Practical Reptile Keeping Magazine No.62 Design and build the ideal outdoor tortoise enclosure Back Issue

It is now only a few weeks until the elections for the European Parliament, with the UK
voting on 22nd May. In all honesty, I would guess that this probably isn’t a date encircled in your diary,
unless you’re something of political diehard. Barely one in three of us who are entitled to vote make it to
the polls to elect our Euro MPs, which is considerably below the European average.
“So what?” you may say. “It doesn’t make any diff erence to me, and I’ve got other, more signifi cant
things in my life, like reptile keeping.” Unfortunately though, that may not be the case, if the Eurogroup
for Animals has its way. This powerful Brussels-based organisation is currently seeking to persuade
prospective Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to sign up to a series of pledges.
Keith Davenport, of the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) and Chris Newman of REPTA are
warning that keeping reptiles, amphibians and fi sh, plus all other types of pets (apart from cats and dogs)
could be under threat if Eurogroup is successful in its #votes4animals lobbying campaign in the run-up to
the European elections.
OATA – which is lobbying MEPs to make sure they hear the other side of the argument – is calling on
people power to help to stand up for pet keeping. They are urging everyone with pets that fall within
Eurogroup’s defi nition to support OATA’s #handsoff myhobby campaign.
“We think it’s time that the more representative views of the millions of people who enjoy keeping
reptiles, fi sh, amphibians, birds and other pets right across Europe should also be brought to the attention
of prospective MEPs,” explains Keith.
Please, get involved and help to build the case. We’ve listed what you can do here.