The frontline rescue charity says it receives a call every hour of the day about reptiles and other unusual animals being neglected, escaping or being abandoned. Last year its experts had to save more than 4,000 exotic creatures, including 500 snakes, 300 turtles, four marmosets and even a wallaby. It warns inexperienced owners are taking on the highly-dependent animals without knowing their specialist needs.
Highlighting the plight of exotic animals in the hands of people who have not carried out adequate research is one of the headline findings from the RSPCA’s annual report, which reveals how the number of calls to its 24-hour emergency cruelty hotline rose by 13 per cent to a staggering 1,175,193 last year.
Although only 15,000 alerts related to “exotics”, the charity has revealed some of the dire situations animals, often originating from tropical climes, found themselves suffering on the streets.
Among the reports investigated last year were:
● A royal python found dead in Wool Pitch, Cwmbran, with bruising around its mouth. Inspectors suspect it was beaten before being abandoned;
● Two stray raccoon dogs found within a mile of each other in a Cumbrian village were believed to be pets from the same home. The RSPCA says these animals do not make pets as it is not possible to meet their needs in a domestic environment;
● A sick 10ft boa found in a vivarium in the back seat of an abandoned car in Bristol. It was very weak and had serious respiratory problems. Sadly, it had to be put to sleep;
● A bearded dragon lizard found abandoned next to bins in a Nike shoe box in Sittingbourne, Kent. Owing to an old tail injury, he was named Stumpy and put up for rehoming.
● A dead marmoset monkey was found on a street in Edmonton, London, shortly before Christmas.
These individual cases are highlighted in the RSPCA’s 2018 report which reveals how it received 162,539 calls about dogs, 135,538 about cats, 30,216 about horses and 7,162 calls relating to rabbits.
While the charity puts the issue of exotics in context of the huge avalanche of 130,767 cruelty investigations it conducted last year regarding all types of pet, livestock and wildlife, it says the treatment of these unusual animals causes real concerns.
Stephanie Jayson, RSPCA’s senior scientific officer in exotics and qualified exotics vet, said: “Although their numbers are small compared to more common pets, we have real concerns about the welfare of reptiles and other exotic animals kept as pets in this country.
“Reptiles and other exotic pets are completely reliant on their owners to meet their welfare needs including requiring the correct levels of heat, light and humidity, plus an appropriate diet.
“Some species can grow very large, live for a long time or require a licence or paperwork to be legally kept or sold. Many of the animals we’re called to help are found stray outside, where they can very quickly suffer in the cold.”
Many of these unusual animals are found for sale in pets shops or advertised on line and, in the past, have been sold with little information on their care. New regulations in England will hopefully improve their lot.
Ms Jayson continued: “In some cases, we believe owners take them on simply because they believe they will be easier to care for than other pets, but it is essential that people research what is required in the care of their pet, including food, equipment, environment and vet care, before taking one on. We would also urge them to ask for help if they’re struggling to meet their needs.
“It is heartbreaking to see animals like this found injured or suffering as they are stray or abandoned outside in inappropriate temperatures.
“Some of the animals we see, like monkeys and raccoon dogs, have no place in the home and we would urge people not to take them on as pets. Others are still a long-term commitment and need specialist care and equipment so we urge anyone considering taking them on to fully research their needs using expert sources, only consider keeping one if they can ensure they are fully able to provide for these needs and consider rescuing rather than buying.”
For information about the exotic animals looking for a home at the RSPCA, visit www.rspca.org.uk/findapet