AN animal charity has advised to better look after their guinea pigs after receiving calls to its cruelty line.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals said it had received more than a thousand calls from people concerned about the welfare of the animals, according to the latest figures from last year.

Seven of these calls to the 24-hour line came from Cumbria.

Dr Jane Tyson, RSPCA’s rabbit and rodent expert, said: “Our cruelty line receives a lot of calls from members of the public who are concerned for the welfare of guinea pigs, perhaps because they are not getting the care they need from their owners or maybe they have been found abandoned which we see all too often. They are one of the UK’s most misunderstood pets and this is largely because they are seen as an ‘easy, first pet’ for children. They can make fantastic pets but have complex needs."