Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

One-third of all Swedish households have pets in their homes, and among the top 10 most popular animals kept as pets, we find small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, and mice. In the wild, these animals can run fast, jump far, dig deep, and freely climb. As pets, they are often kept in cages, and depending on the size of the cage this can restrict their ability to move as they would in the wild. Pet shops are commonly regarded as the apparent choice when seeking to purchase a cage. The pet market is a billion-dollar market, and when pet owner needs a home for their pet, this is most often where they go to find one. This study aims to investigate how big of an issue it is that Swedish pet shops sell cages that are not in accordance with Swedish legislation. Additionally, the study aims to discuss what consequences this may pose for the pets if illicit cages are sold and used. Four out of six pet shops that were used in this study sold cages that did not follow the size regulations stated by Swedish legislation for the animal which it was marketed for. The consequence of having cages that are too small for an animal is that their welfare may be impaired because they might not be able to perform their natural behaviours such as digging or climbing. The study concluded that pet shops sell cages that are not in accordance with the legislation. However, another issue may be that sellers categorize their cages by species not disclosing size requirements for different sizes of animals within that species. Therefore, pet owners must do their research regarding appropriate cage sizes and not rely on the marketing done by pet shops.