Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Small and exotic pets (SEP) have grown in popularity in Sweden over the last decades. It has therefore become increasingly important to assess what welfare concerns may or may not exist for these pets. Owner competence has the potential to greatly influence SEP welfare as knowledge regarding their pets’ health, nutritional needs, proper housing, and behavioural needs directly informs and impacts their husbandry practices. Previous studies have shown that a lack of owner competence has led to an impaired welfare due to improper husbandry practices for SEP. Animal welfare legislation has the potential to influence SEP husbandry, however it is uncertain what impact current Swedish animal welfare legislation has on SEP husbandry.
This study aimed to assess the competence level of Swedish owners of the SEP: rabbits, guinea pigs, domestic rats, and hamsters regarding their pets’ husbandry, welfare, and relevant animal welfare legislation. The study also aimed to investigate SEP owner perceptions and attitudes towards Swedish animal welfare legislation and how it may influence Swedish SEP husbandry and welfare.
To achieve this a survey study was conducted. A separate survey was created for each of the four groups of SEP owners and consisted of three sections: Section 1) Self-evaluation, Section 2) Questions regarding SEP husbandry and welfare, and Section 3) Questions and statements regarding Swedish animal welfare legislation. The surveys were then distributed online in Facebook groups dedicated to the focal SEP.
A total of 272 respondents completed one of the four surveys wherein 66.2% were rabbit owners, 12.1% were guinea pig owners, 9.6% were domestic rat owners, and 12.5% were hamster owners. The SEP owners in this study evaluated their knowledge regarding their pets’ husbandry, welfare, and relevant legislation as good overall across all four surveys. From the results for Section 2 SEP owners included in this study were deemed knowledgeable regarding the health, nutritional needs, and housing needs, of their pets but were less knowledgeable regarding their pets’ behaviour. Results also showed that SEP owners were less knowledgeable regarding Swedish animal welfare legislation. Overall SEP owners held positive attitudes towards said legislation, however, they also believed that it was insufficiently supervised and/or enforced.
It was concluded that SEP owners were more knowledgeable regarding their pets’ husbandry and welfare in this study than found in that of previous studies, however possible knowledge gaps regarding SEP behaviour were found. SEP owner perception was positive overall regarding Swedish animal welfare legislation, however, it was concluded that Swedish SEP owners lacked knowledge regarding said legislation, and it is therefore uncertain to what extent it may influence Swedish SEP husbandry and welfare.