- In September, the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), which represents local governments across B.C., held its annual convention.
- A resolution brought forward called on the B.C. government to regulate mobile live animal programs – such as mobile petting zoos and exotic pet expos – and strengthen rules for keeping exotic (non-native, non-domesticated) species.
- More than 1,000 B.C. residents wrote to their local governments, urging them to support resolution NR75 — Mobile Live Animal Programs.
- UBCM members ran out of time to vote on resolution NR75 during the convention.
- The resolution will now be considered by the UBCM Executive at their quarterly meeting on November 12-14.
TAKE ACTION: Add your name to the VHS’s campaign urging the UBCM President & Executive to support protections for animals used in mobile live animal programs and to call for stronger provincial safeguards for exotic animals kept, sold, bred, or traded as pets.
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Exotic animals are wild animals from other countries often imported to Canada through the exotic pet trade. These animals are not domesticated, even if bred in captivity, and their welfare can suffer when sold, bred, transported, or displayed. The exotic pet trade also poses risks to the environment and public health and safety.
Animal welfare issues
Mobile live animal programs (MLAPs) can take many forms, including travelling petting zoos, presentations, and expos where animals can be purchased. They involve the transport of animals to a location for display, public entertainment, or sale to the public, and feature a variety of different animals.
MLAPs often include exotic animals—wild animals from other countries imported to Canada—such as spiders, snakes, lizards, and tortoises.
Animals involved in MLAPs face many animal welfare risks, including:
- Travel to and from events
- The public handling of animals
- Unregulated housing and breeding practices outside of events where they may face restricted movement due to lack of space
- Limited behavioural opportunities
- Abnormal social groupings, such as highly social animals being housed alone
- Exposure to unnatural environmental conditions (lighting, temperature, substrate, sounds, odours)
Environmental risks
The accidental or intentional release of exotic pets (e.g. when pets are no longer wanted but a new home cannot be found for them) can introduce invasive species to our ecosystems. Some invasive species who have impacted our local ecosystems include the red-eared slider turtle, goldfish, and American bullfrog.
Invasive species can threaten native wildlife, compromise habitats, and spread new diseases.
Public health & safety concerns
While the risk of disease transmission is always present when interacting with exotic animals, MLAPs increase risk due to:
- The number of animals and variety of species
- High amount of close human contact
- Difficulties in following hygiene protocols (if present)
These risks are particularly prevalent at events marketed to children.
The transportation and frequent handling of animals at these events presents a significant risk factor for stress, and stressed animals may also be more likely to bite or scratch, compounding risks of disease transmission and physical harm.
Community impacts
Escaped or released animals and the surrender of unwanted exotic pets stress already overwhelmed shelters, rescues, and veterinary services, which may not have the resources and expertise to accommodate such a wide range of exotic species.
There have been many documented instances of escaped or released exotic pets in B.C. in recent years.
Outdated regulations leave exotic animals at risk
Currently, there are no provincial regulations in place that are specific to MLAPs and there is a lack of consistent and enforceable standards for keeping, breeding, displaying, and selling exotic pets.
B.C.’s Controlled Alien Species Regulation (CASR), introduced in 2009, has banned ownership of more than 1,000 dangerous species like tigers and venomous snakes that pose a threat to people, property, and wildlife.
However, the CASR does not address animal welfare or disease risks, making many exotic species that suffer in captivity or can spread zoonotic diseases still legal to own and trade.
UBCM resolution NR75 – Mobile Live Animal Programs calls on the B.C. government to:
- Regulate mobile live animal programs to address animal welfare concerns and public health and safety risks;
- Update the Controlled Alien Species Regulation to equally prioritize animal welfare considerations alongside public safety, and prohibit the import, keeping, breeding and transport of all exotic species.
TAKE ACTION: Sign the letter to show your support for this resolution!