Guinea pig expert contributors

The welfare needs of guinea pigs

The RSPCA would like to thank the following experts for their involvement in producing information on the welfare needs of guinea pigs.

Main Consultant

Dr Anne McBride (BSc PhD Cert.Cons)
As the main consultant, Anne McBride was responsible for authoring information on the welfare needs of guinea pigs. She also liaised with an expert panel who reviewed this information and was responsible for collaborating with the panel and incorporating their comments into the final document submitted to the RSPCA's companion animals department.

Anne is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Southampton where she is Director of the Postgraduate Diploma/MSc (Academic) in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling. Her PhD was on the social and parental behaviour of rabbits. She has particular specialist interest in human-animal interactions and the behavioural aspects of welfare of small mammal companion species.

Expert Panel

The expert panel was made up of five recognised experts in guinea pig veterinary medicine, behaviour and welfare. The panel provided expert advice and reviewed the information authored by the main consultant.

Anna Meredith (MA VetMB CertLAS DZooMed MRCVS)
Anna Meredith is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Exotic Animal and Wildlife Service at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh. She is a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Recognised Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. Anna lectures and publishes internationally on all aspects of small mammal health and welfare.

Jill Taggart (MSc (CABC), MSc (Research Methods))
Jill Taggart holds an MSc in companion animal behaviour counselling and an MSc in research methods from the University of Southampton. She is currently completing a doctorate in human/dog attachment. Her research has focussed on owner characteristics that contribute to dog attachment security or insecurity. She is a practicing companion animal behaviour counsellor and resides in Canada.

John Chitty BVetMed CertZooMed MRCVS
John Chitty qualified as a veterinary surgeon from the Royal Veterinary College in 1990. He received the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' certificate in zoological medicine in 2000. John has authored various papers and book chapters and has co-edited two avian texts. John now works in specialist practice seeing only exotics animals and small mammals.

Dr Suzanne Held (BSc PhD)
Suzanne is a Research Fellow at the University of Bristol where she lectures on animal behaviour and animal welfare science. She has a particular interest in social behaviour, animal cognition and play behaviour as they relate to welfare.