Save the date to make sure you can join us at the Guinea Pig Forum on 22nd September 2026. Join us for a brilliant line up of speakers and be part of the conversation.
Published on
5th March 2026
Read time
2 mins
Save the Date!
Following the success of previous events in 2024 and 2025, the Guinea Pig Welfare Forum returns on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, at the Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre. Organised by Burgess Pet Care, this one-of-a-kind forum continues its mission to elevate guinea pig welfare through expert-led education, collaboration, and advocacy.
Event Details
- Date: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
- Time: 09:30 – 17:00 BST
- Location: Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre, Holliday Street, Birmingham B1 1HH
Speaker Line-Up
This year’s forum features a diverse panel of experts in guinea pig health, behaviour, and welfare including:
- John Chitty, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine (Chair)
- Mary Coles, PhD Researcher, University of Liverpool
- Hannah Messer RVN
- Virginia Garner-Richardson MRCVS
- Aidan Raftery, Ashleigh Veterinary Centre
- Alison Wills, Lecturer Hartpury College
- Allison Hilyer, Kind to Cavies
Topics and Sessions
The day will be split into two main segments:
- Morning
- Keynote talk on welfare issues in pet and rescue situations
- Guinea pig reproduction and responsible breeding
- Research updates
- Afternoon Sessions:
- Issues in Guinea pig rescue centres
- Licensing of rescue centres- the latest proposals and an opportunity to discuss and feed into political discussions
Save the date! Check back here for the link to tickets which will be on sale soon.
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