Who Is World Animal Protection?

For over 55 years, World Animal Protection has established a remarkable reputation for influencing positive change towards the betterment of animal protection and welfare globally. With activity in over 50 countries around the world, World Animal Protection has consultative status at the Council of Europe, and collaborates with the United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Organization for Animal Health; all influencers with the capacity to affect change on a large scale.

Last year alone, this global charity enriched the lives of more than 220-million animals through their campaigns focusing on animals in the wild, animals affected by disasters, animals on farms, and animals in communities.

Through impactful initiatives and a dedicated network of passionate experts, World Animal Protection fights to end animal abuse globally. This non-profit organization plays a monumental role in not only improving the quality of life of Earth’s animals, but also in educating its citizens by empowering everyday people to make choices that are respectful of humane practices.

Originally named the World Society for the Protection of Animals in 1950, World Animal Protection have since evolved to where they are today as a justifiable worldwide animal welfare influencer.

To highlight some of their accomplishments over the years, World Animal Protection has been directly responsible for changes in policy by TripAdvisor and more than 200 other travel organizations to ban the advertisement of inhumane elephant ride attractions. They’ve put an end to bear dancing in India, Turkey, Greece, and Nepal. They have even facilitated the distribution of over 1.6 million rabies vaccines for canines across Asia and Africa, among numerous other impactful animal protection initiatives.

More recently, this past May, World Animal Protection urged G20 leaders at the Global Health Summit to implement strong measures regarding the global commercial wildlife trade and its role in past, current, and future pandemics.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Fighting Against Big Box Store Sales of Reptiles

Now, World Animal Protection is taking on the cruel and inhumane practices of “Big Box” pet retail stores who import mass quantities of reptiles and amphibians, usually taken from the wild, who do not receive adequate care or medical treatment. These animals are sold on a mass-market scale, and a substantial number of them will die an early and tragic death.

Considering these animals are sold on a wide scale at competitive prices, there’s little margin for things like medical treatment. In fact, animal deaths are so ubiquitous, they are expected with each shipment crossing our borders into Canada .

There are no blanket regulations in Canada to include mandatory reporting, so no one really knows how many animals come into the country, are sold, or what the mortality is. Some provinces do have licensing requirements for pet stores, but there is no consistency across the board.

According to the Government of Canada’s website regarding importing pets:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) does not regulate the import of amphibians and reptiles (excluding turtles and tortoises) as per the Health of Animals Regulations. As the importer, it is your responsibility to determine whether the amphibian or reptile for importation is subject to the controls imposed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and/or other restrictions under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulations of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA), which are administered by the Canadian Wildlife Service.

For those animals who do survive the shock of being removed from their natural habitat, exported in large shipping containers, and then rehomed into pet store terrariums, they still have a long way to go towards surviving. Wild animals are not well suited for captivity. Removing wild animals from their natural habitats is often unregulated, and can have a serious impact on biodiversity. There is no transparency in the supply chain, so oftentimes consumers don’t even know where their new pet came from.

Unfortunately, many retail staff are not adequately trained to care for these animals who have very unique needs. A Stratcom 2018 survey, commissioned by World Animal Protection, shows that up to 43% of new reptile owners bought their new pet on impulse, 47% of new owners have done little to no research on the needs of their animal.

When it comes to these exotic animals, they pose a sobering risk to public health. Currently, there are approximately 46 known zoonotic diseases that are transmissible from reptiles and amphibians. Outbreaks of zoonotic diseases have been occurring for decades in Canada, happening as recently as 2019 and 2020.

To provide an example, salmonella can be carried by many exotic animals. While those animals do not show any symptoms of illness while being a carrier, they can quickly spread this pathogen to humans, leading to sickness and possibly death. Public Health Agency of Canada warns against keeping exotic reptiles in homes with children, elderly, or those who are immune compromised, yet big box stores ignore this warning and sell to every interested buyer without question.

Not all reptiles and amphibians sold in pet retail stores are taken from the wild; currently, according to World Animal Protection, there are over 400 breeders of exotic animals in Canada. This is an entirely unregulated industry, and it isn’t uncommon for reptiles, amphibians, and other small pets to be bred en masse in plastic kiddie pools and large plastic tubs inside warehouses and basements.

Regulating the industry could potentially save millions of exotic pet lives annually. Animals cannot speak on their behalf, so we must be their voice of reason. You have the power to make real change happen, and help save the lives of animals desperately in need. Speak up and let your voice be heard!

If you agree, sign the petition.

About Brandon Forder

Brandon holds multiple certifications in pet nutrition and canine psychology. He has more than twenty-five years experience specializing in pet nutrition, behaviour, and healthy pet lifestyles. Brandon has a lifelong passion for helping people become great pet parents. He has written hundreds of informative pet-related articles for newspapers, magazines, web, and radio.

4 Responses

  1. I hope more people read this article. Kudos to Canadian Pet Connection for making efforts to raise awareness about animal cruelty, and to highlight organizations like World Animal Protection for everything they do.

    We can change this world for the better if we work together!

  2. I have always been vehemently against any animals being peddled in pets stores, no questions asked, to anyone with money to spend.

    I feel a license should be required to keep exotic pets like reptiles. They are not toys or status symbols to be purchased on a whim and thrown out when the novelty wears odd, but living creatures that have very strict requirements that the average pet owner cannot or will not supply.

  3. Absolutely agree that more and stricter regulations need to be in place and enforced. Animals are not commodities to be bought and sold and way too often, heartbreakingly mistreated and abused. COMPASSION, RESPECT and LOVE for all creatures is their basic animal right. If the animals are here already and if you are worthy then Adopt…Don’t Shop

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