What started as a routine eviction call on a Hobart block ended with officers hauling 71 guinea pigs out of what police describe as a house in “total squalor,” along with a small crowd of other pets. A local sanctuary, Erin's Farm NFP, is now scrambling to care for the animals, many of them likely pregnant, while authorities sort out whether neglect charges will follow.
Officers Remove Animals From Swift Street Home
Shortly before noon on Tuesday, Hobart police were called to the 3800 block of Swift Street to assist with an eviction after a report of aggressive dogs. When officers got inside, they “found the home in total squalor,” Assistant Chief Nicholas Wardrip told CBS Chicago.
From that one address, officers removed 71 guinea pigs, seven dogs, two cats and one rabbit. Police say they are investigating potential neglect, and prosecutors will decide whether to file criminal charges once they review the evidence and veterinary findings.
Sanctuary Steps In, Asks For Help
Erin's Farm NFP, a nonprofit sanctuary based in Hobart, took in the guinea pigs and the rabbit for emergency care. “Right now, we are evaluating their health and making sure they are getting the nutrition that they need,” the group said, according to CBS Chicago.
The sanctuary notes on its Erin's Farm page that emergency veterinary treatment and extra sheltering put heavy strain on its budget. Staff say they need financial support to cover the immediate medical costs for this sudden wave of animals.
Many of the female guinea pigs are believed to be pregnant, which rescue workers say will complicate everything from medical care to long-term placement as litters are born.
Why Big Guinea Pig Rescues Strain Shelters
Guinea pigs are adorable, but they are also prolific. Large intakes often mean a fast scramble for foster homes, spay and neuter surgeries, and round-the-clock nursing support, any of which can overwhelm a small rescue.
As Columbus Humane described after a nearly 80-animal guinea pig intake in May, staff and volunteers had to quickly mobilize veterinary teams and foster networks to care for expectant mothers and newborn litters. Erin's Farm is now looking at a similar logistical tangle, just with fewer resources and a very local twist.
Potential Charges And The Law
Hobart police say they are investigating potential neglect charges tied to the animals removed from the Swift Street home. Prosecutors will decide whether to file charges after reviewing reports and veterinary findings.
Under Indiana Code 35-46-3-7, abandoning or neglecting a vertebrate in one’s custody can be prosecuted as cruelty to an animal, with penalties that vary based on the circumstances. Reporting has noted that recent state legislation broadens the situations in which prosecutors may seek felony-level charges. For more on the statute and the recent changes, see Indiana Code and coverage from WBIW.
How To Help
Erin's Farm is asking for both monetary donations and volunteer muscle. Its Erin's Farm page explains how contributions help cover feed, medical care and sheltering.
People who can foster small animals, or who have experience with exotic or herd species, are urged to contact the sanctuary directly. Authorities say the criminal investigation is still active and no charging decisions have been announced.
For now, the rescued animals are under veterinary evaluation and short-term care. Rescue groups caution that the long game will be tougher: rehabilitation, spay and neuter work, and safe placements for every animal. Erin's Farm says any help, financial or hands-on, will directly affect how quickly the guinea pigs and the other rescued pets can be stabilized and rehomed.
