Not sure if this is in the right section.....
A oet shop near me has two stores (it's not a large chain) and i went in today and saw or the first time that they keep rabbits a piggies there. I ususally just rush in on my lunch hour and have never really looked round properly.
There were about 7 of the glass tanks at the back of the shop, and 5 of these had rabbits living with piggies. There was only one bowl of mix food per tank, so not catering for the needs of both animals. They also had no hay at all in any of the tanks.
I have written a letter but not postd it yet, just wanted to run it by you guys? I'm speaking to the council tomorrow (dept. i needed was shut this aft) and will see what they say before i post it out.
Dear Sir,
I am writing to raise a few concerns I have with you regarding the accommodation of some of your animals at the store in ......
I was in at lunch time buying some things for my pets, when I noticed that you have 5 glass tanks with rabbits and guinea pigs living together.
It is recommended by both the RSPCA and the Blue Cross charities that rabbits and guinea pigs are not kept together for a variety of reasons.
One of these reasons is the difference in dietary requirements between rabbits and guinea pigs; being that guinea pigs cannot synthesise their own Vitamin C and rabbits can, therefore guinea pigs need extra Vitamin C and rabbits do not.
I also noticed that in your store, the tanks with both rabbits and guinea pigs only had one bowl of food which was a mix. I am presuming that this was more a guinea pig food, rather than rabbit food, as mixes are not ideal for rabbits. Rabbits need a high fibre, low protein diet and Excel and Science Selective provide this, rather than a mix.
Mixed food which claims to be suitable for both rabbits and guinea pigs are not so, as it is impossible to provide for the needs of both animals in one mix because of the Vitamin C issues.
Hay should also form 90% of a rabbit’s diet (with fresh veg as 5% and pellets as the remaining 5%) and should be available 24 hours a day, yet there was no hay to be seen in any of the tanks.
I have enclosed some information from various websites to back up my comments and I would be grateful if you could respond to my letter with your comments.
Please also note that it is for all of the above reasons why Pets at Home no longer keep their rabbits with guinea pigs.
Yours Sincerely,
is it a bit full on?! :roll: :lol:
I commented to the girl there and her only comment was "well i keep them together at home" mmmm, so obv that makes it ok.
Anyway, any comments welcome.
thanks
ps: i have enclosed 5 pages roll: ) of info to support my comments including resp diseases, behaviour etc.
A oet shop near me has two stores (it's not a large chain) and i went in today and saw or the first time that they keep rabbits a piggies there. I ususally just rush in on my lunch hour and have never really looked round properly.
There were about 7 of the glass tanks at the back of the shop, and 5 of these had rabbits living with piggies. There was only one bowl of mix food per tank, so not catering for the needs of both animals. They also had no hay at all in any of the tanks.
I have written a letter but not postd it yet, just wanted to run it by you guys? I'm speaking to the council tomorrow (dept. i needed was shut this aft) and will see what they say before i post it out.
Dear Sir,
I am writing to raise a few concerns I have with you regarding the accommodation of some of your animals at the store in ......
I was in at lunch time buying some things for my pets, when I noticed that you have 5 glass tanks with rabbits and guinea pigs living together.
It is recommended by both the RSPCA and the Blue Cross charities that rabbits and guinea pigs are not kept together for a variety of reasons.
One of these reasons is the difference in dietary requirements between rabbits and guinea pigs; being that guinea pigs cannot synthesise their own Vitamin C and rabbits can, therefore guinea pigs need extra Vitamin C and rabbits do not.
I also noticed that in your store, the tanks with both rabbits and guinea pigs only had one bowl of food which was a mix. I am presuming that this was more a guinea pig food, rather than rabbit food, as mixes are not ideal for rabbits. Rabbits need a high fibre, low protein diet and Excel and Science Selective provide this, rather than a mix.
Mixed food which claims to be suitable for both rabbits and guinea pigs are not so, as it is impossible to provide for the needs of both animals in one mix because of the Vitamin C issues.
Hay should also form 90% of a rabbit’s diet (with fresh veg as 5% and pellets as the remaining 5%) and should be available 24 hours a day, yet there was no hay to be seen in any of the tanks.
I have enclosed some information from various websites to back up my comments and I would be grateful if you could respond to my letter with your comments.
Please also note that it is for all of the above reasons why Pets at Home no longer keep their rabbits with guinea pigs.
Yours Sincerely,
is it a bit full on?! :roll: :lol:
I commented to the girl there and her only comment was "well i keep them together at home" mmmm, so obv that makes it ok.
Anyway, any comments welcome.
thanks
ps: i have enclosed 5 pages roll: ) of info to support my comments including resp diseases, behaviour etc.
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