may be able to be used as evidence in the case. While at the RSPCA I was handed two MORE rescue boys so now we had even more piggies to fit into the car! One of the boys was missing an eye but both boys are healthy.

Anynow now all the piggies are finally here at home they've all been given a dose of revolution and will soon be mite washed/fungal washed and any wounds treated etc. The condition of the pigs is basically as follows.
- Dermatitis to approx a quarter of the pigs.
- all underweight and malnourished
- a good half the pigs suffering bad constipation and bloat
- all suffering from mild to severe mange

Here's a quick few more photos of some of the piggies...

This was a temporary cage for a few hours just while we setup their proper housing...

 

[Katie]

They look so much happier already! Hopefully this women is charged with something.

 

[enchantingcavy]

I have more photos a photo of each pig was taken but all the pigs pretty much range from this to more mild mange...anyhow just wanted to share the story...Looks like the piggies will be here a while and looks like my pocket is once again empty lol:eye-poppi ....have approx 100 pigs here atm and wasn't expecting this butto think if we hadnt of gone out to see these pigs that these beautiful souls would've never been given a chance at life and most probably woud've died within the next month...I hope all the pigs pull through because there is nothing more rewarding that seeing the end result which will be happy healthy beautiful guinea pigs who will be guaranteed only happiness in their lives from now on.

Jess

 

[enchantingcavy]

Yup the pigeons were reported aswell...these people also had a chook and duck coop which we didnt get to have a look at and they had cats and kittens running around the place aswell...grrr no words people like this just...you honestly have to wonder how they can wake up in the morning and live their lives knowing what they do to animals!...or in this case completely not knowing which is even more appauling!

Jess

 

[jdomans]

I am reading this right now and am saying, "Oh my God"!! A job very well done my dear.
Jess at the beginning you said 50 but the thread says 32. I am lost here. Also I take it the rspca will take care of the poor pigeons? Very smart of you to run by the rspca. How long before you know what will be done to this lady?
I have to go hug one of my pigs after reading this.

 

[fourbwabbys]

That's so horrible. I'm in shock as I see those pictures. You're such a great person for getting them out of that situation. It's good to know they're in great hands now. Keep us updated on them.

 

[suzilovespiggie]

Oh, my gosh. How very very horrible! Those poor babies. Thank you so much for taking the time and your own money to go and rescue them! Is anything any of us can do to offer you some help? Keep us posted.

 

[cavy-cool-crazy]

Poor, poor pigs. How in the world can somebody think those are healthy? Many of them look so very ill. It's just absolutely appalling.

Well done you Jess, for taking them in. Having 50+ pigs to begin with and then taking in another 33 (counting the one death [so sad] and two others from the RSPCA) is really something.

 

[BabyGrl]

Wow that was one of the most horrible things I have ever seen.

 

[Cavie Cove]

Jess words fail me to say how amazing *you* are. what you are doing is just so wow its really love and care.
I cant believe the state of the guineas and kept with birds the poor little ones.
Were they mixed sex?
I hope that the RSPCA pull their socks up and do something this time! They need to get their act together-judging my some of your previous rescues.
They do look better at your place, I hope they all do well and I just want to say thankyou Jess for taking them.

 

[enchantingcavy]

Hi Guys,

Sadly that isn't the reason these pigs were giveaway. The owner of the guinea pigs passed away very recently....I hate to say this but as awful as it sounds if the owner hadn't of passed away noone would've ever found out about the conditions these people's animals were being kept in...

I'd be very upset if the rspca didn't act on this one...If they don't I don't know what their definition of mistreatment or abuse is. The last case was severe enough and I spent months trying to get them to continue the case but sadly it was dropped. Supplying photo evidence helps cases I don't know what more I could do I take photos I give detailed descriptions and the cases are severe in my opinion...will definitely update everyone on how they go. I'll ring them in a week if they havn't rung me and yeah will let everyone know how the investigation went. I hope the pigeons get taken out of that environment:sarcastic

I have 60 of my own piggies ( I've been keeping a few to many rescues lately lol I better stop!!!! 60 is definitely enough!. I kept Amy and Lucy from the last case they were those two sows that had the severe mange....they really can't be adopted they can't be picked up without squeeling like they're in pain and like someones trying to hurt them...it's psychological Amy in particular pants really loudly ) umm yeah and then there's the 31 rescue pigs ( 32 originally but there was the one that passed away on our way home ) umm and then 5 other rescue piggies on top of the 32 so all up approx 97 pigs here atm....eek!

A few locals are going to help donate some vegies and stuff. I'll probably need to buy more revolution and umm yeah just skin treatments and stuff...I think the feed and beddings bills will be what ads up the most...but yeah I don't regret ever taking them I'd rather see my wallet suffer than the piggiesptimist:

Jess

 

[Cavie Cove]

Hi Guys,
....I hate to say this but as awful as it sounds if the owner hadn't of passed away noone would've ever found out about the conditions these people's animals were being kept in...

That is so true if it wasnt for the sad loss then the guineas would have continued sufferning.
It is to easy to get to attatched to rescue guineas for sure.
Hope the RSPCA do do something if they dont what the heck are they playying at?!

glad to hear the the little girls are better now after their horrible skin condition-pigtures?
Kirsty

 

[Jennicat]

My goodness, those poor animals. Bless you for taking them out of there.