Crisis in SLA 🚨 400+ Guinea Pigs Found In Hoarding Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: July 18, 2025 ______   CRISIS IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES: 400+ GUINEA PIGS FOUND IN HOARDING CASE   Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue Urges Rescues, the Public, and Local Officials to Take Action ______   Earlier this week, Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue (SCGPR) and several other members of the small animal rescue community were alerted to a dire animal welfare situation involving an overwhelming number of guinea pigs in South Los Angeles. An email from a Los Angeles Animal Services coordinator advised that a member of the public was facing eviction and urgently needed to surrender approximately 200 guinea pigs.   Upon receiving contact information for the individual, SCGPR reached out immediately. The tenant explained that unless the guinea pigs were relocated by Saturday, July 19, she would lose her housing. We unsuccessfully attempted to explain that safely removing and relocating that many animals requires extensive time, resources, and careful assessment. ______   Rescue Team Finds 400–500 Guinea Pigs in Crisis   On the evening of July 17, a team of rescue volunteers, including Claire B, Megan S from the Rescue Garden, Valerie W from SCGPR and 2 other volunteers, visited the property to assess the severity of the situation and obtain an approximate headcount.   As the tenant had stated she was unable to feed the population of guinea pigs, the rescue team’s initial objective was to provide food, evaluate potential health issues, and begin to source overflow rescues and responsible homes.   However, what they encountered was distressing and alarming: • An estimated 400–500 guinea pigs, more than double the 200 originally reported • Deceased animals on the property • Widespread medical issues, including ringworm, head tilt, tumors, open wounds, and hair loss • Overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions • Countless pregnant females and newborn babies • A diet restricted to cornhusks • Insufficient water sources, such as a single bottle for 80-100 animals   Despite already operating at full capacity, SCGPR, The Rescue Garden, Wee Companions and Vegas Friends of Guinea Pigs Rescue removed 33 guinea pigs, prioritizing the most vulnerable animals: heavily pregnant females, nursing mothers, young babies, and those with visible health conditions. These animals are now receiving urgent care. _____   Animal Services Response Raises Concerns   On July 18, an SCGPR volunteer was informed that a Los Angeles Animal Services lieutenant had visited the property and determined that:   “Most appear healthy and happy” “All basic needs are met— shelter, food, and water”   Given that our rescue team witnessed firsthand the situation’s severity, LA Animal Services’ statements are deeply troubling and antithetical to animal welfare standards and the rescue mission shared by our organizations. SCGPR has photo and video evidence of the conditions and plans to release a full video report in the coming days.   We have been told that Animal Services may return to the property next week and attempt to remove the remaining animals, but Animal Services representatives have also stated that they do not have the resources to accommodate this number of guinea pigs. _____   How You Can Help   We are urgently calling on the public to foster or adopt from these rescues, allowing us to free up resources necessary to provide critical medical care for these animals.   We are also accepting donations to support medical care and supplies for the 33 guinea pigs taken in by our 4 rescues.   Fellow rescues in other areas can assist in intake and placement.   We urge City officials and the animal welfare community to fully investigate this case and improve systemic response protocols. Shelter officials must be accountable if anything happens to these animals.   “This is one of the most overwhelming and heartbreaking cases we’ve ever seen,” said a representative from SCGPR. “The response from the Lieutenant who visited the property this morning in the face of such visible suffering is unacceptable.”  ⸻ Contact & Updates Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue 📍 Website: http://www.socalguineapigrescue.org 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram:   / socalguineapigrescue   Wee Companions 📍 Website: https://www.weecompanions.org/ 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram:   / weecompanions2025   Vegas Friends Of Guinea Pigs 📍 Website: https://vegasfriendsofgprescue.org/ 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram:  / vegas_friendsof_gp_rescue   The Rescue Garden 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram:   / therescuegarden   ⸻ #GuineaPigRescue #AnimalWelfare #LosAngelesAnimals #HoardingCrisis #AdoptDontShop #FosterToSave #SCGPR