USPCA ‘beyond words’ over guinea pigs abandoned in ditch that had to be relieved of suffering

The charity said the animals were found by a member of the public near the Damolly Road in Newry yesterday, and sadly had to be put down.

The USPCA said the pets were discarded in a ‘bag for life’ in a horrific state of neglect and in severe pain.

USPCA’s Colleen Tinnelly said “At this point, we are beyond words – we are absolutely appalled that someone left these poor animals suffering. They were essentially left to die at the roadside. The animals had clearly been neglected for a long time, displaying severe skin infections and serious pain.”

She said: “Following examination from our veterinary team, the two guinea pigs unfortunately had to be relieved of their suffering.

“We plea with the public to always do their research before getting a pet – be that a dog, cat, or indeed a guinea pig. Every animal has its own set of intricate needs and unless you are able to meet these fully and give the animal the best life possible, do not even consider getting a pet.”

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Ben Lowry

Editor