Hot Topic Guinea Pig Breeder Banned From Keeping Animals

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VickiA

VickiA

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As you are all aware the Forum has anti intentional breeding and showing policy. This is written into the forum rules and we do not allow members to discuss intentional breeding or showing on the forum. When members are looking for piggies we direct them to rescues rather than breeders or pet shops (who are supplied by breeders) as a first port of call. We are often challenged for our stance on this but yesterday there were newspaper reports which we as a Forum would like to draw to your attention about a woman banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Before you read these articles it is important to understand that this was NOT an accidental hoarding situation. The woman in question was a breeder registered with the British Cavy Council and took part in regular showing of guinea pigs. The green painted box in one of the photographs in the articles is a box used by breeders for moving piggies to shows and for showing piggies at shows. The animals were removed by the RSPCA and the woman has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

We do not wish to suggest as a Forum that the standards seen in these photos and described in the court case are typical of all breeders. However when you buy from a breeder (or from a pet shop) accreditation does NOT come with a home check and a guarantee of animal welfare at the home of the breeder.

Woman lived in squalor with EIGHTY guinea pigs and two dogs
Woman kept 80 guinea pigs and two dogs in disgusting flat
 
A very well written piece firstly, and again reminding people where pet shop guinea pigs actually come from.

I'm actually taken aback by the fact she was a registered breeder at the British Cavy Council, I'm intrigued to know what their vetting and standards are.
 
Mother Hubbard said:
A very well written piece firstly, and again reminding people where pet shop guinea pigs actually come from.

I'm actually taken aback by the fact she was a registered breeder at the British Cavy Council, I'm intrigued to know what their vetting and standards are.
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As far as we are aware the BCC only vet the breed and not the individual... :yikes:
 
I know at one of my local pet shops one of the staff actually has guinea pigs and rabbits and that is where they get quite a few of their stock but I know she definitely does not keep them in the type of conditions that this woman did.
 
Wow I had no idea there is no vetting of breeders. That is very worrying.

At least with dogs and cats they need paperwork for vaccinations etc so you can get a good feel if a breeder is scrupulous or not but sadly there is nothing like this for Guinea pigs.

My stepdaughter recently went to buy a very expensive kitten from a so called breeder, the breeder refused to show her the parents or any paperwork so she walked away and reported her, this lady is now being investigated. She's now gone and got a rescue kitten as well. Very proud of her.
 
There is no currently no licensing, vetting or regulation of breeders. Anyone can set themself up as a breeder either as a hobby or for profit.

There is no regular (or any) review of animal welfare unless a breeder or keeper is reported to the RSPCA or the local authority animals officer.
 
Flutterby said:
Oh those poor pigs :( :(
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At least they were removed by the RSPCA and given any treatment they may have needed and then neutered if appropriate and put up for rehoming in vetted, home-checked homes. The world changed forever for the better for those piggies once they were removed. It's just lucky for those piggies that a repot was made to the RSPCA and that they pursued it.
 
Yes it most certainly is. I still don't understand how people can treat their animals like that :(
 
Flutterby said:
Yes it most certainly is. I still don't understand how people can treat their animals like that :(
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Sadly I think it is along the lines of Belle's original owner. They take on too much and don't realise the load they are taking on at the time. Then they can't admit to themselves that they have done wrong/ feel like they are failing their animals if they give them up or ask for help.

Belle would still be alone, neglected (but not to this extreme) in a hutch in the garden. Forgotten by the children she was bought for and put down the list of priorities by their busy parents. When they gave her to us they said they didn't want to give her up to just anyone, but they were happy she was staying inside the family. Even though they knew she wasn't getting enough time and attention, they weren't actively looking for a better home for her, because that would be admitting they had failed her.

Weirdly I think neglect cases like this are because they love their animal so much they are blind to how bad their situation is p, convincing themselves than everything is ok, rather than maliciousness or ignorance. Or at least that's my theory anyway.
 
I'm afraid for me that there is little in the way of excuses that can excuse animal neglect or mistreatment. There is help for people struggling out there with their animals on so many levels and when you take on an animal its your responsibility to ensure they get looked after no matter what your circumstances are. I found myself in that situation two years ago and as much a it broke my heart I reached out and found my pigs a safe place before they ever came to any form of harm or neglect. I understand what you are saying though, but it doesn't make it any less sad :(
 
Flutterby said:
I'm afraid for me that there is little in the way of excuses that can excuse animal neglect or mistreatment. There is help for people struggling out there with their animals on so many levels and when you take on an animal its your responsibility to ensure they get looked after no matter what your circumstances are. I found myself in that situation two years ago and as much a it broke my heart I reached out and found my pigs a safe place before they ever came to any form of harm or neglect. I understand what you are saying though, but it doesn't make it any less sad :(
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Very true! But I guess giving up your animals for the greater good takes a special kind of strength that not everyone is capable of. :( Poor piggies.
 
How sad. Poor animals. Dogs in crates up to seven hours a day ... those tiny tiny cages for the guinea pigs.

How on earth do they enforce a no pets sentance?
 
flowerfairy said:
How sad. Poor animals. Dogs in crates up to seven hours a day ... those tiny tiny cages for the guinea pigs.

How on earth do they enforce a no pets sentance?
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That's an interesting question @flowerfairy because there is no register of people banned from keeping animals.

As far as we are aware, the BCC just issue prefixes to anyone who pays to register with them, there is no inspection & no guarantee of welfare standards or quality.
 
Little Pips Rehoming said:
That's an interesting question @flowerfairy because there is no register of people banned from keeping animals.

As far as we are aware, the BCC just issue prefixes to anyone who pays to register with them, there is no inspection & no guarantee of welfare standards or quality.
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Is it that if they are reported to be owning an animal during that time they immediately get sent to jail?
 
Scribbled28 said:
Is it that if they are reported to be owning an animal during that time they immediately get sent to jail?
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I very much doubt it, probably the animals are easier to seize by the authorities if the person already has a ban. Custodial sentences for animal welfare abuses are sadly very rarely given & the maximum sentence allowed is not very long.
 
I understand that the animals can be seized immediately and that the person will then be taken back to court for breaking the ban. Likelihood is that it would be a fine and order to pay court costs. And perhaps a further ban.
But it's a good point that it would depend upon the public again knowing about the ban and then reporting to the RSPCA. Presumably that's why these animal banning cases are reported openly in the first place.
 
In my opinion 10 years is not long enough, it should be a lifetime ban. i don't like any form of intentional breeding, but this goes to another level! She is vile.
 
I agree, if you are found to be knowingly neglecting or abusing animals you should be given a lifetime ban. They are not toys and rely on us to make sure they are looked after. To me you only get one chance and if you abuse your animals or knowingly neglect them then that's your chance gone.

The way a lot of people get around an animal ban is to put the animal as the property of someone else, even though they live in the same house. This means that as long as they can prove by receipt that the animal is owned by some one else (by law animals are classed as property) and not in their care then they can have animals in their property.
 
Unfortunately the breeders l have visited have had piggies in similar conditions. Obviously we see the bad ones but who knows what goes on. So much suffering
 
VickiA said:
There is no currently no licensing, vetting or regulation of breeders. Anyone can set themself up as a breeder either as a hobby or for profit.

There is no regular (or any) review of animal welfare unless a breeder or keeper is reported to the RSPCA or the local authority animals officer.
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Hopefully the current discussions on new animal legislation will include such licensing.
 
The only problem with licencing breeding etc is lack of money to fund it and enforce it. With our justice system already being stretched to breaking point I doubt that they will bring in any kind of licencing at all. :(
 
Flutterby said:
The only problem with licencing breeding etc is lack of money to fund it and enforce it. With our justice system already being stretched to breaking point I doubt that they will bring in any kind of licencing at all. :(
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But large fines could be a money spinner. Never lose sight of the authorities ability to raise funds.
 
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