I am a pet owner who has experienced the heartbreak of losing numerous guinea pigs and rabbits due to the lack of available care from "exotic animal veterinarians". It is disheartening to realize that many small animal veterinarians have not been equipped with the necessary education and resources to care for animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits, and chickens. Many seem to focus solely on cats and dogs. Despite it being 2024, it feels as though we are stuck in the 1980s when it comes to veterinary practices for these animals - that's an astonishing 44 years of neglect towards their healthcare needs.

The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that there are over 6 million pet rabbits in the U.S., along with countless cavies (guinea pigs) and backyard chickens (source: AVMA). These numbers highlight a significant portion of pets whose health needs are being overlooked by mainstream veterinary practice.

It is high time we demand change. We need our veterinary schools to expand their curriculum beyond cats and dogs. We need practicing veterinarians to be educated about these so-called 'exotic' animals who are actually quite common pets. And most importantly, we need this change now before more beloved pets suffer due to lack of proper medical attention.

Please sign this petition if you believe all pets deserve equal access to quality veterinary care - regardless if they're a dog, cat, rabbit, cavy or chicken. Together let's make sure no pet owner has to experience loss due simply because their pet isn't considered 'common' enough by current standards.