separating rabbits and guinea pigs-pet shops?

Status
Not open for further replies.
gracie

gracie

Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
640
Reaction score
3
Points
0
Location
nottingham
I was wondering if any action has been attempted against the keeping of rabbits and guinea pigs in pet shops, eg. letters to chain stores, petitions, or even writing to the government to campaign for a law against it?
Not necessarily these two animals alone, but to me it's like keeping hamsters and rats together, and I don't understand why it's thought acceptable when the risks are pretty obvious. It also encourages potential owners to carry this on without researching it. If you think about it, it just doesn't make sense.
I think that if something was done about it, and they had to be kept separate, it might encourage owners to do the same. If anyone would be interested in looking into what can be done about this I'd like to start taking action.
 
I keep writing to DEFRA asking for clarification on the AWA on this very subject, but they seem determined to ignore me. As this is a government body and therefore likely to be my taxes paying their wages, this displeases me immensely.

I have tried talking to pet shops who have kept the two together to be told "we have always done this" or simply have been talked loudly over and told to mind my own business, so clearly they have their animals best interests at heart.

/sarcasm
 
I am pleased to say that my local p@h have separated since we started using it, but I agree that it should no be just down to the individual shop!

It is a sad fact that rodents come so low on the scale of interest or political weight...
 
In fairness to our local branch of that shop, they separated the two about a year or so ago and I haven't seen them together since, which has got to be an improvement. But the smaller independant stores leave a lot to be desired in some of their attitudes to it :(
 
Yeah our 2 local Pets at Home have seperated for some time now I'd say for the past 5 years which is great.

The large pet store here still houses guineas and rabbits together and I had to laugh when I asked what sex the guineas were with the rabbits and was told oh we always put males with rabbits! Why? Because they can cope better! Crazy! mallethead
 
I'm not trying to be dense here but...whats the problem with keeping rabbits and guinea pigs together? Is it because the rabbits are a danger to the guinea pigs with kicking and what not?
 
I've never been to a pet shop that's kept them separate, apart from (ironically) a horrible backstreet one in Nottingham that gives no shelter to the animals, and kept a baby mouse in a rabbit sized cage.
Does anyone think a petition or group letter would be worthwhile? It's great to hear some pet shops are separating them but it's obviously not generally.
 
^ yeah, okay, i get that a lot obviously do, but i'm saying should this not be pressed to be a general, UK-wide law. the fact that there's still pet shops that don't should be enough for something to be done.
 
is no one seriously interested in doing something about this? =\
that's pretty disappointing.
 
Please see my post earlier. If we cannot even get clarification from the govt body that make the laws about this, then it makes things a little difficult to enforce.

I am still trying by the way.
 
^ this is the sort of thing i was hoping to organise. thank you.
boureki, if a group of people try then there's more chance of this being paid attention to.
 
Rosie2009 said:
We could try a petition on the PM's website. You'd need to get 500 signatures for them to take it seriously, but if we all signed, and got our friends to do so it might work?

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/
Click to expand...

OMG i just typed 'animals' into the search button on this, there's so many i'm about to run through them all and sign what i can. There's one to name and shame animal abusers but it expires in a few weeks with only 71 signatures. Doubt they'll even look at it :(
 
I personally doubt anything will be done, given that you could name any number of species that shouldn't be housed together. Ok we know that rabbits and guinea pigs are housed much more often together in pet shops than other species, but in terms of making a law, that would seem too specific. It is probably far more about education than legislation, ie for all those pet shops who shrug and say 'we've always done it and have seen no problems'.
 
crus said:
OMG i just typed 'animals' into the search button on this, there's so many i'm about to run through them all and sign what i can. There's one to name and shame animal abusers but it expires in a few weeks with only 71 signatures. Doubt they'll even look at it :(
Click to expand...

I have just checked out that website and signed a few petitions myself and it only takes a minute of your time but may make a huge difference if enough people sign the petitions:)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top