Some of you may have read or heard about the new animal protection legislation that came into force this week.
A lot makes reasonable sense, i.e. you have to be over 16 to purchase any pet, no more goldfish in plastic bags from fun-fares, giving the powers of entry to the RSPCA etc. and I don't think any of us would object one iota to a law that limits cruelty.
However this act also covers invertebrates including British Wildlife, our 8 legged friends and perhaps even crickets & mealworms. Extrapolating this law to its fullest extent, as I read it, would mean the following.
1. Anyone using Slug Pellets could be prosecuted for cruelty
2. The sale of 100's of crickets in plastic tubs could be deemed as overcrowding and therefore ilegal.
3. The FEEDING of live invertebrates to a predatory species could, by definition be said to cause undue suffering and would become banned.
If this were a joke it would be moderately funny, however this act is law of the land now, and these concerns were told to me by a Livestock wholesaler who has read the act and saw the full potential implications for us all.
We can hope for just 2 things, firstly that common sense prevails and that the thought of prosecution for feeding a cricket to ones tarantula does not cross the mind of even the most fanatical RSPCA officer. Secondly that it becomes too costly to send teams of armed police into peoples house looking for ant powder on the basis that it constitutes a weapon of mass destruction.
In the meantime, friends I'm off to try and get my C. thorelli to eat a nut cutlet (maybe if drew eyes on it?....................)
M.
A lot makes reasonable sense, i.e. you have to be over 16 to purchase any pet, no more goldfish in plastic bags from fun-fares, giving the powers of entry to the RSPCA etc. and I don't think any of us would object one iota to a law that limits cruelty.
However this act also covers invertebrates including British Wildlife, our 8 legged friends and perhaps even crickets & mealworms. Extrapolating this law to its fullest extent, as I read it, would mean the following.
1. Anyone using Slug Pellets could be prosecuted for cruelty
2. The sale of 100's of crickets in plastic tubs could be deemed as overcrowding and therefore ilegal.
3. The FEEDING of live invertebrates to a predatory species could, by definition be said to cause undue suffering and would become banned.
If this were a joke it would be moderately funny, however this act is law of the land now, and these concerns were told to me by a Livestock wholesaler who has read the act and saw the full potential implications for us all.
We can hope for just 2 things, firstly that common sense prevails and that the thought of prosecution for feeding a cricket to ones tarantula does not cross the mind of even the most fanatical RSPCA officer. Secondly that it becomes too costly to send teams of armed police into peoples house looking for ant powder on the basis that it constitutes a weapon of mass destruction.
In the meantime, friends I'm off to try and get my C. thorelli to eat a nut cutlet (maybe if drew eyes on it?....................)
M.
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