AN ANIMAL-loving Ashbury family whose male guinea pigs were stolen from their garden have been touched by the kindness of Okehampton Times readers following an article last week.
Brothers Isaac and Jordan Walter now have two new guinea pigs thanks to a Throwleigh reader who took pity on the boys after they lost their favourite pets.
Their mother Geraldine said she had been overwhelmed by the messages of support and people's kindness since the theft, which occurred overnight on September 7/8.
'People have been stopping me in the street and phoning me to tell me how sorry they are,' she said. 'It has certainly made us feel a lot better even though we have no information about the guinea pigs' whereabouts.'
The Walters, who breed a few guinea pigs a year for their own pleasure and have 22 females, offered £100 reward for information leading to the safe return of the animals and informed the police, local pet shops, animal sales and markets in the hope their pets would be found.
When Gill Payne and her daughter Harriet from Throwleigh read the story, they felt compelled to do something.
Mrs Payne said: 'We had two very pretty coffee and cream coloured guinea pigs for about 18 months but when Harriet started secondary school, she developed other interests and did not have so much time for her pets.
'They were cared for and kept well but were not getting all the fuss and cuddles they were used to. When we read the story, Harriet said perhaps the boys would like the animals and shortly afterwards we made contact with the Walter family through the Okehampton Times.'
When Mrs Payne and her daughter delivered the pets, renamed as 'Jake' and 'Rocky', they could see straight away that they were going to a good home. 'This family are certainly geared up for guinea pigs — it's like guinea pig heaven,' she said.
'They will probably have a lovely time with all those females and we will be waiting with anticipation to hear the patter of little guinea pig feet in the future.'
Mrs Walter said her children were delighted with their new pets, who were settling in well.
'We were so upset after the males were stolen and could not understand why someone would do something like this,' she said.
'This act of kindness in offering the boys two new pets and the support we have received has restored my faith in human nature somewhat. I would like to thank everybody for their concern.'
It is believed the animals may have been stolen because there is currently a shortage of male guinea pigs — anyone with information should call PC Jill Steer Okehampton Police on 08705 777444.