Guinea Pig Awareness Week (GPAW) is returning this month, running from September 19-23.
Under the theme of Home Squeak Home, this year’s campaign will focus on the importance of providing guinea pigs with the right environment for their specific housing needs, as well as touching on other key aspects of guinea pig care.
The GPAW partners are a coalition of experts, organisations and welfare charities who actively campaign to improve the lives of UK guinea pigs. GPAW is organised by Burgess Pet Care, and partners include the RSPCA, Woodgreen Pets Charity, PDSA and Blue Cross.
A variety of online content, including educational videos, live streams, and Q&As from experts and veterinary professionals, will be delivered via the GPAW Facebook page and also shared across the GPAW partners’ social media channels to help educate guinea pig owners and improve standards of guinea pig care in the UK.
The organisers are urging retailers to get behind the week’s activities by accessing free online resources including downloadable retail packs.
Charlotte Varley, communications manager for Burgess Pet Care, said: “We are delighted to see the return of GPAW for a second year, which recognises the importance of ensuring that we provide essential care and support the wellbeing of the nation’s guinea pigs.
“Retailers were really supportive of the first GPAW last year and we’re hoping for an even better response for Home Squeak Home. The information within our digital GPAW packs will provide lots of ideas for retailers to get involved and raise their profile with customers in an engaging and friendly way.”
Dr Suzanne Moyes, veterinary director at Burgess Pet Care, added: “Like rabbits, guinea pigs are often considered to be easy animals to care for, when in fact they have very specific welfare needs.
“When it comes to guinea pigs’ housing requirements, they need sufficient space to exercise and sit up. Enrichment is really important and being a prey species, they need lots of little hiding places in their exercise area.
“It would be fantastic to see as many retailers as possible getting involved in GPAW so that together we can engage, inform and educate guinea pig owners about their pets’ specific welfare needs and improve the lives of these gorgeous pets.”
GPAW packs for retailers are available to download at: https://guineapigalliance.co.uk/gpaw-2022/
UPDATE: Guinea Pig Awareness Week (GPAW) will now run from Monday September 26 until Friday September 30, a week later than originally planned.
Charlotte Varley, communications manager for Burgess Pet Care, which organises GPAW, said: “Given this time of national sorrow following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, as a show of respect we felt it appropriate to postpone the launch of GPAW until 26 September.”
