Guinea Pig Welfare Forum returns for third year

The UK's only event dedicated to guinea pig welfare is back on 22 September at the Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre. Co-hosted by Burgess Excel and the charity Guinea Pig Welfare UK, the one-day forum brings together vets, rescues, welfare organisations and researchers for a full day of expert-led discussion and collaboration.

Now in its third year, the event features a cross-sector speaker line-up spanning veterinary medicine, research, education and welfare. Confirmed speakers include Mary Coles (University of Liverpool) and Alison Wills (Hartpury College), alongside clinicians and nurses from small animal practice, with John Chitty, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine and Chair of Guinea Pig Welfare UK, chairing the day.

The morning programme covers key welfare issues in pet and rescue settings plus reproduction, responsible breeding and the latest research; the afternoon turns to sector-wide topics including rescue centre operations and evolving licensing proposals.

‘Despite being one of the UK's most popular pets, the welfare needs of guinea pigs are still widely misunderstood,’ said Suzanne Moyes, Deputy Managing Director and In-house Vet at Burgess Pet Care. ‘The forum plays a vital role in addressing this, by bringing together experts from across the sector to share knowledge, encourage collaboration and help drive better outcomes for guinea pigs everywhere.’

Tickets cost £10, with all proceeds going to Guinea Pig Welfare UK to fund education, research and advocacy. Registration is via Eventbrite.