Improving and Supporting the Reptile Hobby

[Carlie]

It's all very well having a rant about our current laws concerning reptiles, animal welfare organisations, pet shop conditions, breeders standards, etc. etc., but what can we realistically do about it that will make a real difference?

There seems to be a charitable organisation for just about every other group of animals here - RSPCA tends to deal with dogs, cats and fluffies, the ILPH specialises in equines, the RSPB specialises in birds, there are wildlife charities, etc. But there is nobody to represent and protect reptiles that are recognised and trusted enough to take over where the RSPCA fall short. Somebody who will visit these awful pet shops and have the authority to kick them in to touch. Specialists who actually know a thing or two about the species they are dealing with. A central resource that people will turn to for advice (RFUK is great, but not everybody reads forums or has the internet ).

We need somebody who will speak out on behalf of our more exotic pets, better monitor the pet trade, imports, breeders, as well as taking care of rescues and rehoming. More importantly, we need an organisation who is respected enough to be able to advise the authorities and influence laws and regulations.

There are a lot of very young reptile keepers here, a generation that might be able to get in to positions of responsibility in the future and make the required changes to our laws and local government. Nothing is set in stone. I also imagine that there are a lot of exotic keepers who are in very influential positions who may be able to help.

So how about it? What could we do in the future that would make a difference? Has anybody got any ideas to inspire or issues you think needs to be addressed?

Aside from making a super RSPR (royal society for the protection of reptiles ), are there any other approaches we can take? For instance, how can we affectively influence local councils to make better decisions about who they hand out pet shop licences to and how they regulate them from then on?

Looking forward to hearing opinions on this.

[Carlie]

And just as an after thought, I didn't mean to undermine the work of organisations such as the Tortoise Trust and similar, and even the good work that some of our smaller rescue centres.

But how wonderful would it be if the Tortoise Trust or similar had some authority in their specialised area?

I'm the first to admit that I actually know very little about the organisations and charities out there, but perhaps that's an issue in itself - few people outside of the hobby actually know who to turn to when in need of help and advice regarding these specialised areas and that includes the authorities.

I'd be interested to hear from such organisations and gain their perspective on the matter, as of course they will have first hand on the difficulties experienced with legislation, laws, authorities, etc.

[Gaboon]

I agree loads NEEDS to be done but I suspect people in the hobby are mostly happy with the way things are. I really think a register of all breeders breeding herp species/morph/type should be in place.

[Zak]

I think it all comes down to time and money.

The RSPCA deal with conventional pets and have done for the past 200 years and is also one of the largest charities in the UK. With the growing trend in keeping exotics as pets it is obvious to us the keepers that, either the RSPCA need to get on board rather than turning a blind eye, or that another organisation is set up. Attempting to create an organisation than oversaw the entire reptile keeping industry/hobby across the UK, from scratch would be a mammoth task. Unless someone with a real passion for this and the time and money to dedicate too it i dont think it'll happen.

I think the RSPCA need fresh blood, and as the OP suggested the young audience of this forum are key candidates for this. If people become part of the RSPCA and work their way up through the ranks till they wield some power then that is when we may see a change.

Gaboon - I aqree that most people would say their happy, but thats because by nature we're a lazy and complacent species. We dont want extra paperwork/licenses/work to allow us too keep reptiles/exotics even though i do think its needed. We may have domesticated animals but its a symbiosis rather than an ownership.
The register you propose is good but some people breed by accident or change their mind halfway through the season etc, the reptile community is so flippant at times that the register would no doubt be a total mess.

[vikki3683]

UM - I Kmow this might be a bit off track - i do agree with what is being said - 100% agree.
What im saying is - in september i start a degree in animal science and management - which will be specifically in reptiles. with that qualification I want to and will do all that i can to improve and support the reptile/exotic hobby.
sorry i hijacked your thread Carlie

[Spikebrit]

very intersting, and i agree whole heartly. However, setting up any organisation from scratch like that will be an extremely expensive task.

I'll have more to say later, i just wanted it awknowledge that i had read the thread.

[Sid.lola]

We could form the NSPCE

New Society for the Protection of Captive Exotics

[Athravan]

It all comes down to money at the end of the day. The RSPCA have power because they have money. Smaller charities with no money have little to no authority or power. It's politics and politics is money.

I just can't see people in the hobby having the political clout, or the cash, to start up an organisation that could make a difference.

It's a great idea, but for me - the magnitutude of the task makes it almost impossible to even conceive where or how to begin. If anyone did step up to the task I'd be willing to support them of course, but like most other people in the hobby - that support wouldn't be financial, there's not that much money in this hobby.

In the meantime I will carry on trying to make my local difference in small ways, encourage education and promote positive images of a reptile shop, as that's the best I can currently do.

[Carlie]

Thanks for reading and for your replies everybody.

I do appreciate that it would be an almost impossible task to set up an organisation from scratch. Could there be a possibility of a specialist unit within the RSPCA in the future? Or perhaps there is already a smaller organisation out there that might grow if supported?

No problem, Vikki - I'm pleased to hear that there are people studying this subject and that perhaps in the future there will be lots more professionals that are able to influence the hobby.

Once again, I'm sure this subject is far from new and I hope this doesn't sound like I'm undermining the hard work and effort that the current set of experts put in to changing the hobby for the better. I'd like to hear from these people, if there are any present.

Keep the replies coming, everybody! Really interested to hear what people have to say on the matter.

[Carlie]

Originally Posted by Athravan

It all comes down to money at the end of the day. The RSPCA have power because they have money. Smaller charities with no money have little to no authority or power. It's politics and politics is money.

I just can't see people in the hobby having the political clout, or the cash, to start up an organisation that could make a difference.

It's a great idea, but for me - the magnitutude of the task makes it almost impossible to even conceive where or how to begin. If anyone did step up to the task I'd be willing to support them of course, but like most other people in the hobby - that support wouldn't be financial, there's not that much money in this hobby.

In the meantime I will carry on trying to make my local difference in small ways, encourage education and promote positive images of a reptile shop, as that's the best I can currently do.

Thanks for your reply, Athravan.

This is what I kinda figured, which is why I mentioned the difference younger people could make. If the road to improvement is a political one, perhaps this is something some of our younger reptile keepers could get involved in?

I've always found that there are an amazing collection of people on forums like this. People with very interesting day jobs...

I bet there are a lot of Civil Servants here.