Numbers of abandoned exotic pets increasing
Many caring pet owner pay a great deal of money towards the upkeep of a beloved family pet and would regard it as money well spent. However it would appear that increasing numbers of pet owners are not as compassionate as others when it comes to their animal companions.
The cost of looking after a pet can swell surprisingly in a number of ways. The most apparent costs include food, veterinary bills and standard care. In addition to this you can slot in luxuries such as playthings and treats.
Disappointingly, when things become financially challenging, some pet owners take for granted that their pet should be the first expense that they curtail. Suddenly, a pet’s basic needs can seem too costly. It’s distressing to think that in these circumstances people will abandon their pets but regrettably this can and does transpire all too often and is conceivably more frequent than you might think.
Recently the North Wales Reptile and Raptor Sanctuary in Denbighshire revealed that they have experienced a sharp rise of late in the numbers of abandoned snakes and other exotic pets.
The reptile sanctuary recently received into their care two separate African serrated-hinged turtles which had been abandoned locally.
Janice Dickinson the operational manager of the sanctuary said:-
“When times get hard, pets are often the first things to go. We’ve noticed a real increase in the number of reptiles we’ve had to take on and are very concerned that this is a symptom of the credit crisis.
As a sanctuary we are not immune to the effects of the current economic down turn. We rely very heavily on electricity and there has also been a marked increase in the price of the animal feeds.”