RSPCA warn against buying exotic pets

The RSPCA is calling on people to do their research before buying exotic pets as new figures show staff rescued 63 exotic pets in Merseyside last year, including a python dumped at the side of the road.

The UK’s largest and oldest animal welfare charity, which received 360 calls about exotic pets in Merseyside last year, believes the reason behind some of the animals’ suffering is that owners do not do their research and don’t understand the type and amount of care that they need, resulting in them being neglected, dumped or escaping.

RSPCA inspector Alison Fletcher says that in one instance they were called to a snake curled up in a corner of a box, cold and with no food or water, on the side of a road.