Non-Traditional Companion Animals – the Scottish
government review and reptile welfare survey
The keeping of
Exotic pets or ‘not traditional’ companion animals is increasingly under
scrutiny as the Scottish government moves forward with its review of their
welfare. With surveys such as the PDSA’s Animal Wellbeing report highlighting
low levels of owner awareness of the five welfare needs as they apply to
traditional companion animals
(https://www.pdsa.org.uk/get-involved/our-current-campaigns/pdsa-animal-wellbeing-report),
are these problems magnified when it comes to exotic species?
This
was the subject of discussion at the recent BVA congress with presentations
from Sheila Voas the Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland, and Michael
Stanford of the British Veterinary Zoological Society http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/177/24/616.full?sid=77f6cf98-453d-4445-a53a-f994a16cc67f
This
congress builds on discussions already underway within the BVA and with
Scottish government, with which the JMICAWE have participated. Heather Bacon of
the JMICAWE, sits on both the BVA’s Ethics and Welfare committee and its exotic
pet subcommittee, and has been involved in the discussions leading to the
developments of BVA’s statements on this issue http://www.bva.co.uk/News-campaigns-and-policy/Policy/Companion-animals/Exotic-pets/
Heather said ‘It is
very likely that the welfare of all companion animals, both traditional and
non-traditional, could be improved through better owner education and
enforcement of existing legislation relating to animal welfare. Surveys such as
the PDSA’s PAW report highlight significant deficiencies in the appropriate
care we provide for many companion species and at present there is a dearth of
information relating to the welfare of non-traditional species. Revision of
legislation relating to pet vending is overdue, and the suitability of species
to be kept as pets may need to be reassessed.’
Vets dealing with
reptile species may be interested in completing this recently developed survey
to elicit further information on reptile husbandry and welfare in the UK
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