A guinea pig was abandoned by its owner at an East London tube station last month in an act animal activists have called “an incredibly cruel thing to do.”
The pet was found alone in a cage in an alleyway at the Canning Town station on Feb.18 along with a handwritten note that read “I need a new owner,” according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The RSPCA said the critter, who has been dubbed DiscoPig, is believed to be between six and 12 months old.
The organization slammed the former owner for leaving the guinea pig in such a vulnerable situation — and for keeping DiscoPig as a pet without any friends.
The guinea pig, dubbed DiscoPig, was found in a cage at an East London tube station. BBC
The pet was left with a note that said “I need a new owner.” BBC
“A guinea pig can develop abnormal behavior and may suffer if they are left without company of other guinea pigs,” RSPCA inspector Shahnaz Ahmad told the BBC.
DiscoPig will be put up for package adoption soon with a mate.
“We encourage people to reach out to local animal welfare charities for help with pet care, rather than leaving them in a vulnerable situation like this,” Ahmad said.
“Abandoning pets in such a manner is an incredibly cruel thing to do and never the answer,” she added.
Last year, New York City banned the commercial sale of guinea pigs after some 600 of the pets were surrendered to overburdened city animal shelters in 2022.
Guinea pigs live for up to ten years, and there are a “very limited number of veterinarians” in the city that know how to neuter and spay them, Alexandra Silver, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare, said when the measure was passed by city council.
