Exotic pet market cancelled
An exotic pet market due to take place this weekend in West Sussex has been cancelled, after an animal welfare group proved that trading of animals at the event would be unlawful.
The reptile and amphibian market was set to take place on Sunday, October 27 at Fontwell Park Racecourse, having been billed as a "private breeders meeting".
However, the Animal Protection Agency (APA) says it provided evidence to Arun District Council that the meeting constituted an animal market, and any trading of animals would therefore be illegal.
Acting on the evidence provided by the APA, and the council's advice on legislation relating to the event, Fontwell Park Racecourse has reportedly advised the council that the decision has been made to cancel the event.
Whilst this has been welcomed by the APA, the charity is concerned that event organisers will now attempt to find a last-minute venue for the event.
In the past, the charity says the organisers of several similar events have found alternative venues and posted the details online after 5pm on a Friday in order to avoid council inspection and enforcement.
The APA says it has warned venue managers against hosting the event and appealed for information from any who have been approached by the organisers.
The charity's director, Elaine Toland, says: "A recent scientific study showed that the conditions and treatment of the vast majority of amphibians and reptiles at markets was, in the view of the authors, ‘tantamount to animal abuse’.
"Action taken by Arun District Council and Fontwell Park Racecourse means that thousands of animals have been potentially spared this ordeal, which is great news! We just hope now that the organisers don’t attempt to stage their event elsewhere."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
