A massive small-animal hoarding crisis has emerged in South Los Angeles, where rescue volunteers estimate between 400 and 500 guinea pigs were discovered living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. The Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue (SCGPR), along with other rescue groups, is urgently calling on local officials, the public, and fellow organizations to take immediate action to prevent further suffering.
The case came to light earlier this week when Los Angeles Animal Services alerted local rescue groups that a resident facing eviction needed to surrender approximately 200 guinea pigs. When SCGPR contacted the individual, the tenant said she had until Saturday, July 19, to relocate the animals or risk losing her housing.
On the evening of July 17, a team of volunteers from SCGPR, The Rescue Garden, and other affiliated rescuers visited the property to assess the situation. What they encountered was far more severe than initially reported.
Volunteers found an estimated 400 to 500 guinea pigs, more than double the number cited in the initial request for help. The animals were living in overcrowded spaces with insufficient food and water, and many displayed clear signs of illness or neglect.
According to rescuers, the guinea pigs were surviving on a diet of cornhusks, with as many as 80 to 100 animals sharing a single water bottle.
Among the most alarming conditions documented by the rescue team were deceased guinea pigs on the premises, widespread medical issues including ringworm, tumors, open wounds, and visible signs of malnutrition. Pregnant females, newborns, and severely ill animals were intermingled in cramped enclosures.
Despite being at capacity, SCGPR, The Rescue Garden, Wee Companions, and Vegas Friends of Guinea Pigs Rescue collectively removed 33 guinea pigs from the site, focusing on those with urgent medical needs. These animals are now receiving critical veterinary care.
Concerns have been raised about the official response to the situation. On July 18, an SCGPR volunteer reported that a Los Angeles Animal Services lieutenant had visited the property and concluded that the animals appeared “healthy and happy,” with all “basic needs met — shelter, food, and water.”
SCGPR disputes that assessment, describing it as “deeply troubling” and “antithetical to animal welfare standards.”
“This is one of the most overwhelming and heartbreaking cases we’ve ever seen,” a representative from SCGPR said in a statement. “The response from the Lieutenant who visited the property this morning in the face of such visible suffering is unacceptable.”
SCGPR has documented the conditions and released a video on YouTube showing the rescue effort and the state in which the guinea pigs were found.
With hundreds of animals still on the property and local officials citing a lack of resources to take them in, rescue groups are urging members of the public to foster or adopt guinea pigs to help free up space and allow for further intakes. Donations to assist with medical care and supplies are also being accepted.
In addition, SCGPR and its partners are calling on City officials and the broader animal welfare community to launch a full investigation and overhaul systemic response protocols in such large-scale animal welfare emergencies.
For more information or to support the ongoing rescue efforts, visit the Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue’s official website.
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