A GUINEA pig sanctuary in Sandwich is calling for breeders of the animals to be licensed after it received a small box with more than 20 of the pets crammed inside – some even giving birth as they arrived.

April Lodge committee member Laura Savage says shocked staff found some of the guinea pigs unconscious because of the lack of room in the box.

The 30-year-old said: "The guinea pigs were so crammed in the box they were layered three deep on top of one and other.

"Some of the babies were unconscious as they had been squashed by adults and some of the females were giving birth on arrival. We are now at about 39 guinea pigs after the pregnant ones have given birth and counting.

"The guinea pigs are quite clearly inbred, which leads to different medical problems, and the charity will no doubt have to pick up the rather large vet bill.

"This is clearly irresponsible pet ownership and people who keep guinea pigs need to be aware at how quickly and effectively guinea pigs are able to breed.

"They live until approximately six years old, but are able to breed from four weeks old and often have multiple litters. This means if babies are kept with the mother for too long and not weaned, they will start impregnating the mother after just four weeks.

"Irresponsible breeding and inbreeding can lead to a number of very serious consequences, including brain damage, blindness, physical disabilities, deafness, dental issues, leading to starvation, and many others.

"What do we do as a rescue charity, when she arrives again at our door in three months' time with another 30 guinea pigs, all inbred, all undernourished, fighting and pregnant but has once again 'kept some back to breed from'? We are now in a situation it would be very difficult to take on other rescue animals as this has taken us to capacity.

"We can't turn away animals in distress."

On the charity's Facebook page it states: "As long as people are allowed to breed animals without a licence this situation will continue."

The Lodge, which was set up by Laura's mum Val in 2004, has capacity for 80 guinea pigs on-site and also has ten foster carers and is run entirely on funds raised through donations, events and sales from the Lodge shop.

Laura said: "It has just grown and grown over the last year."

Twenty staff help create the website, set up events and give advice. The lodge also provides emergency care, a welfare clinic, boarding facilities and an adoption service for the rescued guinea pigs.

Although, Laura says, the service should not be used in place of veterinary care, Val is a trained advisor after completing a course in 2007 run by The British Association of Rodentologists.