We, the undersigned, wish to raise a petition to UK Government officials to introduce legislation on detailed controls through good, evidence-based practice on the keeping and breeding of non-dangerous exotic animals as pets throughout the devolved nations of the United Kingdom. This is in the interests of animal welfare, including safeguarding from potential neglect, harm and/or abuse and conservation. The list of exotic species of reptiles and amphibians most suitable as pets, which are captive bred widely across the UK include, but are not limited to the following:

Corn Snakes

King Snakes

Milk Snakes

Leopard Geckos

Stinkpot and Mud Turtles

Royal Pythons

White’s Tree Frogs

Horned Frogs

Fire Salamanders

African Fat-Tailed Geckos

Crested Geckos

Bearded Dragons

Mediterranean Tortoise species

Veiled or Yemeni Chameleons

Although there is the Animal Welfare Act (2006), which provides legal regulatory literature on the general keeping of animals in captivity, there is not a legal framework demonstrating good practice on care, husbandry and breeding of non-dangerous exotic species such as small lizards, amphibians, terrapins, and fish (Burke et al., 2015). According to a review conducted by Pasmans et al. (2017), inappropriate management, nutrition and over-breeding by inexperienced keepers remains a concern. It can be argued that through legislating the practice of proper management and care supported by up-to-date information on husbandry requirements from experts may mitigate such concerns with a possibility of increasing the benefits to human health through the companionship of keeping captive bred exotic species.

We believe that non-dangerous exotic pets should be represented more equally to other captive animals pertaining to the Animal Welfare Act and deserve to be cared for, properly by their owners. We believe that breeders of such animals for commercial purposes should at least be qualified with certification from affiliated specialist organisations such as the British Herpetological Society (1947), and we also believe that third party selling and distribution of such vulnerable creatures, should be banned.

The inspiration behind getting the law changed to protect vulnerable exotic species comes after the recent passing of a 16 week old leopard gecko named Ali whom contracted parasites, a deadly disease, which was brought on through negligence of proper care and husbandry by its owner due to them being mis-led information and guidance from the pet shop, unreliable internet sources claiming to offer expertise and specialist knowledge and social media.

REFERENCES

Animal Welfare Act 2006. (c.45), London: HMSO

British Herpetological Society (1947), BHS Policy on Reptiles and Amphibians in Captivity, Pet Trade and Legislation (Dr Gerardo Garcia).

Burke, M., Sutherland, N. and Ares, E., (2015), Exotic Pets Trade, London: House of Commons

Pasmans, F., Bogaerts, S., Braeckman, J., Cunningham, A.A., Hellebuyck, T., Griffiths, R.A., Sparreboom, M., Schmidt, B.R. and Martel, A. (2017), Future of keeping pet reptiles and amphibians: towards integrating animal welfare, human health and environmental sustainability. Veterinary Record, 181: 450-450. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.104296

Tom Mellor - Creator of petition and pet owner of reptiles.

Ellie McKee - pet owner/breeder of reptiles.

Kayleigh Harwood - pet owner/breeder of reptiles.

Lee Wright - pet owner of reptiles.