As part of the Animal Health and Welfare Scotland (Act) 2006, section 24, subsection 3 states the following-

For the purposes of subsection (1), an animal's needs include—
(a)its need for a suitable environment,
(b)its need for a suitable diet,
(c)its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns,
(d)any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals,
(e)its need to be protected from suffering, injury and disease.

With regards to these needs, including the need to be housed with other animals, the need for a suitable environment and the need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns, it would be highly beneficial to provide legal minimum requirements for different species of animals to meet these needs.
Currently, there are no legal requirements for this, meaning animals are being sold daily to live in completely incorrect environments. By providing these legal requirements it could prevent these animals from being sold to these conditions and increase their quality of life.

For example, currently on the market-

a) Pets at Home Wire Hamster Cage (large) with the measurements of H30 x W59 x D38cm. This cage is sold to be suitable for 2 Dwarf Hamsters, or 1 Syrian Hamster. An adult Syrian hamster can grow up to 15.24 cm, a cage of this size would not provide a suitable environment as the hamster has very little room to move and will not be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns. A cage of this size would not allow for the basic needs of the hamster to be, it does not provide sufficient space for a correctly sized exercise wheel, hides, food and water bowls, sand baths and more.

b) Vivexotic Repti-Home Vivarium - Small with the measurements of 57.5x37.5x42cm. This cage is commonly sold in exotic pet shops as suitable for leopard geckos to live in throughout their lifetime. These leopard geckos often reach the size of 16.5-20 cm. Not only does this not provide enough space to meet the needs of leopard gecko (multiple hides- one on the cool end, one on the warm end and a humid hide etc), it does not provide enough space to provide the leopard gecko with the correct temperature gradients which are extremely important for these types of animals as it aids in digestion and more.

c) Aqua Town Kid's Aquarium with Filter 12 Litre with the measurements 31.5 x 18.5 x 13cm. When in-store these small, 12-litre tanks are often sold with betta fish, fancy goldfish and more. These tanks provide very little space, with even less space as the filter, heater and decorations and more are added. It is recommended that betta fish are kept in 5-gallon tanks (22.73 litres) as a minimum and recommended for goldfish to be kept in a 20-gallon tank as a minimum.

d) Zoo Zone Small Animal Cage - Large with the measurements ‎101 x 51 x 22 cm. This cage is sold as being suitable for rabbits, guinea pigs, dwarf rabbits and ferrets. Rabbits can range in size from 20cm up to 50cm, guinea pigs range in size of 20-30cm and ferrets ranging in size from 20-46cm. These sizes of cages do not allow for natural behaviours such as climbing, hopping and travelling a far distance, although with modification they make for great hamster and mice cages.

While it would be entirely possible to continue giving examples I have decided to list only four. These examples can relate to almost all species of animals within the pet trade and while these animals can survive in these enclosures, they can't thrive. By providing legal minimum requirements for these animals we could greatly increase their quality of life and allow for them to thrive within our care. Small enclosures often result in stereotypic behaviour in these animals, such as bar biting, over-grooming, pacing, self-mutilation and so much more. This often results in the animals requiring veterinary attention, which means they are not protected from suffering, injury and disease.

This is why I, and everyone who has signed this petition, believes the Scottish Government should provide legal minimum enclosure requirements and help us work towards bettering the care of these animals within captivity. By working with professionals, animal charities and more I believe we could create the ideal living environments for these animals and produce suitable minimum requirements for these enclosures.

 

 

 

 

 

References

Animal Health and Welfare Scotland (Act) 2006- Legislation.gov.uk. 2021. Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. [online] Available at: <https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2006/11/section/24> [Accessed 21 August 2021].

Pets at Home Wire Hamster Cage (large)- 2021. [online] Available at: <https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/pets-at-home-hamster-wire-cage?size=large> [Accessed 21 August 2021].

Adult Syrian hamster size- livescience.com. 2021. Hamster Facts: Diet, Habits & Types of Hamsters. [online] Available at: <https://www.livescience.com/27169-hamsters.html> [Accessed 21 August 2021].

Vivexotic Repti-Home Vivarium - Small- Reptile Centre. 2021. Vivexotic Repti-Home Vivarium - Small Grey 57.5x37.5x42cm. [online] Available at: <https://www.reptilecentre.com/vivexotic-reptihome-vivarium--small-grey-575x375x42cm_p32472653.htm> [Accessed 21 August 2021].

Adult leopard gecko size- LafeberVet. 2021. Basic Information Sheet: Leopard Gecko | LafeberVet. [online] Available at: <https://lafeber.com/vet/basic-information-for-leopard-gecko/> [Accessed 21 August 2021].

Aqua Town Kid's Aquarium with Filter 12 Litre- 2021. [online] Available at: <https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/aqua-town-kids-aquarium-with-filter-12-litre> [Accessed 21 August 2021].

Betta fish tank size recommendation- FishLab. 2021. Best betta tank size (The wrong size can kill your fish!) - FishLab. [online] Available at: <https://fishlab.com/betta-fish-tank-size/> [Accessed 21 August 2021].

Fancy goldfish tank size recommendation- Aquarium Co-Op. 2021. Care Guide for Fancy Goldfish – Housing, Feeding, and More. [online] Available at: <https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/care-guide-for-fancy-goldfish> [Accessed 21 August 2021].

Zoo Zone Small Animal Cage - Large- 2021. [online] Available at: <https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoozone-62011-Habitat-Large-Blue/dp/B002USE0JM/ref=bmx_dp_lh2y0trn_2/260-1371089-7073521?pd_rd_w=0exVD&pf_rd_p=94426033-0f75-42e1-88f2-9726a24245b4&pf_rd_r=D55A1CEMSA6ZT08QKAKX&pd_rd_r=75d5fd9c-451a-4024-b83d-62356289cf21&pd_rd_wg=QoC3Q&pd_rd_i=B002USE0JM&psc=1> [Accessed 21 August 2021].

Rabbit size- livescience.com. 2021. Rabbits: Habits, Diet & Other Facts. [online] Available at: <https://www.livescience.com/28162-rabbits.html> [Accessed 21 August 2021].

Guinea pig size- Cutts, S., 2021. How Big Do Guinea Pigs Get? A Guinea Pig Size Guide. [online] Squeaks and Nibbles. Available at: <https://squeaksandnibbles.com/guinea-pig-size/> [Accessed 21 August 2021].

Ferret Size- livescience.com. 2021. Facts About Ferrets. [online] Available at: <https://www.livescience.com/54391-ferrets.html> [Accessed 21 August 2021].