The Animal Protection Agency (APA) is the UK organisation committed to ceasing the trade in wildlife for pets. Perhaps unbelievably, it is still legal in Britain to sell wild animals captured from other countries. The majority of wild-trapped animals die from the stress and disease that is associated with every stage of their harrowing journey. Next to habitat destruction, collection of animals for the pet trade is the main reason for the decline in many species. Attempts to regulate and control the trade have globally failed. The problem is getting worse, and time is running out! This site contains information on who we are, our current campaigns and how you can help us.
Jun 2009 Diseases to both humans and wild animals could flood into Norway on a tide of imported exotic animals if the Norwegian government lifts a long-term ban on the keeping of reptiles and amphibians as pets. APA has teamed up with groups lobbying for better animal protection on both sides of the North Sea to plead with the Norwegian government not to re-open trade and suffer deadly outcomes - as already seen in Britain... Read more.
Mar 2009 A fabulous fundraising event attended by celebrities took place on Friday 27th March 2009 at The Old Market Theatre, Hove to raise funds for the Animal Protection Agency and International Animal Rescue. The event, which was generously sponsored by Sussex-based catering company, VegOut raised a fantastic £13,405 for the two organisations. Read more.
Feb 2009 Caroline Lucas is a politician with passion. Championing environmentalism, human rights and animal welfare, the Green Party Leader and MEP is now making a bid for Westminster.
APA Director, Elaine Toland, caught up with Caroline in a vegetarian café in Brighton... read more.
Nov 2008 APA's Director, Elaine Toland, attended the fourth annual conference of ENDCAP (a European network of wildlife protection groups and specialist consultants), which took place from 9th - 11th November in Brussels.
As Co-Chair of the Trade and Capture of Wildlife Committee, Elaine Toland proposed key projects to tackle the trade in wild animals as pets and received good support... Read more
Terraristika, possibly the world's largest exotic animal fair, which takes place in Hamm, Germany, is the subject of a shocking, new docu-film by APA and International Animal Rescue. The images are powerful and the narration elucidates the inhumanities and wastefulness of the reptile trade - a trade which, disturbingly, is on the increase.
Part I
Part II
APA teamed up with the International Animal Rescue to carry out a joint investigation of Terraristika - the largest and most notorious reptile fair in Europe, which took place on 15 March 2008. After viewing footage of the event, Clifford Warwick, world-renowned reptile biologist, gave us his damning opinion.
A powerful new poster spelling out the tragic fate of many animals in the exotic pet trade is available from APA. Click on the image to see the larger version in PDF format.
To raise awareness of the suffering of animals in the exotic pet trade and to promote the simple message that exotic animals do not make good pets, APA has produced two new educational flyers. (see right)
Whilst the Government is preparing new, draft guidelines for pet shops, APA has released its Six-Point Plan. This document outlines essential changes that would bring about much-needed improvements to the way pet shops operate. APA proposes that pet shops failing to meet the basic conditions set out in the Six-Point Plan should not be allowed to sell animals.
See our Six-Point Plan for Pet Shops factsheet and postcard.
APA has uncovered a sickening trade in dogs at horse markets in England and Wales, showing that it is not only exotic animals that suffer at temporary events. Caged litters of puppies are sold in abysmal conditions and offered for sale at bargain prices.
APA welcomes prompt action by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to prohibit bird fairs and exhibitions as a measure to hopefully halt the spread of avian influenza.
Read the full media release.
11 Jan 2007 EU animal health experts have introduced new measures that mean a permanent end to the commercial importation of wild birds into the European Union for the pet trade. Under the new rules, which form part of a strategy to combat avian influenza, only imports of captive-bred birds will be permitted.
Read the full media release.
11 Oct 2006 Exactly two years to the day after APA investigated the Stafford Bird Fair, DEFRA announced that they now intend to ban the commercial trading of animals at pet fairs when the Animal Welfare Bill comes into force next year. This is the news that we have all been waiting for and it is precisely what you as our supporters, and we here at campaign headquarters, wanted.
In October 2004 we made a documentary film about the Stafford bird market which led to a local resident taking Stafford Council to court for allowing the event. The resulting decision of the High Court was that such events were illegal and that ruling has led DEFRA to revise its approach and ban commercial sales of animals, which includes birds, reptiles and mammals at temporary markets.
Like us, you were appalled at the inherent inhumanity of selling pet animals, including wildlife, from stalls in marketplaces and the disturbing stresses they faced while being transported to and fro across the country until sold or dead.
Like us, you knew that is was wrong to treat sensitive animals in the ways they were subjected to at pet markets and you, too, were determined to see the end of these events.
Like us, no doubt you warmly welcome the Government's new measures that offer all of us what we have strived to achieve - a better, safer and compassionate future for those animals that need our protection.
While we have more work to do in supporting the Government's new plans, and to continue to monitor future progress, I cannot help but take this early opportunity to say a heartfelt and happy thank you to you, our supporters, who have been with us all the way and who have, with your generosity and confidence, carried us this far. I know you will be with us for the rest of this journey, but for now -
THANK YOU!
Elaine Toland MRSH
Director
In a sudden turn of events, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has today announced that it proposes to ban commercial trading at pet fairs in the new Animal Welfare Bill. The Animal Protection Agency (APA), which spearheaded a campaign to stamp out such barbaric trading of mainly exotic, wild-caught animals, has commended the Government and now looks forward to the Bill receiving Royal Assent.
Other organisations that opposed commercial pet markets include, the British Veterinary Association, RSPCA, RSPB, BioVeterinary Group, BirdsFirst, International Fund for Animal Welfare, World Society for the Protection of Animals, Captive Animals Protection Society, Born Free Foundation, Animal Aid, Wildlife Conservation Society, New Life Parrot Rescue and the Tortoise Trust. APA will now be holding talks with its many associate organisations to discuss how best they can support DEFRA with their new plans.
A Judicial Review judgement in June cleared-up any ambiguity relating to the current law on pet fairs, and DEFRA described it as a "useful contribution to the debate". The APA are in concert with Animal Welfare Minister, Ben Bradshaw, that DEFRA's revised measures will help to provide "the best protection yet for animals at pet fairs."
Elaine Toland, Director of APA, said:
"The Government's new and clear intention to prohibit commercial trading of
animals at pet fairs is a most welcome advancement for animal welfare that
sits comfortably in a Bill designed to bring about real improvements in the
way we treat animals. The Animal Welfare Bill, with this latest commitment,
ensures genuine protection for countless thousands of pet and wild animals.
Clifford Warwick, Consultant Biologist and Medical Scientist, said: "For many years I've been familiar with the worrisome issue of commercial trading of wildlife at pet fairs. Combined, the hard work of many local authorities to stamp out these events has been constructively built on by animal welfare groups such as the APA and more recently the High Court. DEFRA's revised position to ban commercial selling of animals at pet fairs is arguably the most important and positive move on this subject for a long time. It is to be welcomed and is sure to be widely supported in the key circles."
The "Stop UK Pet Markets" campaign also enjoyed the support of world- renowned experts in biology, conservation and medicine. The APA campaign team were heartened by the enormous cross-party support right up to high- level discussions with MPs, Ministers and Peers. Cherie Blair, Gordon Brown and Environment Minister, David Miliband, personally expressed to APA their genuine interest in the issue.
Issued: October 10, 2006
The Animal Protection Agency Foundation are delighted to have experienced
runner, Russell Akehurst, participating in the first ever Brighton Marathon,
which will take place on 18 April 2010. This gruelling event will raise
much-needed funds for APA's vital campaign work against the exotic pet
trade. Read more.
Please sponsor Russell and help boost APA's campaign efforts. Your contribution - no matter how small - will help to make a lasting difference to animals. When you download the sponsor form, remember that you can help the animals even more if you encourage your friends to sign the Gift Aid box. Thank you!
For as little as £1 per tropical tree - and a personalised gift certificate for a minimum of ten trees - you can make a genuine difference to conservation efforts in Ecuador. Read more...
The Animal Protection Agency has teamed up with New Life Parrot Rescue to offer 'virtual adoptions' of some of the birds in its care. Read more...
Long-term APA Supporter, Kevin White, completed the Birmingham Half Marathon on Sunday 26th October 2008, in an impressive 2 hours 16 mins! It's still not too late to sponsor Kevin who, despite sustaining a painful injury during training, was fueled by a desire to raise much-needed funds for APA, VIVA! and the West Midlands Vegan Festival.
Please download the sponsor form and support Kevin in raising these important campaign funds.
Elaine Toland, Director of APA, discusses pet fairs with key Government figures - Gordon Brown, Ben Bradshaw and Cherie Blair
New measures warmly welcomed - so too are your thanks
The Government's new measures to ban the commercial sale of animals at pet
fairs are warmly welcomed. MPs across all parties have already expressed to
us their pleasure and approval at this latest news.
Please write to your own MP and say thanks for their support and interest. We have certainly been impressed by the amount of time, dedication and passion that MPs and Lords have given to the pet fairs issue.
Ask your MP to maintain a close and ongoing interest in the progress of the Animal Welfare Bill so that the new ban can take effect as soon as possible after the Bill becomes law.
Please also send a warm note to Animal Welfare Minister, Ben Bradshaw at
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Nobel House, 17 Smith
Square, London SW1P 3JR, commending him and his Department on their latest
and most positive move forward in animal protection. You can use our
sample letter
as a model or compose your own.
This beautiful watercolour painting has been created exclusively for the Animal Protection Agency from the palette of artist Steve Hutton. It is only available through APA to supporters who donate £5 per month by standing order. Each A3 print is personally signed and numbered by the artist and the print run is strictly limited to one thousand.