AN ANIMAL welfare charity has warned Bolton residents that small animals should not be seen as a 'starter pet'.

The RSPCA have reported an increased interested in 'starter pets' during lockdown but worry that this will lead to a rise in neglect due to their complex needs.

Last year the charity dealt with 430 incidents involving small furry pets, including rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters.

Nationally, Google search terms for rabbits and hamsters for sale tripled over lockdown, with searches for guinea pigs doubling.

Dr Jane Tyson, from the RSPCA’s Companion Animals Department, said: “Small furries can be fantastic pets to have, however they have a reputation as a good ‘starter pet’ for children as there is a misconception that they are easy to look after, but they actually have quite complex needs.

“During lockdown there seems to have been an increase in interest for starter pets, which may be because parents were at home with their children and so thought it was a good time to bring a new pet into the family.

“While we believe many people buy small animals with good intentions, and will also do their research, there is a risk that not enough research is being done and we are concerned that this could lead to an increase in neglect in the months to come."