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RSPCA received more than 180 calls about exotic animals in Cambridgeshire last year




Animal charity the RSPCA received more than 180 calls last year with concerns about some of Cambridgeshire's more unusual pets, new figures have revealed.

Berry the budgie was found on a bus. (9131513)
Berry the budgie was found on a bus. (9131513)

The UK’s largest and oldest animal welfare charity has released its annual statistics today (Thursday 25 April), which reveal the plight of the more unusual animals.

Members of the public in the county contacted the charity about an exotic animal 182 times in 2018. Nationally in England and Wales, the charity received around 15,790 calls about exotic animals, more than 40 a day, or more than one every hour.

The RSPCA believes the reason behind some of the suffering of these exotics pets is that owners do not research their needs using expert sources and don’t understand the type and amount of care that they need, resulting in them escaping, being abandoned or neglected. Scientifically-based expert care information for exotic animals can be hard to find and an inexperienced owner may not be able to tell the difference between quality and inaccurate care information.

Last September, an RSPCA inspector was called after a little budgie was left on a box in Cambridge.

Eric with baby Berry (right). (9131510)
Eric with baby Berry (right). (9131510)

The charity was alerted by a controller at Stagecoach East after the budgie was discovered by a bus driver on the Cambridge public bus.

Inspector Alex Coghlan went to collect the colourful bird from the controller’s office.

The budgie was in a cardboard box and had been left on the bus and although the box had air holes in the side and the bird had water, it was clearly an extremely irresponsible thing to do.

Thankfully, the Stagecoach East staff found him and contacted the RSPCA.

The bird - who was nicknamed Berry by RSPCA staff - was not wearing an ID ring so Inspector Coghlan posted his image on PetsLocated but no one has come forward to claim him.

He was looked after by staff at RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre, at Wimblington.

Mary Parsons, who adopted little Berry, said: “Berry is doing very well and has settled into his new home. He shares an aviary with another budgie called Eric who was also adopted from RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre. Berry seems very happy in his new home and loves interacting with his new friends.”

Chief Inspector Jayne Bashford said: “Although their numbers are small compared to more common pets, we have real concerns about the welfare of reptiles and other exotic animals kept as pets in this country.

“Reptiles and other exotic pets are completely reliant on their owners to meet their welfare needs including requiring the correct levels of heat, light and humidity, plus an appropriate diet. Some species can grow very large, live for a long time or require a licence or paperwork to be legally kept or sold. Many of the animals we’re called to help are found stray outside, where they can very quickly suffer in the cold.

“These animals are commonly found for sale in pet shops and are advertised online. In the past, animals have often been handed over to buyers with little or no information about how to care for them properly, although new regulations in England should improve this. In some cases, we believe owners take them on simply because they believe they will be easier to care for than other pets, but it is essential that people research what is required in the care of their pet, including food, equipment, environment and vet care, before taking one on. We would also urge them to ask for help if they’re struggling to meet their needs.

“We believe that people may buy them with little idea of how difficult they can be to keep and the animals are sometimes neglected when the novelty wears off and the commitment hits home. This is why we would encourage anyone thinking of getting an exotic pet to find out as much as possible about the animal’s needs and whether they’re the right pet for them.”

The RSPCA, which has a team of specially trained exotics officers, rescued over 4,000 exotic animals in 2018, including more than 500 snakes, more than 300 turtles, 145 bearded dragons, five raccoon dogs and even four marmosets and one wallaby. In Cambridgeshire, officers rescued 38 exotic pets in 2018.

Last year, there were 8,808 calls to the RSPCA’s hotline reporting cruelty, neglect, injury and suffering of all animals Cambridgeshire, including 2,026 about cats, 2,390 about dogs and 672 about horses.

The RSPCA’s annual stats also reveal:

Across England and Wales in 2018, the number of calls the RSPCA received to its 24-hour cruelty hotline about all animals increased by 13 per cent from 2017 to 1,175,193 calls.

For information about the exotic animals looking for a home at the RSPCA, visit www.rspca.org.uk/findapet and to learn more about how to care for these animals, see our care sheets for some of the more commonly kept exotic pets.



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