Features

Do micro pigs make good pets?

As more celebrities buy exotic pets like pygmy hedgehogs and micro pigs, three experts debate whether this growing trend is good or bad for the pet industry.

Steve Fowler, Director, Pampurred Pets

Although these exotic pets are becoming very popular with celebrities – I understand Victoria Beckam gave David two micro pigs for Christmas – I doubt, due to cost, that the market will become significant.

Micro pigs sell for around £700, with fully grown adults weighing only 40-65lb and reaching 12-16in tall. Retailers and breeders must spend time discussing their nutritional and housing requirements.

It must be a concern that pygmy hedgehogs could become the latest handbag accessory as they are available in albino, apricot and chocolate! They can live to five years and need to be kept at 18-26°C/64-79°F, so again good advice is essential.

The RSPCA’s Leanne Plumtree says: “These are exotic animals whose needs are very difficult to meet in a normal household situation and, where that is the case, the RSPCA does not believe they should be kept.”

Current advice is to feed cat food but I would be interested to hear the views of a small animal food manufacturer as regards suitable diet.

These pets could provide valuable additional revenue for our industry, especially specific foods and accessories, but we should put the needs of the animals first.

Dean Barratt, product manager, Rosewood Pet Products

If it’s a trend then it’s nothing new: think pot-bellied pigs in the 1980s and pygmy hedgehogs as pets have been around for 20 years. History is littered with our attempts to tame and domesticate our fellow animals. It’s what we do and we wouldn’t have our industry without it.

However, we cannot ignore the many ethical dilemmas that arise at all levels of the pet industry; from excessive selective breeding and ‘elimination’ of ‘imperfect or uncommercial’ stock to the making and selling of unnecessary or unsuitable products to, finally, consumers not meeting their pet’s minimum needs.

The media doesn’t help by trivialising and hyping stories beyond their true situations.

In reality these animals are no less suitable than any other pet when in the right hands, but, as our homes, zoos, rescue centres and animal sanctuaries are getting over-populated with unwanted dogs, cats and a myriad of other creatures, do we want to be adding to this problem by promoting new species and breeds?

The hype will die down. There are good reasons why rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas and rats are still in so many more of our homes than chipmunks, sugar-gliders or reed voles...

Sam Bailey, proprietor, Aldwick Pets, West Sussex

In my opinion the trend towards more exotic pets will inevitably lead to irresponsible pet ownership and bad press for the industry.

The problem with the celebrity culture is that it encourages fads and not the long-term commitment needed for these exotics. We have seen these problems in the past with similar situations caused by media attention, such as the craze for turtles and clownfish.

However, it could be argued that if handled well the trend could create an opportunity to educate the public about such animals and even encourage assistance with captive breeding programmes and research.

I would say, as a general rule, that pet shops are best avoiding the exotics and sticking to the more commonly kept rabbits and hamsters. An exception to this would be if the shop in question was willing to specialise in such livestock and take the time to research the subject thoroughly, and so be in a position to advise potential owners accordingly.

Basically, although this latest trend has potential benefits for the pet industry, we must be careful that these benefits are not at the expense of animal welfare.