RSPCA says 'there is no such thing as a starter pet' as it highlights plight of small furries - some are at Block Fen Centre, Wimblington
The RSPCA is urging animal lovers to think carefully before buying a small furry as a ‘starter pet’ for their children as they revealed they are rescuing 340 of them a month.
Rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, ferrets, chinchillas, and hamsters are often seen as an easy, first pet for children. However, it’s important to remember small does not necessarily mean simple as they can have complex needs.
Across England and Wales last year, the RSPCA rescued 4,081 rabbits and other small furries from cases of cruelty, neglect, and abandonment - 32 from Cambridgeshire. In the county, the animal welfare charity has also dealt with 183 incidents involving small furries and rabbits in 2018.
“Many people think the RSPCA only rescues and rehomes cats and dogs but this is not the case. We see thousands of small furries coming into our care every year and often this is as a result of owners being unable to cope with caring for these animals who they thought would be easy to look after,” said Dr Jane Tyson, the RSPCA’s rabbit and rodent welfare expert.
Jane added: “Small furries can make great pets but they are often very misunderstood. One of the biggest issues we see with small pets such as these is people taking them on with little or no research, often buying them on impulse because their children have asked for them. This can lead to families struggling to cope once they realise the large amount of time, money and care these animals actually need.
“It used to be a common sight to see a lone rabbit in a small hutch at the bottom of the garden or a hamster in a tiny cage in the corner of a child’s bedroom but hopefully these images are consigned to the past and people realise that these complex animals need so much more than that.”
This Adoptober the RSPCA is shining a light on rabbits and small furries in its care which are looking for homes.
Last year (2018) the RSPCA rehomed 2,752 rabbits - 75 in Cambridgeshire.
While many of the 44,000 animals the charity rehomes every year, are snapped up by new families within just a few weeks, others can spend much longer patiently waiting for their fur-ever home.
These are just some of those looking for a new home:
Name: Barbie and Tuco
Age: Two
Breed: Domestic rabbits
Where: RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre
A bit about: Barbie and her friend Tuco came into the centre as their previous owners were no longer able to care for them.
Why they are so special: They are a closely bonded pair which is really sweet to see. They love to share a dandelion leaf and are nearly always snuggled up together. They are a lovely pair of bunnies, Barbie is much more laid back than Tuco. She is happy to have a fuss and waits every morning for her treat. Tuco is a little more suspicious and tends to keep his distance. He will take a treat from you but then runs off to eat it alone!
Ideal home: They are looking for a home where they can stay together. They will need a nice warm hutch/shed which is permanently attached a large run which they have 24/7 access to.
More information: If you think you can offer a home to Barbie and Tuco - please visit their find a pet page.
Name: Emerald
Age: Four
Breed: Degu
Where: RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre
A bit about: Emerald was one of four female degus at the centre looking for a new home.
Why she is so special: This little Degu will always come up and have a look at you, and may even hang around long enough for a quick stroke on the nose if you are lucky. Emerald is generally very busy all day long, she loves to play on her wheel and bury tasty treats in the sand. Like most Degus, Emerald doesn't like being picked up, but will happily come up to anyone and say hello.
More information: To find out more about Emerald please visit her page on find a pet.
And as this is the final week of ADOPTOBER - now for a slightly different trio - who are desperately looking for a new home:
Name: George , Geraldine and Annie
Age: 2, Annie is 4
Breed: Goat
Where: RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre
A bit about: George came into the care of the RSPCA with his friend Geraldine. Annie needs a home where she can play with other goats, and since joining George and Geradline she has got on really well with them.
Why they are so special: George is quite a character and is always looking for something to do to amuse himself. He is very bold with people and will always come up and say hello. He loves a scratch and will happily let you groom him all over. He can be quite a bold boy so if he is feeling a little bored and you happen to be around he might try to play with you! We distract him with a neck scratch and this usually works a treat. Geraldine is a sweet girl and her true character is only just beginning to show. Shortly after she arrived she gave birth to twins, so she has been busy looking after the kids up until recently when they were weaned.
Annie is a friendly girl who like to be with people. Annie has recently been moved to Block Fen from another RSPCA centre. She is now living with other goats and learning about life as goat! We are still looking for her to be rehomed with a group of goats, and we would love her to stay with George and Geraldine. Annie would so love to have a new family that she can call her own.
Ideal home: They are looking for a new home where they can all stay together and be well looked after for the rest of their lives. They will need to be housed in a nice large paddock with lots of enrichment to keep them entertained. They will need to have access to a shelter to keep them dry and warm when the weather it is not so nice. We are looking for a home with previous goat experience, as, although George is a lovely boy he can also be quite wilful with people he thinks he can bully.
More information: For more information about George Annie and Geraldine please visit their page.
Visit www.rspca.org.uk/findapet to find your paw-fect match.
If you are not in a position to give a pet a home this October, you can still help thousands of animals in our care by donating at https://rspca.org.uk/donateadoptober, or showing your support for rescue pets with one of our RSPCA T-shirts. To support the work of your local branch please visit their website.
