Animal Welfare Column: Sociable guinnea pigs in need of homes

There was an undercurrent of 'chatting' when I met seven gorgeous guinea pigs this week.

Three babies and four adults were handed to Hillingdon RSPCA by their owner as they had too many. At present, they all live as one family – which is maybe why they had so much to say for themselves. Guinea pigs are sociable animals and the RSPCA would like to home them in same sex pairs /groups. If you are able to offer any of them a home, phone Hillingdon RSPCA on 01895 833417.

Now for an update on what happens to Ealing’s stray dogs. If you remember, I’ve had difficulty finding out what becomes of them (Gazette Oct 26).

The picture is becoming clearer but there is still some way to go. I’ve now visited SDK Environmental Ltd which is the organisation with whom Ealing Council have the contract for handling Ealing’s stray dogs. SDK collects the dogs and keeps them at Slough for about 24 hours before passing them to Maccabee Pet Hotel where they spend the rest of the seven day period for which Ealing Council has statutory responsibility. SDK are arranging for me to visit Maccabee kennels – a key organisation in the care of our strays.

Whilst at SDK, they showed me an extract from the electronic version of Ealing’s Stray Dog Register. Importantly, this included information relating to the outcome for each unclaimed stray. This information was not on the hard copy version of the Register I was shown recently at Ealing Council. So I’ve asked the Council if I can see the Register again – only this time the electronic version.

Talking in general, the more I find out about what happens to stray dogs, the more I realise that charities (such as Doris Banham Dog Rescue) which focus on taking in unclaimed strays from kennels / dog pounds after their seven day period of statutory detention is over, need all the help they can get.

That’s why I’ll be visiting such charities first when I go to Animal Aid’s Christmas Fayre on Sunday (Dec. 2). This amazing event, with more than 90 stalls, takes place at Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 from 10am – 5pm.