A FAMILY has been left distraught after their precious pet guinea pigs were killed.

The ‘sick’ attackers climbed over a wall into the back garden of the home in Bacup before opening the hutch and breaking the animals’ necks.

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The animals’ owner, 13-year-old Rebecca Melody, said she was devastated that Runt, Daniel and Thomas, who she has had since they were born, had been killed.

The teenager, who goes to All Saints Catholic High School, in Rawtenstall, said: “The guinea pigs were really good pets and we have had them since they were babies.

“I am really upset. They could not harm anything.

“When my mum told me what had happened, I was devastated.”

Rebecca’s mum Lynne Talbot said she made the grim discovery in the yard of her Plane Street home when she took vegetable peelings out to the animals.

The 49-year-old former factory worker said: “When I went to feed them, they were all in a huddle and I could see that they were all dead.

“I panicked. I was devastated and I just cannot get over it.

“I am in bits and we have all been crying. I just keep looking at the empty cage and thinking about them.

“The guinea pigs were a part of our family and we were all really attached to them.”

Rebecca has been writing about her brown and black pets, which she has had for a couple of years, and created a poster at school in their memory as a way of dealing with her grief.

Miss Talbot called the police and an investigation has been launched to find the attacker. Officers believe it was an isolated incident, but asked residents to keep an eye out on social media in case anybody was seen to be ‘bragging’ about what they had done.

The mother-of-four added: “I have no clue why somebody might have done this.

“It is sick that someone could do this to three harmless animals. It is unbelievable.

“The guinea pigs were such an important part of our family and we will miss them.”

Cllr Jimmy Eaton, who represents the Greensclough ward, said he was disgusted to hear what had happened.

He said: “It is very, very sad. My granddaughter’s guinea pig has recently died and I know how loving they can be.

“With pets, you look after them and when you lose them, it is always sad, but to lose them in these circumstances is disgusting.

“I really feel for the family and I hope the police catch whoever did this.”

PCSO Chris Hamer said: “We think that the offender has climbed over the wall at the back of the property, opened the guinea pig cage and broken the necks of all three of them.

“It is very strange and really very cruel.

“We have no idea why anybody would have done this.”

The killings happened between 8pm on Monday and 2.30pm on Tuesday.

Anybody with information should call police on 101 quoting crime reference EF1502247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.