Media Release: Guinea Pigs Killed at Wooroloo Prison Farm

MEDIA RELEASE FROM AMANDA DORN MP

Animal Justice Party MP Amanda Dorn has condemned the killing and consumption of guinea pigs by inmates at Wooroloo Prison Farm, calling for urgent action to strengthen animal welfare protections and oversight in Western Australia’s prison system.

The incident is understood to have occurred within the Section 95 work-release program, which allows minimum-security prisoners to participate in supervised activities outside the prison’s secure perimeter. Inmates are alleged to have taken guinea pigs from an animal shelter during such a program, killed them, and stored their bodies in a fridge in an unsecured shed before consuming the animals.

The Section 95 program has since been suspended, and a full investigation is underway.

“This is a shocking act of cruelty,” Ms Dorn said. “Guinea pigs are gentle, sentient animals who feel fear and pain. They were allegedly killed with blunt knives, which no doubt drew out their suffering.”

Ms Dorn said the case raised broader concerns about the treatment of animals in custodial facilities and the safeguards in place to protect them.

“If animals are kept or come into the care of a prison through work-release programs, there must be strict welfare standards and proper oversight to ensure their safety,” she said. “The community rightly expects that any program involving animals—especially those in the care of vulnerable people or institutions—will be safe and supervised.”

The Animal Justice Party MP has called on the WA Government to conduct a full, transparent investigation into the incident. She wants the findings made public.

“It's hard to fathom how this could happen under the watch of a state-run facility. Animals in the care of our state deserve protection, no matter where they are. Anything less is unacceptable” Ms Dorn said.