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Big increase in number of guinea pigs abandoned
Marzipan was found left in a cage outside a church in Nottinghamshire.

RSPCA reports a rise of nearly 40 per cent this year.

The RSPCA has seen a big increase in the number of guinea pigs coming into its care this year. The charity has revealed that it rescued 237 guinea pigs up to the end of August, almost matching the total for the whole of 2022.

Compared to the same eight-month period in the previous year, this represents a 37 per cent increase.

Owing to the strain being put on the charity’s resources by the rise in people giving up their pets during the cost-of-living crisis, some of the rescued guinea pigs are being kept in private boarding facilities.

Among them are 12 guinea pigs that were found by a member of the public in a taped-up box outside a shop in Leicester in July. The 12 included pregnant females and babies.

RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal, who collected the guinea pigs, said: “It was heartbreaking and shocking to think so many guinea pigs were abandoned all at once. It’s likely that this was due to accidental pregnancies and the numbers of guineas just kept growing - but leaving them all in a box with no food or water was just unacceptable.”

Other guinea pigs rescued by the charity this year include Marzipan and Marmite, who were left in a cage outside a church in Woodthorpe, near Nottingham, and three male guinea pigs found in a box by a home, leisure and garden store in London that RSPCA staff have named Range, Wilko, and Dunelm.

The statistics have been released by the RSPCA to mark Guinea Pig Awareness Week, which is running from 25-29 September. As part of the campaign, a series of digital packs have been made available, including one to help educate owners.

A spokesperson for Guinea Pig Awareness Week said: “Given the growing number of guinea pigs in rescues and in need of loving homes, it is really important that we educate as many owners as possible so that these wonderful creatures can live the happy life they deserve.”

 

Images (C) RSPCA

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.