Petshop

[bridd]

I was in a pet-shop today, and it seemed to me like they had far too many baby piggies in a very small area (hard to describe, older pet-shop style cabinet, glass sliding door cabinet with light inside).

What really bugged me out though was that they'd got 2 dwarf rabbits, and a single adult Guinea Pig in there too. I have to worry about the babies getting squashed and, I know there's the potential for kicks from the rabbits too. Is this worth reporting to the RSPCA at all to see if someone can check alls "ok" ?

I don't know what's what, and didn't want to cast any aspersions there and then in the shop, or risk getting aggro for anything, but it's been niggling me all day since. For all I know the piggies have gigantic runs they retire to in the evening after a hard day on display (!)

I got a bit emotional about the single adult one , as it figures he was probably someone's unwanted pet being sold on or nobody'd ever given him a home at all and he'd been there all his life... Kindof want to go back and 'rescue' him but wouldn't be happy giving a petshop that niggles me any cash :{

 

[Illusions144]

If it was niggling me like that I would.
Even if the RSPCA decide it's okay at least it's been checked!

 

[MemberZ]

Hiya all,

Isn't it illeagal to have rabbits and guinea pigs in the same cage on display? Rabbits are prone to kicking out at anytime and will kill the piggie with one swift kick! So if you feel concerned then you can do one of two things let the shop know of your concerns and/or contact the RSPCA, they will always give you the best advice in given circumstances :o

 

[stargrrlclaire]

I'd go straight to the RSPCA because the pet shop may just swiftly rearrange the animals so the RSPCA wont get the jist of it. If the shop has no idea of your concerns, the RSPCA may get a better idea of the situation. Also, can you pop in and discreatly take photos? These would make good evidence.

Please keep us updated. Good on you for doing something about it! x

 

[boureki]

I believe at this point it's not actually illegal for them to be kept together, the RSPCA guidelines just recommend they don't but unfortunately this is not law. It blummin well wants to be though.

I reported a pet shop selling them together last year - they sent an inspector out who called me and said he couldn't see anything wrong with it - I said, errr it's in your own guidleines to not keep them together and he said he will check that out and get back to me (!) I got a letter a few weeks later saying as it's not law, they can't actually do anything.

I would still report them though, let them know someone isn't happy.

 

[MemberZ]

Thats awful Julie. I would hate to think how you felt after that. Especially when they ask people to help them out them just shoot them down like that is scandelous! Did you report the inspector, for being un-sympathetic? I would have..

What a cheek :x :x :x

pow-pow pow-pow pow-pow

 

[boureki]

Well, when he spoke to me I was a bit non-plussed, I know they have a load of rules etc pertaining to different situation and stuff, but to go specifically on that kind of complaint and not be aware of their own literature on something so specific...I was surprised! The rabbit and guinea were in a glass pen no more than 1m long. I'm surprised that in itself was OK for them, but there you go.

I still report things because we need to get the message that it's NOT OK for pet shops to do this, and hopefully the RSPCA will have the nuts to bother DEFRA who apparently make the laws for this kind of thing to make it law one day.

Keep reporting people, even if it never gets you anywhere!

 

[MemberZ]

-c -c -c

Good on you Jules

 

[bridd]

I'd go straight to the RSPCA because the pet shop may just swiftly rearrange the animals so the RSPCA wont get the jist of it. If the shop has no idea of your concerns, the RSPCA may get a better idea of the situation. Also, can you pop in and discreatly take photos? These would make good evidence.

Please keep us updated. Good on you for doing something about it! x

Not done anything yet... I will do though, I'm going to call the RSPCA tomorrow morning, figure it's best to call them then the shop will be open and they can perhaps send whoever they've nearest to check it out. Rather than leave a message about it now and it get classified as non-emergency and potentially forgotten about!

My wife wants to go back down and 'rescue' the adult boar piggie...We bought a new cage for our 2 sows yesterday (Not from that petshop, went elsewhere afterwards), so we have a spare hutch with space in our other room... we could then pair him up with a rescue baby boar here perhaps.
It's been pulling our heartstrings a bit, I just don't see how they'll ever sell him to a happy home really with all the babies there too

 

[stargrrlclaire]

Not done anything yet... I will do though, I'm going to call the RSPCA tomorrow morning, figure it's best to call them then the shop will be open and they can perhaps send whoever they've nearest to check it out. Rather than leave a message about it now and it get classified as non-emergency and potentially forgotten about!

My wife wants to go back down and 'rescue' the adult boar piggie...We bought a new cage for our 2 sows yesterday (Not from that petshop, went elsewhere afterwards), so we have a spare hutch with space in our other room... we could then pair him up with a rescue baby boar here perhaps.
It's been pulling our heartstrings a bit, I just don't see how they'll ever sell him to a happy home really with all the babies there too

Maybe you could tell the RSPCA to suggest rescue to the shop? Surely they wont provide food for him much longer if he doesn't get sold? I'm sorry if that sounds nasty or negative xxxxx

 

[bridd]

Maybe you could tell the RSPCA to suggest rescue to the shop? Surely they wont provide food for him much longer if he doesn't get sold? I'm sorry if that sounds nasty or negative xxxxx

My wife went back to get him today... Went with our hearts, and am glad we did.

The petshop didn't have the first clue about him (How old is he? "dunno". Has he had any medical problems? "dunno". etc), apparently they'd had him 6 weeks in there. I guess he just materialised out of thin air!

Also, they handled him completely wrong when getting him out of their cabinet, holding him one-handed from above with no support and then squeezed when he tried to scrabble away. My wife quickly scooped him up away safely.

They still have too many crammed into the cabinet, they still have rabbits in there too, so a call to the RSPCA is going to be made.

We'll let him settle in, and see about getting him a rescue friend in another few weeks once he's had a "quarantine" period. He's such a friendly chap, and enjoyed being fussed before we put him in his new hutch to settle. I've no idea what he's done to deserve being stuck there, I can only guess he was an unwanted pet being sold on.

We've called him Horatio, as he's got bits of ginger on white and he's been standing and staring at us over his food-bowl like the guy off of CSI Miami

 

[MemberZ]

Well done for doing that... I know he's from a petshop, but sometimes if we see a distressed animal we have to help no matter where it's from.

Good on you, and make sure you make that call to the RSPCA! pp

 

[Honeybunnies]

Dave can you pm me which pet shop he came from..we like to keep an eye on them

Good luck with him and please get in touch when he needs a friend or two! we have babies Kale, Cress and Rocket looking for homes and in 2 weeks we are having a large number of piggies in of all ages....

 

[summerleaze]

Hope your little fella is settling in well - I bet he's glad to be out of there.

Call the RSPCA by all means but you really need to contact the dog warden at your local council. They are the people who grant the licences for pet shops to sell animals and it is more likely that they will pay the shop a visit.

Also if you pm/email me the address of the pet shop I have a great article from the Vet Nurse Times June 2007 that quite clearly states why rabbits and piggies shouldn't be kept together. I'm more than happy to post it onto the shop and educate them, hopefully they may take some notice. Sometimes it is simple ignorance of the facts that prevent people from "doing the right thing"

Cheers x

http://www.havant.gov.uk/havant-9098#ObtainLicence this link gives you a bit more info on petshop licences - google it though and you'll find out loads more

 

[bridd]

Dave can you pm me which pet shop he came from..we like to keep an eye on them

I'll drop a note yup. I plan on keeping a bit of an eye too, we're in that petshops area often enough for me to check back every month or so.

Good luck with him and please get in touch when he needs a friend or two! we have babies Kale, Cress and Rocket looking for homes and in 2 weeks we are having a large number of piggies in of all ages....

Yup we're still mulling over the cage arrangements here at the mo. We're wondering whether or not to have him neutered and in with our girls in a bigger cage (and another sow) or to put him in a good sized cage with a little male friend... I'll let you know when

 

[bridd]

Hope your little fella is settling in well - I bet he's glad to be out of there.

He's settling in fine -he's so tame and chilled I couldn't believe it. I half expected to have a few weeks with him huddle in a corner but he's not, he's a happy proud pig that likes cuddles... I really can't understand why someone would just pass him on to a petshop rather than rehome properly as I'm sure he must have been handled/loved at some point to be that happy with being fussed so quickly.
On the flip side, it seems to suggest he wasn't treated horribly pre-petshop either, which is good.

Call the RSPCA by all means but you really need to contact the dog warden at your local council. They are the people who grant the licences for pet shops to sell animals and it is more likely that they will pay the shop a visit.

Interesting, I'll check out our local dog wardens as well then.

RSPCA have been called, and are going to get back to me when they have any update. I'll update back here when I do.

Also if you pm/email me the address of the pet shop I have a great article from the Vet Nurse Times June 2007 that quite clearly states why rabbits and piggies shouldn't be kept together. I'm more than happy to post it onto the shop and educate them, hopefully they may take some notice. Sometimes it is simple ignorance of the facts that prevent people from "doing the right thing"

I'll pm you my email address for it -if it looks like RSPCA/wardens don't change things there then I'll be having a word myself in the shop at some point !