Stop The Small Cages, Little Pet Warehouse

Little Pet Warehouse has long been a trusted company by many in the small pet community however a recent move by them to begin stocking cages below the minimum standards set by the RSPCA, animal welfare groups and the ever growing small pet community has angered and upset many.

The issue with the new cages stocked by Little Pet Warehouse are as follows:

- Hamster cages with floor sizes below the RSPCA's recommended minimum - 75x40x40cm and below the hamster communities personal minimum - 80x50x50cm

- 'Add On' modular cages for small animals that do not clearly state in their description that they can only be used if added on to the main area of the cage which must commit to the minimum floor sizes of (RSPCA) 75x40x40cm or 80x50x50cm

- Guinea pig and rabbit cages too small for full time living yet the descriptions do not state that the cage is to be used as a bed area only and for the door to be kept open at all times to allow the animal into a free-range area.

This petition has been created with the intention to make Little Pet Warehouse understand that we - the small pet community - are not only disappointed but disgusted that a company with a positive reputation would abuse that reputation by stocking cages as small as 55x34cm and therefore leading those who have heard of Little Pet Warehouses reputation into buying cages that are less than suitable.

The mental stress put on small animals living in tiny environments has been proven to cause several severe behavioural problems including obsessive bar chewing, repetitive pacing, stress-grooming and more. To allow an animal to experience these severe levels of stress is nothing short of cruelty which is why the RSPCA, RWAF, NHC and small pet communities all have their minimum cage sizes in place.

No company should feel it necessary to take the decision of cage sizes into their own hands and should follow the minimum standard set by those with experience (both as experienced pet owners and veterinary professionals).

If a cage has been designed to be used only as a traveler, a bed area or to join on to a main cage area that already meets the minimum floor size set by the appropriate welfare associations then these details MUST be stated clearly in the items description so as not to cause confusion for the buyer.

 

Our demands from this petition are as follows:

- Remove any cages below the minimum floor size for that animal

(80x50x50 cm - Hamsters, Mice, Gerbils)

(80x50x60 cm - Rats)

(5x2 ft - Guinea pigs)

(6x2x2 ft - Rabbits)

- Any cages designed to be used as travelers must have their description amended immediately to state this clearly

- Any cages designed to be used as bedrooms or 'rabbit bases' in a free range area must have their description amended immediately to state this clearly - it must be stated that the animal must not be closed inside the cage at any time.

- Any cages designed as modular systems to be joined to other cages must have their description amended immediately to state this clearly - the modular system can only be used if joined on to a main cage area where the floor space already reaches 80x50cm. The size of the modular system CANNOT be included in the total measurement of the floor space.

 

Please act on our words and change what needs to be changed so as to provide a better and brighter future for all small animals. Sign this petition to demand the change our pets deserve and to prevent companies from exploiting their reputations to sell badly labeled and unsuitable cages to unsuspecting customers.

 

The following cages need to have their descriptions amended to state that they are to be used as bed or base areas only and that the animal is not to be locked inside them - extra details are stated beside the cages name.

  • Roxy 84 Small Animal Cage
  • Rainbow 84 Rabbit Cage
  • Rabbit 80 x 48 x 42cm Indoor Rabbit & Guinea Pig Cage (Both Listings)
  • Rabbit 80 Triple Cage Indoor for Rabbits & Guinea Pigs (Not Suitable for rabbits)
  • Rabbit 80 Double Cage Indoor for Rabbits & Guinea Pigs
  • Rabbit 160cm LARGE Indoor Rabbit & Guinea Pig Cage
  • Rabbit 140cm LARGE Indoor Rabbit & Guinea Pig Cage
  • Rabbit 120 x59x50cm LARGE Indoor Rabbit & Guinea Pig Cage
  • Rabbit 120 x59x50cm LARGE Indoor Rabbit & Guinea Pig Cage
  • Rabbit 100 Triple Cage Indoor for Rabbits & Guinea Pigs (Not Suitable for rabbits)
  • Rabbit 100 Indoor Rabbit & Guinea Pig Cage with House & Hayrack
  • Rabbit 100 Double Cage Indoor for Rabbits & Guinea Pigs
  • Rabbit 100 Deluxe Indoor Rabbit Cage
  • Paris 120 Indoor Rabbit Cage with Accessories 120cm
  • Paris 100 Indoor Rabbit Cage with Accessories 100cm
  • Little Friends Aston Indoor Rabbit Cage with Stand 150cm (Unsuitable due to stand)
  • Little Friends Aston Indoor Rabbit Cage with Stand 120cm (Unsuitable due to stand)
  • Little Friends Aston Indoor Rabbit Cage with Stand 100cm (Unsuitable due to stand)
  • Indoor Square Cage Rabbit & Guinea Pig by Little Friends
  • Indoor Rabbit 80 Cage with Run: Ideal for Rabbits & Guinea Pigs (Unsuitable for rabbits)
  • Indoor Rabbit 100 Cage with Run: Ideal for Rabbits & Guinea Pigs (Unsuitable for rabbits)
  • Indoor Double Corner Cage Rabbit & Guinea Pig by Little Friends

The following cages need to have their descriptions amended to state that they are to only be used as travelers

  • *NEW* Chelsea Rat Chinchilla Cage with Platform: Medium 78cm
  • Jericho Hamster Cage with Tubes 55 x 34 x 46cm
  • Jester Hamster Cage 55 x 34 x 36cm
  • Jive Dwarf Hamster Cage
  • Jenga Tall Hamster Cage with Shelves 55 x 30 x 70cm
  • Okki 72cm Small Animal Cage With Slatted Floor
  • Okki 90cm Small Animal Cage With Slatted Floor

 

Please correct any other cages below minimum standards that have not be included in this list to provent further disapointment for customers.

Signed

The Small Pet Community


The Small Pet Community    Contact the author of the petition