The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) has written to a group of MSPs to question their support for a document recently launched in the Scottish Parliament opposing exotic pets.
The SSPCA, One Kind and Born Free Foundation collaborated on the Don’t Pet Me report, which tries to link the idea that all exotic pets are ‘wild animals’ and do not belong in people’s homes.
In its letter to the 10 MSPs who attended the Scottish Parliamentary launch event, OATA called on them to reject the report’s call for a positive/permitted list of pets, which would inevitably exclude many animals currently kept responsibly.
OATA chief executive Dominic Whitmee said: “Educating people to pick the right pet for their lifestyle and care for it properly is the key to happy and healthy pets, not banning them. Not all pets are for everyone and having a wide range of animals we can keep as pets makes it less likely people will have to give them up.
“This report, and its accompanying ‘fact sheet’, are yet another example of anti-animal trade organisations making hyperbolic statements that do not stand up to scrutiny.
“Linking the idea of exotic pets as being ‘wild’ animals is deliberately misleading, aimed at promulgating fear. Pets fish like goldfish and guppies, reptiles like tortoises, birds like budgies, or small mammals like chinchillas are not wild animals.”
One Kind ran a mystery shopper exercise to Scottish pet shops, where it found staff answered questions thoroughly and gave good advice, a fact acknowledged in the report.
It stated: “There were examples of safeguards, such as shops requiring that people buy a ‘set-up’ (all the equipment needed to house and care for the species) directly from them or show proof that they had one, before being allowed to purchase an animal. This demonstrates the potential advantages of in-person rather than online purchases.”
Whitmee urged Scottish retailers and pet keepers to add their voice. He added: “If you are a constituent of any of these MSPs we would also urge you to contact them. Perhaps invite them to your business to show the passion there is for this hobby. A list of the MSPs who attended the event can be found on OATA’s website, along with contact details.”
