‘Lonely’ degu looking for female partner after being rejected by male rodents

The small mammals can become stressed if left alone, vets say

A photo of the UK's ‘loneliest degu’ Greg which is looking for love this Valentine's Day (PA)

The love life of the "UK’s loneliest degu" has taken a recent hit after a series of rejections from fellow rodents, and it is once more looking for companionship this Valentine's Day.

Three-year-old Greg arrived at the Blue Cross rehoming centre in Burford, Oxfordshire, in November, with a companion called Charlie, but Charlie was suffering from a significant amount of pain due to dental issues, so the veterinary team said the "kindest" thing was to put the six-year-old rodent sleep.

Since then, Greg has been alone.

Degus experience stress when they are alone and fare best when they have a friend, so the Blue Cross team are on a mission to find Greg his match.

Greg got on well with two other male degus it was introduced to, but the feelings were not reciprocated.

Greg has now been neutered in the hope it can be paired with a female friend in a new home.

Blue Cross centre manager Hannah Wiltshire said: "Greg is so lonely. We have tried to pair him with some young males, as he has been matched successfully in the past, and he loved them – but they didn’t like him.

"We’re now hoping to find him a female friend, but he so far hasn’t had any interest. We hope that he finds love before Valentine’s Day.

"Degus really don’t cope well on their own, so we really want to find Greg a new best friend as soon as possible."