we are denz

Pets can add tremendous value to our lives. For many of us they become a cherished companion, an extension of the family. They're part of our daily routine, offering unconditional love, boundless enthusiasm and unwavering loyalty. But for some they become a daily bind: an unwanted responsibility that is all too easy to neglect.

Buying pets on a whim has resulted in dogs being left inside all day or on their own, rabbits cramped in hutches, goldfish floating in bowls of filthy water. Every year the RSPCA rehomes around 70 000 animals. Every year thousands of animals have to be euthanased because they cannot be rehomed. These are pets which have been abandoned, neglected or abused.

Every year, millions of birds and reptiles are captured in the wild to be sold in pet shops, garden centres or via illegal markets, newspaper advertisements and on the internet. Puppies, rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters are mass-produced and trafficked, undergoing suffering, hardships and ill health to satisfy consumer demand.

As for exotic animals, they should not even be pets. They do not live long in captivity, no matter how diligently the owner tries to mimick their natural environment. It is impossible to recreate their normal habitat, regardless of the amount of fake scenery, temperature control and special diets. All of them suffer from the stress of being in an unnatural environment and many die from disease or injury within their first year. The species at large suffers too because their numbers dwindle as natural ecologies and habitats are destroyed. For every animal that makes it, countless others die in transit.

Added to this is the risk of disease. Contact with reptiles and other exotic animals has resulted in thousands of cases of salmonellosis being reported annually. Symptoms include diarrhoea, fever and abdominal cramps which can last up to 7 days. Pet birds such as cockatiels, parakeets, parrots and macaws can transfer potentially lethal psittacosis to humans, which can lead to severe headaches, high fevers and pneumonia.

So next time you consider getting a pet, give some careful thought to the type of pet you're getting and who you buy it from. Visit a sanctuary rather than a pet shop or breeder and make sure you are able to give the animal the care and attention it needs.

Also, check that you comply with the new Animal Health and Welfare Act 2006, which states that owners are legally obliged to care for their pets by providing:

• A proper diet, including fresh water
• Adequate room, fresh bedding and shelter
• The ability to express normal behaviour and interact with other animals
• Protection from and treatment of illness and injury

For more information on animal welfare and the pet trade, visit:

http:www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/CAMPAIGNS/pet_trade/ALL/629
http://www.peta.org.uk/cmp/ca.asp
http://www.rspca.org.uk