Over 400 Guinea Pigs Found in One Home in L.A. ‘Hoarding Case’

Over 400 guinea pigs — including many who were dead, pregnant, or newborn — were found in a single home that is now part of a massive rescue in Los Angeles that is still underway, according to a California nonprofit.

Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue (SCGPR) and other “members of the small animal rescue community” were alerted to a “dire animal welfare situation” in south L.A. earlier this month, the organization said in a July 18 press release.

An L.A. woman was facing eviction due to what SCGPR described as a “hoarding case” at her home, and she was required to relocate her guinea pigs by July 19. An initial assessment by another organization determined that she had approximately 200 rodents in her residence, but SCGPR later learned that the actual number was more than double that.

The initial assessment also determined that “most” of the animals were “healthy and happy,” with their basic needs met. This was not the case, according to SCGPR.

After investigating the situation on July 17, SCGPR volunteers learned that there were actually over 400 guinea pigs in the home, and they were in a state the rescue described as “distressing and alarming.”

There were “deceased animals on the property,” as well as “countless pregnant females and newborn babies,” SCGPR said. The animals were also suffering from “widespread medical issues, including ringworm, head tilt, tumors, open wounds, and hair loss,” the rescue said.

According to the rescue, the rodents were also living in “overcrowded” and “unsanitary” conditions, with a diet of just cornhusks and insufficient water — “a single bottle for 80-100 animals,” SCGPR claimed.

Images and footage of the rescue — which the nonprofit shared on YouTube and Instagram, respectively — show dozens of the animals crawling around empty beer cases behind a wire door. Others ran around the property, which was littered with cardboard boxes and cornhusks.

SCGPR stated that, as of July 18, along with three other rescue organizations (The Rescue Garden, Wee Companions, and Vegas Friends of Guinea Pigs Rescue), it had successfully removed 33 of the hundreds of guinea pigs, “despite already operating at full capacity.”

Unable to save all of the animals, the organizations prioritized “the most vulnerable animals,” SCGPR said, including: “heavily pregnant females, nursing mothers, young babies, and those with visible health conditions.”

“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,” the rescue said.

SCGPR is now asking for help, “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.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for the guinea pig rescue called the situation “one of the most overwhelming and heartbreaking cases we’ve ever seen.”

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On July 21, the Rescue Garden shared an update on the guinea pigs that the service had taken in, revealing that one of the pregnant animals had given birth to two babies after being rescued.

“Last night when I put them all to bed, there were 15 guinea pigs from the LA Situation,” the organization wrote on Instagram. “This morning, when I treated and weighed everybody, I had to count three times. There were 17!”

The Rescue Garden concluded the post, which also included photos of the mom and two newborn babies, by writing that “from now on, I hope that we can make you forget your past and enjoy the luxury of warmth, good food, love, and light.”