Our campaigns Current campaigns Don't Pet Me: wild animals are not pets Don't Pet Me: wild animals are not pets We have joined forces with Born Free and Scottish SPCA to call on the Scottish Government to put an end to the suffering of wild animals in homes. The Don't Pet Me campaign calls on the Government to introduce a permitted list of species that can legally be kept as pets. Listed animals would only be those who can have their needs met in domestic environments. Sign the petition Almost any species can be kept as a pet in Scotland. As a result, animals that belong in the wild are regularly kept in home environments. These animals often live in inadequate housing, such as small cages, cannot express natural behaviours, don't have their social needs met, and are fed poor diets. A permitted list would limit the species that are allowed to be kept privately, saving many wild animals from enduring a life in captivity. The suffering of wild animals as ‘exotic pets’ Wild animals kept as pets will likely suffer during each stage of the trade process: capture from the wild or breeding, transport, and finally, captivity in a household. Capture The cruel methods used to capture wild animals to be kept as ‘exotic pets’ disturb the social behaviour of animal populations and may result in injury or death to both target and non-target species. Many wild animals die during or after capture due to a condition called capture myopathy, a non-infectious disease caused by severe stress. This condition leads to muscle damage from extreme exertion, struggle, or stress. Wild-caught animals, once in captivity, often demonstrate signs of trauma such as self-harming, fear-based aggression and stereotypic behaviours. Captive breeding There is no specific regulation of breeding wild animals for the pet trade, which means that some animals are kept and bred in poor conditions due to inexperienced ‘hobby’ breeders, or commercial breeders who put profit above welfare. For example, many reptiles are kept in plastic tubs, including snakes kept in boxes so small that they cannot extend to the full length of their body. Unethical breeding practices are common, with breeders often focusing on specific genetic traits for appearance, known as 'morphs.' This can lead to health problems, such as neurological defects in reptiles and birds. For instance, ball pythons bred for 'spider' markings suffer from muscle weakness and uncontrollable spasms. Transport The trade in wild animals for pets is international, with animals regularly crossing borders. This seems to frequently be carried out with little or no attempt to safeguard welfare. Many animals, including fish, invertebrates, reptiles, and birds, are transported in unsuitable containers, often without bedding or ventilation, sometimes resulting in death upon arrival. Indeed, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has reported that fish suppliers in particular use Royal Mail and other couriers. Life in captivity Wild animals have diverse and specific needs that are often difficult or impossible to meet in a home setting. Many pet owners are also impulsive and irresponsible, acquiring animals without proper research or understanding of their needs. Insufficient or Inappropriate Environments and Husbandry Animals are often kept in inadequate conditions, such as small enclosures or plastic boxes, with insufficient UV light, heat gradients, ventilation, or aquatic filters. Some crucial requirements, like the need to burrow, fly, leap, or climb, are very hard to provide in home settings. Dietary Needs Not Met Our research showed that significant health and welfare concerns from the housing of animals were consistently highlighted on social media and in interviews with rescue and veterinary professionals. According to a 2022 survey by the British Veterinary Association (BVA), 85% of vets who treat ‘exotic pets’ believe that these animals often do not receive a suitable diet. This can lead to preventable health issues such as metabolic bone disease, self-mutilation, obesity, and malnutrition, which are commonly seen in veterinary practice. Bullying, attacks and death Social media is full of stories about cohabiting animals attacking or even killing each other, or one animal bullying the other, leading to weight loss and ill health. This is often due to small enclosures, insufficient resources for each animal, and the owner’s lack of knowledge. Conversely, many social animals are kept alone, causing chronic stress and behavioural problems. For example, African grey parrots, a highly social species, often develop feather plucking when isolated. Replicating their natural social environments in a home setting is nearly impossible. Lack of veterinary treatment There is a shortage of experienced vets willing and able to treat wild animals kept as ‘exotic pets’, meaning that many of these animals are denied proper veterinary care. Perhaps linked to the lack of veterinary access, is the extremely worrying issue of owners euthanising the wild animals in their homes. While social media posts on this were not common, they did surface regularly enough to constitute an issue. Methods mentioned include blunt force trauma, cervical dislocation and freezing. Forced handling Some animals are subjected to forced handling and provoked to behave in ways that indicate fear or discomfort, but humans find cute. Escapes, injuries and predation Unfortunately, our research revealed many instances of traditional pets (mainly cats) preying on other animals. Flimsy enclosure lids and easily opened doors may be a reason, along with human error. Escapes and accidents, such as animals being dropped or doors closing on limbs, are also common. Sleep disruption Many nocturnal species kept as pets experience regular sleep disruption. Our research showed that owners often interact with their nocturnal animals during the day. Some owners are even encouraged to do this to promote bonding, for example, the use of sleep sacks so animals such as African Pygmy Hedgehogs could be ‘helped’ to acclimatise to their owners’ scent by being close to them during human waking hours. Frequent rehoming Many wild animals kept as pets are frequently rehomed, causing stress and harm, especially to long-lived species. Parrots, already deprived in captivity, often suffer grief and other issues from changing hands multiple times. 'Don't Pet Me' report To guide our Don’t Pet Me campaign, we commissioned research into the motivations, behaviours and experiences of people who keep wild animals at home, conducted our own monitoring of online sales of ‘exotic pets’ and investigated 13 pet shops in Scotland. You can read about our findings in our report Don’t Pet Me: The Scale, Scope and Motivations for Keeping Wild Animals as Pets in Scotland. Read the report Scots support tighter rules Polling commissioned by Don’t Pet Me coalition member Born Free in 2022 revealed that 84% of Scots thought the next UK Government should tighten the rules on trade in and keeping of exotic pets. But it’s not just the public that are greatly concerned for the welfare of wild animals being kept in homes. A British Veterinary Association (BVA) survey showed that 81% of vets thought that welfare needs of exotic pets are not being met, while 92% of vets say the need for a ‘suitable environment’ for exotic pets is often not being met. Sign the petition It is time to put an end to the suffering of wild animals. These wild creatures deserve to thrive in their natural habitats - not confined in people’s homes. Manage Cookie Preferences