Family offers new guinea pig after Reedley death so owner ‘could find joy again’
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – On April 18, Oswaldo Sandoval came home to find that one of his guinea pigs had been kicked to death in his front yard in Reedley.
Since the incident, Reedley police have identified a 12-year-old boy thought to be responsible.
The family’s doorbell camera video shows a juvenile running into the yard, attempting to kick Sandoval’s family chicken, opening up the guinea pigs’ enclosure, and kicking one of the animals to death.
Surviving guinea pig could die of depression after other kicked to death in Reedley, owner says
The O’Neil family are Cavy Fanciers and they want to help; Allison, her mother Heather, and her father Clayton raise and show guinea pigs. Allison says she was devastated when she heard about the Sandoval family’s loss and she wanted to help.
“When my mom told me about it and we heard about it on the news, my heart just broke – because we know just how great cavies are,” Allison said.
She says in her time raising “cavies” (the family that guinea pigs belong) she’s found that they are intelligent, kind, and social creatures.
“They give you a sense of companionship unlike any other,” Allison said. “You become their best friend and they become your best friend.”
Allison says cavies even have distinct squeaks and rely heavily on social relationships as herd animals.
“They learn to love each other and once they’re together they’re bonded,” Allison said, “when you lose one or one dies from old age [the other] gets depressed.”
The O’Neil family has won many awards as Cavie Fanciers; after hearing about the Sandoval family’s loss, they wanted to offer Oswaldo one of their guinea pigs.
“You’ll never replace the pet that was lost,” Heather said, “but to give that kid another pair where he could find joy again would be for us just sharing our love for guinea pigs.”
Clayton O’Neil says he and his family want to help bring hope after the incident.
“We just want to show that young man that there is as much good in the world as there is evil,” Clayton said.
The O’Neil family also hope the juvenile suspected of committing the act gets the help he needs.
“We’re not calling that young man evil,” Clayton said, “something is obviously wrong in his life and we’re not here to judge that.”
The O’Neil’s say they understand that Oswaldo will need the proper time to mourn, but the family says they will make themselves available when he is ready and able to move on.
