In the UK, thousands of small animals and fish are sold in Pets at Home stores to anyone over the age of 18. The stores do provide basic animal care guides, but there is no way of knowing how the animal will be cared for once they leave the store.

Due to being a ‘temporary’ stopping point for the animals, pet shops do not have to adhere to strict standards on animal welfare in order to be licensed. But for many animals, the standards set in pet shops end up being the animals whole lives. 

Pet shops can lead to impulse buying. Pets at Home hold kids workshops and advertise pet starter kits which to some can make buying an animal seem easy, cheap and fun - in reality, the commitment needed for these animals is often more than most households are prepared for. This leaves animals neglected, dumped or handed to rescues who are at breaking point. 

Stats:

There are over 184,000 small animals in UK rescues. 

Roughly 480,000 rabbits are known to be living in unsuitable environment within homes

Animal dumping has become commonplace: recently 100 rabbits were dumped in woodland in one case. 

Rabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK, yet the most neglected. 

There are no statistics for how many rodents are bred and sold in the pet industry, but it is within the millions. 

Animals are not properly protected by council licensing, and licenses are often investigated by unqualified councillors. 

Pets at Home has the opportunity to become an ethical company, removing animals from the shop floor. 

We are asking Pets at Home to stop selling live animals, and support rescues by advocating for adopt don’t shop.