Charity urging popular pet store cease selling certain animals as pets

 

A charity is calling on a popular pet store to stop selling certain animals as pets.

The global charity World Animal Protection (WPA) is calling on PetSmart to end the sale of reptiles and amphibians as exotic pets, in an effort to curb the wildlife trade.

According to a release from the charity, the wildlife trade, a multi-billion dollar industry: "risks public health, biodiversity, ecosystems and is a significant source of animal suffering."

“PetSmart showed themselves to be a leader when they chose not to sell kittens and puppies out of concern for their welfare, but they have ignored the welfare needs of other animals like reptiles and amphibians,” Michele Hamers, the wildlife campaign manager for WPA, said in the release.

“PetSmart has an opportunity to once again show their customers that they care about all animals," she continued.

Additionally, according to WPA, many exotic pets, such as snakes, tortoises and frogs, are often kept in conditions that fail to meet their complex needs, which can lead to physical and psychological issues.

Further, according to a 2018 study, many of the 1.4 million wild animals purchased as pets in Canada are done so out of impulse.

Based on the findings, 30 per cent of Canadians spent a few hours or less researching an exotic animal prior to their first purchase, and 46 per cent rely on their local pet store to provide accurate information on the care and keeping of these animals.

“As a trusted brand, PetSmart has a duty to stop the sale of these animals and to educate their customers that wild animals don’t make good pets,” Hamers said.