AN animal welfare charity has issued an appeal for information after cruel yobs dumped two guinea pigs in an East Renfrewshire park – causing one to die.

A kind passer-by spotted the little rodents inside a box that had been left in the Thornliebank area and took them home on August 19.

But one of the guinea pigs struggled to breathe and died before a mercy crew from the Scottish SPCA was sent out.

The surviving animal is being cared for at a rescue centre in Glasgow.

Scottish SPCA inspector Lara Vickery said: "After finding the guinea pigs in poor condition inside a box, the caller took them home and phoned our animal helpline.

"One of the guinea pigs is black and white and the other was brown.

"The caller reported that the brown guinea pig was having trouble breathing and sadly passed away before we arrived. The other is being cared for at our Glasgow Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre.

"We would like to determine the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of these animals.

“If anyone has any information that might help our inquiry, we would urge them to call our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”

Abandoning an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. Anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.

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