DESPERATE DEGUS
By Erin Awon
Havelock on arrival
At the beginning of September 2020 , we received word that between 200 and 300 degus had been found living in terrible conditions and desperately needed placing into RSPCA care .
We were able to accommodate 15 , and when they arrived they were in a truly shocking state . Stressed and underweight many were missing portions of their tails and all were infested with mites which left areas of their skin bare and covered in sores from the irritation . Despite the ordeal they had endured they were all incredibly sweet natured and good to handle from the start .
We were able to make them available for rehoming after a month and had an incredible response to a Facebook appeal . Securing a number of homes for them more quickly than we ever imagined . Several of the adopters were new to keeping degus , but all of them were prepared to set up fantastic , well furnished cages and welcomed these amazing little animals into their lives .
Cecil on arrival
We immediately started their rehabilitation and it wasn ’ t long before they started to improve . They gained weight , their injuries healed and lost fur slowly started to grow back .
Cecil after treatment
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