PETA Calls for Ban on Exotic Pets
More than 26,000 lemurs, wallabies, sloths, hamsters, gerbils, hedgehogs, snakes, lizards, spiders and other animals were seized from US Global Exotics (USGE), a company that deals in hundreds of thousands of animals each year and counts at least three UK companies among its customers.
PETA is calling for Defra to ban the sale of exotic species and introduce restrictions regarding their importation.
"This case reveals the appalling but routine abuse and neglect found in the exotic-pet trade", says PETA's Poorva Joshipura. "Animals were snatched out of their natural habitats and shipped thousands of miles to the US, only to be repacked for grueling journeys to the UK and other countries. Anyone who gives their business to pet shops that sell exotic animals may be unwittingly supporting this cruelty."
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
