RSPCA says interactive ‘pet villages’ could traumatise animals

Animal rights organisation says play areas risk 'fear and distress' for pets

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The RSPCA has criticised Pets at Home for plans to roll out interactive 'pet play' areas at its 450 stores, as the animal rights organisation say it could frighten pets.

The “pet villages” have been launched at two stores in Stockport and Chesterfield so far and feature tunnels that children can crawl through in order to get up close to the rabbits and guinea pigs inside pens above them.

“Like puppies and kittens, young rabbits and guinea pigs need positive experiences around people so that they can learn that human contact is rewarding and to give the best chance of a strong friendship with their new owner,” said an RSPCA spokesperson in a statement sent to The Independent.

“If venues want to offer customers the opportunity for these sorts of experiences it is essential that the welfare of the animals comes first and that each animal’s individual needs are provided for.

The spokesperson added that since voicing their concerns, the RSPCA has been reassured by Pets at Home that the enclosures have twice as much space as legally required.

Meanwhile, Isobel Hutchinson, director of Animal Aid, described the initiative as a “cynical marketing ploy”.

“It is bad enough that the pet trade sells living creatures for profit, leading to more animals being bred than homes can be found for,” she said, “and encouraging people to think of them as commodities rather than living, feeling beings with complex needs”.

There is currently a Change.org petition calling for Pets at Home not to introduce the pet villages to stores nationwide, with the author calling the prospect a “major step back” for animal welfare.

The petition has thus far garnered more than 2,500 signatures.

A Pets at Home spokesperson said: “We care deeply about all the pets in our care, and their welfare is the number one priority for all our colleagues.

"All our enclosures exceed minimum pet shop licensing standards, and our new designs provide nearly twice as much space for each pet than the minimum regulations stipulate. This also means that each pet has the correct provision for its requirements and includes space for them to relax and hide."

They added that the store does not allow children to bang on the glass or make excessive noise around our pets. "Should this ever happen, our colleagues will always react swiftly in the best interests of pet welfare," they said.

The spokesperson continued: "The independent inspections carried out by local authorities in the areas where our new store design is featured have been supportive, and the design itself was developed in full conjunction with our qualified pet team who we feel are the best experts to advise on this topic.”