Did anyone go to the London Pet show. I was not happy with the G.Pigs

[JoBo]

Hi All
I went to London Olympia Stadium yesterday to the London Pet Show. I was wondering if any of you went. I was really dissapointed by it, it was really small and i could not get any vet bed or decent cozies that i was hoping to buy. There was only one stall selling guinea pig related accessories and i did buy a few bits and a new indoor run from them.

It took me a while to find any guinea pigs there and there was one London based rescue that re homes rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. However i was rather disturbed by the way they were displaying there pigs. Obviously the cages were smaller then normal, which is understandable at this kind of event, but what upset me was that the guinea pigs were huddled together and absolutly petrified of the crowd (it was busy). They had absolutly no hideys at all to escape in to.
I do appreciate that the rescue obviously wanted the pigs to be seen by people potentially offering new homes. However, i really dont think that the welfare of the guinea pigs was their top priority at this show.

Am i just winging or do you agree.

Your thoughts please x

 

[Glynis]

Doesn't sound too positive to me by your description love :...

Sometimes too at shows (i've never been to a pet show that has had piggies......yet) i've found that they're NOT organised enough that you can walk around and know what's where mallethead
as for the piggies being scared and not have hidey's GRRRRRRRRRRR >>> not happy with that........ i don't care if they're trying to show them off, piggies love their hidey's and privacy so so sad and it terrifies me....... 8...8...

 

[jnenbnb]

I've never been to a pet show but would have thought they'd generate more interest showing decent pictures of the guinea pigs and asking people to go to the rescue to view them rather than having them sit there petrified! Aside from it being cruel to the pigs, I'd imagine it would put people off giving them a home if they think that all pigs do is huddle together in a corner. Sad xx

 

[JoBo]

Well i have just been on the London Pet Show facebook page and left a comment that i was not happy with the way the guinea pigs were displayed, so hopefully next year there might be some rules and regulations in place. These sorts of things are great days out, but the animals need to be top priority. xx

 

[Guinea pig slave]

I've never been to a pet show but would have thought they'd generate more interest showing decent pictures of the guinea pigs and asking people to go to the rescue to view them rather than having them sit there petrified! Aside from it being cruel to the pigs, I'd imagine it would put people off giving them a home if they think that all pigs do is huddle together in a corner. Sad xx

That's a very valid point.
If people were truly interested in the piggies, they'd be happy to see them in their comfort zone at the rescue.
This may add to the problems of impulse buying as well as at least by visiting a rescue, it would give you a cooling off period or chance to buy the set up etc. before committing:...

 

[JoBo]

Dont worry, none of the animals at the show were allowed to go home that day. It was just to showcase the rescue's, so that people could contact them after the show if they were thinking of adopting an animal xx