What quality of life do you think a tarantula has in Taunton? Or what kind of habitat a python has in Perth?

OneKind believes that laws across the UK on the trade of animals as pets are out of date and a review is long overdue (see Pet Origins). We believe that not because we are against people having pets, more of that later, but because our primary concern is the welfare of the animals involved. We are therefore delighted that the Scottish Government are to undertake a review of the trade and importation of reptiles as pets.

OneKind published a comprehensive review of the UK’s pet vending industry illustrating the current problems and setting out clear arguments for urgent reform. The Pet Origins report brings together a catalogue of information and case studies which illustrate an industry which is woefully under-regulated, resulting in severe consequences for animal welfare and consumers.

In that report we highlight specific cases of poor animal welfare and ill treatment, and witnessed cases where people were able to buy exotic pets with no discussion as to suitability as a pet.

Reaction to our support for the Scottish Government review on exotic pets has been interesting. We’ve had loads of support from all across the UK, from people and organisations concerned about animal welfare. Not surprisingly we’ve been criticised, although some criticism is downright bizarre and of course untrue. For example we’ve been accused of being against pet ownership. As the late Jimmy Sanderson used to say on the Radio Clyde phone-in – bunkum!

Our family has two pets, a cat called Mittens – we got him around the time our chlldren saw the film Bolt, and a dog called Declan. They bring joy to the family as companions, for example we all love hearing the sound of Mittens purring as he lies on one of us. Or when we see Declan looking alert and his tail wagging, and not just as true to his Labrador traits at food time! But they don’t just bring joy to us they get lots of love and affection from us, Mittens is frequently out and about patrolling his territory and Declan gets lots of exercise and meets other dogs. And we are all alert to the signals when they are not well or unhappy.

And that’s the crucial point for OneKind; OneKind supports pet-keeping – provided there is something in it for the pet. Which is one of the reasons we have encouraged the Scottish Government to review the trade and importation of reptiles as pets. Our cat was born 3 doors down in Glasgow. Declan was born in the Scottish Borders. But is it right on moral grounds, never mind environmental grounds, that many animals are caught in the wild and shipped half the way round the world for us in the UK to keep as pets? Should anyone be able to decide to keep a boa constrictor as a pet? Or with the compare the market ads on our screens should anyone be able go out and buy meerkats as pets? Their normal habitat is the desserts in Africa, can we really create that habitat in Aberystwyth or Aberdeen?

The other concern we’ve heard voiced, upsetting to many including us, is the allegation that if laws came in restricting reptiles as pets, then healthy animals would have to be put down. This is simply not true. OneKind is first and foremost an animal welfare organisation. We have spoken out on many occasions against culling of healthy animals, for example as what land managers euphemistically call pest control, or in order to preserve one species over another e.g. Red Squirrels over Greys. In European countries where restrictions on exotic pets have been brought in there are lead-in periods, and legislation applies to future buying and selling. There have been no culls, nobody who has an exotic pet is made to put them down. OneKind would have no truck with such a policy, and given the European evidence no government is ever likely to propose such a scheme.

These arguments are red herrings from the central issues. Pet keeping is a good thing provided the pet gets something out of the relationship. Our existing legislation on the trade of pets is outdated and a review long overdue. Therefore on animal welfare grounds a review in Scotland of the trade and importation of reptiles as pets is welcome. We hope similar reviews take place across the UK.