Another Abandoned Pet, A Guinea Pig, Rescued By Animal Shelter

BRANFORD, CT —It’s been the year of the abandoned pets, based on the near weekly posts from the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter in Branford. Dogs and cats, mostly, some seriously ill or wounded as a result of being dumped.

Friday morning, shelter director Laura Burban took to Facebook to again share the latest dumped pet: a guinea pig. Turns out, it’s not the first, or even the second but the ninth unwanted guinea pig the shelter has taken in. This one was dumped in East Rock Park in New Haven. Bourbon noted that it was found roaming in the park until a good Samaritan coaxed it out from under its rock hiding place. Once rescued, the person made several calls to shelters and other animal advocacy groups across the state, Burban wrote, but there was no room anywhere. The Cosgrove shelter, also full, could not say no, though.

And while the critter is safe in Branford, Bourbon is again banging the same old drum: “Abandoning animals is cruel, can be a public safety and health risk and leaving them outside to fend for themselves is immoral.”

“People will ask us why do you take in all sorts of domestic animals when really you don’t have to. As a matter of fact many municipal shelters aren’t equipped to take in cats either . Our response is because they need us , it is our job,” she wrote.

Of late, several dogs and cats have been left to fend for themselves behind big box stores, on the street, on the side of the road, even in Dumpsters. Bourbon wants to see laws on animal abandonment charged.

“...We need to change things. Animal abandonment laws need to be stronger. And people need other options if they absolutely have to find placement for their animals,” she wrote.

And also offered some sound advice for prospective pet owners.

“People also need to take self responsibility and realize if you adopt, purchase, get an animal from a friend ...animals can be an 18-year commitment and need food, water , shelter, vet care and lots of socialization, training and love. Don’t get an animal spur of the moment and think it will just be fun; you need to clean their cages, their litter boxes, their vomit, their feces and urine, their fur all over your house, and they talk back just like kids so be prepared to provide training.”

And then offered an apology to the guinea pig and other dumped dogs, cats, bunnies and other domesticated animals.

“We are grateful this little piggie is safe but for all of those we never know about or can’t get there in time for - we are sorry humans have failed you. We will continue to do our best to educate, rehabilitate and take in as many as we can so they do not suffer.”