Have you ever wondered where pet shop animals come from? - Here's the nasty truth.

We’ve all walked into a pet shop and been drawn in by the sight of tiny, adorable animals. But behind the cuteness lies a harsh reality—one that most people never see!

For every baby animal sold in a pet shop, countless others suffer in breeding facilities.

We were outraged by puppy farms—so why do we ignore rodent farms?

Most people have heard of puppy farming—it’s been exposed in documentaries, shared across social media, and even led to Lucy’s Law, which banned the third-party sale of puppies and kittens. As a nation, we were appalled to learn that family pets were being bred in horrific conditions—dogs forced to have litter after litter, trapped in dark, filthy barns, deprived of care, and terrified of human contact. We were right to be horrified. No animal should suffer just to meet the demand for a pet.

But what about the nation’s third most popular pet—the rabbit? Or guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, and all the other small animals sold in pet shops? Where do they come from? The answer is rodent farms.

These large-scale breeding facilities operate much like puppy farms—animals are bred relentlessly, crammed into tiny enclosures, terrified of human contact, and often left unwell or injured. The 'lucky' ones are culled. The rest are simply left to die.

Pet shops don’t show you this part of the story. But this is where it all begins

Rodent farms are no different from puppy farms—animals are bred on a mass scale to keep pet shop shelves stocked with cute baby animals. Just like in puppy farming, no consideration is given to health or temperament, allowing hereditary conditions to be passed down through generations.

Sexing mistakes are common, leading to young females becoming pregnant while still waiting to be sold. Many animals arrive in pet shops already unwell, suffering from conditions like ringworm, pasteurella, and E. cuniculi. Meanwhile, those kept for breeding endure even worse—dental disease, sore hocks, fur loss, and a lifetime of neglect.

From rabbits to mice, the story is the same—cramped, crowded, and bred for profit, not welfare.

When breeding animals are no longer ‘useful,’ they are simply culled and enter the pet food market. Their short, miserable lives are entirely exploited to satisfy the demand for their offspring in pet shops. And we fuel this industry—thousands of rabbits and rodents are purchased every year.

But what happens to the ones that don’t sell? The farms have that covered too. Many pet shops operate on a sale-or-return basis, swapping out older, less ‘cute’ animals for younger ones. The unwanted animals? They’re sent back, only to be culled and sold as frozen food.

The entire system is built for maximum profit at minimum cost—just like puppy farming. Yet, despite the undeniable suffering, the government has decided that the welfare concerns that led to protections for dogs and cats somehow don’t apply to rabbits and rodents.

Lack of socialisation affects rabbits and rodents just as much as it does dogs and cats. Yet, in pet shops, staff won’t allow you to handle a hamster, rat, or gerbil before purchase. You have to choose based on looks, not personality. Why? Because these animals are terrified of human contact. They’ll bite, jump, scratch—doing anything they can to escape.

With proper socialisation from a young age, this wouldn’t happen. But instead, how many of these animals are labelled as ‘aggressive’ and left ignored in their cages? How many are given away to the first person willing to take them? How many end up in rescues, abandoned and unwanted?

Rabbits and rodents are often sold unwell, already suffering from health problems. This isn’t speculation—it’s well-documented. Some major pet shop chains have even admitted to past issues with animals arriving in stores carrying diseases like ringworm.

Unlike puppies and kittens, which take much longer to mature, small rodents are frequently sold while already pregnant—leaving unsuspecting owners with far more than they bargained for. And when things go wrong, it’s underfunded specialist rescues that are left to pick up the pieces.

Sexing mistakes are also common, with pet shops regularly selling male and female pairs together. The result? Yet more unexpected litters, more unwanted animals, and an even greater strain on rescues already struggling to cope.

On top of all these all-too-common issues, there’s the dreadful advice given out by pet shop staff. This misinformation doesn’t just harm the animals—it sets owners up for failure too.

‘House rabbits don’t need vaccinations.’

‘Two male rabbits will live together peacefully for life if they’re from the same litter.’

‘Littermates won’t breed because they know they’re related.’

These myths, and many more, create endless problems—problems that fall squarely on the shoulders of rescues. Already overwhelmed and underfunded, rescues are expected to provide unlimited free advice and fix the damage done by the pet trade. But they simply can’t keep up. Because for pet shops, profit will always come before welfare.

So, what can we do? How can the average person make a difference?

These animals are mass bred because there’s a market for them. Take away the market, and the profit disappears. Stop buying these animals. Right now, thousands of rabbits and rodents are sitting in rescues across the UK—some waiting years for a home. Many will die in rescue, overlooked and unwanted, simply because people keep buying from pet shops instead.

Stop supporting pet shops that sell animals. There are plenty of stores—both physical and online—that only sell pet supplies. No matter where you live, you can make this change while still keeping your pets happy with their favourite foods, toys, and treats. Show these businesses that you don’t support pet farming. Hit them where it hurts most—their profits.