The UK’s only event dedicated to guinea pig welfare will return this September, bringing together veterinary professionals, rescues, welfare organisations and researchers for a full day of expert-led discussion and collaboration.
The Guinea Pig Welfare Forum 2026, co-hosted by Burgess Excel and the charity Guinea Pig Welfare UK, will take place on Tuesday, September 22, at the Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre.
Suzanne Moyes, deputy managing director and in-house vet at Burgess Pet Care, said: “The Guinea Pig Welfare Forum has become an incredibly important platform for bringing together the people working to improve the lives of guinea pigs across the UK.
“By uniting veterinary professionals, researchers, rescue organisations and the wider pet sector, we can encourage meaningful collaboration, share the latest evidence-based thinking and continue raising standards of care.
“Despite being one of the UK’s most popular pets, the welfare needs of guinea pigs are still widely misunderstood. 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.”
Now in its third year, the one-day event will feature a diverse speaker line-up spanning veterinary medicine, research, education and welfare, reflecting the breadth of sectors involved in guinea pig care.
Confirmed speakers include Mary Coles, University of Liverpool, Alison Wills, Hartpury College and clinicians and nurses working at the forefront of small animal practice, as well as John Chitty, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine, who will be chairing the event.
The agenda caters for professionals across the veterinary, retail and welfare landscape, with sessions covering both clinical insight and practical care challenges. The morning programme will explore key welfare issues affecting guinea pigs in both pet and rescue environments, alongside topics such as reproduction, responsible breeding and the latest research developments.
The afternoon sessions will turn attention to sector-wide challenges and opportunities, including discussions on rescue centre operations and evolving licensing proposals, providing an opportunity for delegates to contribute to wider policy conversations around animal welfare.
John Chitty, chair of Guinea Pig Welfare UK, said: “Last year’s Guinea Pig Welfare Forum marked an important milestone with the launch of Guinea Pig Welfare UK, creating a dedicated voice focused on improving standards of care, education and advocacy for guinea pigs nationwide.
“The continued success of the forum plays a vital role in supporting that mission by bringing together expertise from across the industry to encourage collaboration and drive meaningful progress in guinea pig welfare. We’re proud that the event not only sparks important conversations, but also directly supports the charity’s ongoing work through fundraising and awareness.”
Tickets are priced at £10, with all proceeds donated to Guinea Pig Welfare UK to support ongoing education, research and advocacy work aimed at improving welfare standards nationwide.
For more information and to register, click here.
