Exotic Keepers? Say Yes

[TSKA Rory Matier]

Hi All,

An updater be it later than l originally planned.

Petition to: Support private exotic captive care keepers. | Number10.gov.uk

Submitted by Rory Matier of The Specialist Keepers' Association – Deadline to sign up by: 28 February 2009 – Signatures: 1,033

Captive care keepers in the United Kingdom believe that they have the right to maintain exotic animal species within their collections. Many oppose the keeping of animals, many more oppose the keeping of exotic species, be these, mammal, primate, avian, reptile, aquatic or invertebrate.

With increased legislation under the new animal welfare act such as codes of practice, enforcement, education, regulation, communication and awareness there should be no genuine reasons for the government to encourage the opposition to continue their campaigns to cease this.

Responsible ownership and husbandry, promotion of both keepers and animals rights also feature very heavily upon the minds of those that do keep animals privately. All keepers therefore call for support from the government rather than condemnation.


Response:

The Government believes it is right for people to own and keep animals provided they can meet the animals’ welfare needs. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the “2006 Act”) it is an offence for an owner or keeper of a vertebrate animal to cause it unnecessary suffering or neglect its welfare needs. The 2006 Act introduced a “welfare offence” which means that owners and keepers must provide for the welfare needs of their animals (commonly known as the five freedoms: suitable environment, suitable diet, ability to exhibit normal behaviour patterns, house with or apart from other animals, and protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease). Those that break this law can be fined up to £20,000 or sent to prison. Powers are provided to enforcers to investigate complaints of poor welfare.

Vigorous law is therefore in place to protect captive animals and any new secondary legislation under the 2006 Act to ban or restrict the keeping of certain animals could only be justified if there is robust, peer reviewed and scientifically proven evidence that their welfare is being compromised and the protection provided by the 2006 Act is inadequate. We are not aware of any such evidence with regard to the keeping of primates.

Thanks again to those who supported this petition

Cheers for now

Rory

[Fixx]

Already posted here Rory

[TSKA Rory Matier]

Thanks Ray

R

[LiamRatSnake]

They didn't even use the word reptiles . There is no evidence regarding primates, what about reptiles?

[TSKA Rory Matier]

To be brutally honest, it is a bland reply, almost very similiar to an out of office reply.

I expected no more and no less to this petition.

Administrations surrounding legislation are on the constant move at present, and whilst in some areas we have a fair response, others open up questions.

Primates are a controversial issue at present, and whilst we know that the government is not looking to ban private keeping we also know that the code of practice long overdue is awaiting release, hopefully this year sometime.

I particiapated in the construction of this code, and l believe it will be very effective if processed.

R