Legal Bits

Check out the important information on this page and discover who can legally treat your guinea, and what the new Animal Welfare Act means for you and your animals.

 Who Can Legally Treat Your Guinea?

 You

As the owner of a guinea pig, you can give whatever treatment you want to your animal (but not treatment that involves intrusion into the animal's body), subject to the Protection of Animals Act 1911.  This Act requires that if an animal is clearly in need of treatment by a Veterinary Surgeon, the owner must obtain this. Owners are therefore expected to seek Veterinary care if they are concerned about the health of animals in their care.

A Veterinary Surgeon

Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, no person is allowed to make a diagnosis or practice as a Veterinary Surgeon unless included on the Veterinary Surgeons Register.

 Animal Welfare Act

1)  Ensuring that the animal has a proper diet, including fresh water.

2)  Providing the animal with suitable housing.

3)  Each animal needs to be housed with, or apart from other animals (so guineas need guinea friends, not rabbits).

4)  Animals need to be able to express normal behaviour.

5)  Protection from, and treatment of illness and injury.

This new law should help to provide greater protection for animals.  Under the previous law, people responsible for animals could only be prosecuted for cruelty after suffering has occurred.  Often this comes too late to save the animal from lasting injuries or even death. 

The new law will enable the RSPCA to act earlier where animals are being kept in a way that is likely to cause suffering.  There is also a new Welfare Offence designed to protect animals from ongoing neglect each year.  Owners will be legally obliged to care for their animals properly, and failure to do so could result in a fine or even a prison sentence.

The full document is available here: