Some even decapitated quail using kitchen scissors
Wild and exotic animals kept as pets in Scotland are sometimes being euthanised by their owners rather than a veterinary professional.
Shocking new research from OneKind, supported by Born Free and the Scottish SPCA, shows that people are killing hamsters, gerbils, crested geckos and snakes.
They also found that quail are being killed by owners, sometimes by being decapitated with kitchen scissors.
OneKind commissioned Professor Samantha Hurn of the University of Exeter to research into the motivations and behaviours of individuals who keep wild animals as pets and associated welfare issues including monitoring social media posts by “exotic pet” owners.
While social media posts on home euthanasia were not common, they did surface regularly enough to indicate that this is an issue.
Methods mentioned included blunt force trauma, cervical dislocation (severing the connection between the brain and spinal cord, freezing, and putting a substance, such as clove oil, in the water to kill fish, axolotls and other aquatic species.
A lack of qualified vets to treat wild animals kept as ‘exotic pets’ may lead owners to euthanise animals themselves, with online misinformation between exotic pet owners further compounding the issue.
OneKind’s CEO, Jason Rose, said: “We were horrified to learn that some owners are actually euthanising the animals in their care themselves. Euthanasia should only be carried out by trained professionals to ensure it is done in a legal, humane and respectful manner that minimises suffering to the animal in their final moments.
“Unfortunately, this wasn’t all we uncovered. We discovered a wealth of welfare concerns, including animals regularly refusing to eat, animals self-mutilating or attacking others kept in the same enclosure, stress-induced repetitive behaviours, and nocturnal animals being routinely woken during the day for handling.”
Every single veterinary professional and rescue worker interviewed in the study strongly opposed keeping some animals as pets because they can’t have their needs met or engage in natural behaviour. Examples given included primates, parrots, larger fish, foxes, and African pygmy hedgehogs.
OneKind, Born Free and Scottish SPCA, which form the Don’t Pet Me coalition, are calling on the Scottish Government to introduce a permitted list that includes only species that are suitable to keep as pets because their needs can be met in a typical home environment, and measures that would help ensure a list is effective, such as public education efforts and higher minimum care standards.
Their petition to the Scottish Government has secured more than 11,000 signatures.
Rose continued: “The research is clear – it is time to put an end to the suffering of wild animals kept as “exotic pets”. These wild creatures deserve to thrive in their natural habitats and not be confined to people’s homes.”
Veterinarian Dr Mark Jones, who is head of policy at Born Free, added: “As a veterinarian, I am extremely concerned that exotic pet owners are attempting to ‘euthanise’ their own animals.
“Humane euthanasia is a serious medical procedure that should never be taken lightly, and should only be considered when it is in the interests of the welfare of the animal concerned.
“It should only carried out by those with professional training, proper equipment and an understanding of the animal’s physiology to ensure it is pain free and dignified. The methods used by unqualified individuals will inevitably result in prolonged suffering rather than relief, and may well be carried out for the wrong reasons.
“Exotic animals have complex needs which can rarely if ever be fully met in a domestic environment, and people should think twice before attempting to procure one. Anyone who feels unable to care for their pet should seek advice from a qualified veterinarian or a reputable rescue organisation rather than taking matters into their own hands.”
