Policing welfare at reptile shows - findings from the last three events

Exotic vets have an important role to play in the policing of animal health and welfare at reptile breeder meetings. The largest breeder meeting in the UK is organised by the International Herpetological Society and take place three times a year in Doncaster. Exotic vets Tariq Abou-Zahr and colleague Tom Bellamy attend them to ensure that good animal welfare is being practised. The main welfare issues they identified at the last three meetings include: containers which are too small and do not allow animals to turn around comfortably (pictured), lack of suitable substrate to absorb excrement and some shyer animals exhibiting distress due to lack of security. ‘Exotic pets need exotic vets’ said Abou-Zahr. ‘I think it’s one of the failings of the veterinary profession really that most members of the public assume that all vets will have a basic knowledge about how to treat a bearded dragon. ‘Within...
Source: Veterinary Record - Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research