PETA Offers Gbp 1,000 To Nab Guinea Pig Killer

For Immediate Release:
16 December 2008

Contact:
Sam Glover 020 7357 9229, ext 229; [email protected]

Peterborough, Cambridgeshire – According to news reports, 124 guinea pigs were found dead near a cycle path in Newborough just outside Peterborough on Tuesday, 9 December. The animals were of various ages, and some of them were pregnant. They had apparently died from head trauma, and their bodies were found in three feed sacks. It is not known if they were killed individually or if they were beaten to death after being put into the sacks. It is believed that whoever is responsible found that he or she could not cope with such a large number of guinea pigs, despite the availability of resources such as animal welfare and rescue groups which care for unwanted animals and find them new homes.

PETA is offering up to £1,000 as a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this horrific crime.

Emergency humane-education materials are being rushed to schools in the local area free of charge. The educational materials are designed to help children of all ages recognise the importance of showing compassion and empathy for all beings.

Peterborough residents have good reason to be concerned about animal abuse cases such as this one. History shows that serial rapists and murderers often have histories of past incidents involving cruelty to animals. Child-killers Mary Bell, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables as well as serial murderers Ian Huntley, Thomas Hamilton (Dunblane massacre), Fred West, Denis Nilsen, Ian Brady and Jeffrey Dahmer all started out by deliberately harming animals. It has been alleged that the boyfriend of the mother of Baby P, the baby boy who died from injuries reportedly inflicted by his abusive family, tortured guinea pigs and frogs.

“Animal abusers are cowards”, says PETA spokesperson Suzanne Barnard. “They take their issues out on the most defenceless beings available to them.”

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.

For more information about PETA, please visit PETA.org.uk.