The RSPCA is urging people to stop buying small, furry animals as ‘starter pets’ as it reveals it rescues more than 340 per month.
Guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, mice, ferrets, and chinchillas are considered to be easy pets to look after due to their size, but their complex needs are often ignored which leads to them being abandoned and neglected.
Last year, the RSPCA rescued 165 small furry animals in Cumbria.
Dr Jane Tyson, the RSPCA’s rabbit and rodent welfare expert, explained: “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.”
As part of Adoptober, the RSPCA is encouraging people to adopt rabbits and other small animals which have been in shelters for a long time.
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