Thank you for sharing this link.
I've just sent the following to the Letters page
[email protected] and news desk
[email protected]
If more people email as well hopefully they'll at least print a letter if not write a better article!
I am writing with regard to the article 'Can a rabbit and a guinea pig live together?'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...t-guinea-pig-live-together.html#ixzz1Zzk5kcV0
I read this article with concern. The article points out some of the pros and cons of housing the two animals together which is good but my biggest concern is why it was written and published in the first place. The Daily Mail is in a powerful position to help with animal welfare. The idea of housing guinea pigs and rabbits together is an antiquated one and something that the RSPCA and rescues across the country are working to educate people about.
As someone who works to support guinea pig rescues in raising the awareness of the needs of these animals, this article is detrimental to the work that so many volunteers are doing to educate people about even the most basic care.
Rabbits and guinea pigs have different nutritional needs but most importantly a rabbit can kill a guinea pig with a kick from it's hind legs. They may be 'best of friends' but if a rabbit gets a scare it can easily kick out by accident.
It is the volunteer run rescues that pick up the pieces when humans do not look after their animals and are influenced by irresponsible articles such as this.
There is an ever increasing rise in the number of animals that are purchased from pet shops on impulse. Many of these are dumped in the street when the children get bored of them. The number of cases where guinea pigs have been found chucked out with the rubbish bins or left in a box in the park is shocking.
There are individuals all across the country taking in these unwanted animals, nursing them back to health and re-homing them to people who have taken the time to decide if the animal is right for them. No guinea pig taken into a reputable rescue is re-homed until they are healthy and can be confirmed they are not pregnant. They come with a life time of support from the rescue, unlike any pet shop. These rescue centres are usually run from people's homes and the cost of caring for the animals paid for out of their own pocket with help from fund raising activities and adoption donations.
Please Daily Mail, help us to raise the awareness of the importance of supporting your local animal rescue and adopting an animal from them rather than pointless articles such as this. Not so long ago puppies and kittens were sold in pet shops but that is now a rare sight. We want to make it the same for small animals as well. A well known pet shop chain is regularly selling ill or pregnant guinea pigs to unsuspecting customers, we are campaigning to stop this happening.
There are many 'stories' you can cover that will help animals no end, sadly the article in question is not one of them.
I would be happy to put you in contact with any number of people running rescues that could contribute to a much more positive and useful article.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes
Kate Williams
