SIX young guinea pigs are lucky to be alive after being dumped with their mother on a cold January day at Buckland Abbey.

The guinea pigs were found near the entrance of Buckland Abbey on January 8 by estate warden Andrew Wrayford.

Sally Whitfield, manager of the site, who helped to round up the guinea pigs, said: 'They were running around loose with no shelter, and could easily have fallen victim to predators.

'It was also the coldest spell I have seen here in 21 years, so it really was thoughtless to dump them out here.'

Staff at the abbey swiftly called the RSPCA, and Animal Collection Officer Simon Kite arrived to collect the animals, which have been taken into the care of Plymouth and South West Devon branch of the charity.

Mother and babies will stay in RSPCA care until a loving new owner can be found for them.

Jackie Mayling, rehoming co-ordinator of the RSPCA Plymouth branch, was keen to remind pet owners that any pet is a lifelong commitment.

She said: 'This scenario was almost certainly the result of unwanted breeding between two wrongly sexed guinea pigs — but there is no excuse for abandoning an animal in this way.

'People think they are giving their pets a chance by releasing them into the wild but that is not the case.'

The RSPCA is appealing for anyone with information on the dumping of these guinea pigs to call Mr Kite on the RSPCA Cruelty and Information Line 0300 1234 999.

Anyone who thinks they have the time and commitment to adopt a pet from the RSPCA Plymouth branch should call Jackie Mayling on 01752 221088 between noon and 4pm.