A guinea pig dumped in a cardboard box survived for several days by eating rotten sunflower heads, just a few hundred metres from Hillingdon's RSPCA branch.

A tri-colour, long-haired guinea pig was discovered in a dirty, sodden cardboard box hidden from view near a derelict Salvation Army Hall by workmen in Uxbridge Road, Uxbridge.

The guinea pig, now named Dennis, was found just 400m from the Hillingdon branch of the RSPCA with two rotten sunflower heads and some wet leaves.

RSPCA inspector Becky Timberlake attended to collect the frightened rodent, whose coat was very matted.

“From the state of the box I’d say he had been there for a few days with just rotten sunflower heads to nibble on,” she said.

"I understand the hall is closed and he’d been left tucked along the side of the building by some bins. To anyone passing it just looked like another box left out for the binmen.

"He’s so lucky he was spotted or he could have ended up being tossed into a refuse lorry."

Inspector Timberlake took Dennis to the local RSPCA branch where he will stay until he is reclaimed or rehomed.

"If you stand on the pavement outside the hall where Dennis was abandoned you can clearly see the RSPCA’s clinic and two charity shops nearby,” Insp Timberlake said.

Dennis was abandoned outside a vacant Salvation Army hall

"What I can’t understand is why someone would leave him here instead of going into to one our properties and asking for help?

"Owning a pet is a huge responsibility and commitment both time-wise and financially, guinea pigs are no different and they need lots of care and attention.

"I understand that sometimes people’s circumstances can change or they may need help caring for their pet but we’d urge anyone who’s struggling to contact a charity and ask for help.

"There’s no excuse for leaving an animal like this. Dennis could have easily succumbed to the weather or starved to death," she added.

In the first eight months of 2017, three times more guinea pigs have been abandoned and collected by RSPCA officers than in the whole of 2016.

Anyone with information about where Dennis may have come from or anybody who saw anything suspicious in the area should call the RSPCA’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018 and leave a message for Insp. Timberlake.

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