What Can I Do?

• Please resist any desire to get a wild animal for a pet – ensure wildlife stays in the wild
• If you already own a wild animal refresh your research to ensure the complex needs of your animal are fully understood and met and commit to get no more
• Only get a domesticated pet if you truly know that you can offer the animal a great life, for all of its life
• Planning to get a domestic animal, try the rescue homes before buying a kitten or puppy
• Be extra careful about not accidentally supporting influencers who show off their wild “pet” for social media clout. Your likes, views, and follows on their content are used as currency, bringing them more exposure and sponsorship deals. That exposure can increase popularity and influence others to buy a wild animal.
• Do not support petting experiences, like exotic roadshows which bring the animals to your school, party etc
• Express concern with anyone planning to get a wild animal as a pet and use social media to comment that you do not like behaviours and decisions which harm animals.
• Resist the chance to watch an animal perform, swim with dolphins, have a picture taken with a chimpanzee on a lead being paraded down a street
• If you know about a dog in your street where the owner is sick or frail offer to walk the dog so the dog gets exercised
• Support wild birds during winter with appropriate feeds and water
• Be calm but courageous in your interactions with other people about keeping wild animals as pets. Challenge and question them and make it explicit that a wild animal’s needs can rarely if ever be fully met in a back garden or domestic household.
• Talk to your children about life from the perspective of the animal. Ask your children to think about their pet’s needs and how their pet may feel when they are constantly petted and picked up or left alone in a cage with nothing to do all day.
• Volunteer at a rescue centre
• See a sheep’s head stuck through a fence. Stop and see if you can help the Sheep get free. If not persist, track down someone who can help.
• If you know about or see animal abuse do not walk away from the animal’s plight. Do whatever you can to stop it, whatever it takes (without placing yourself in danger).
• Sign petitions that urge Governments to make positive changes in animal legislation

(please let us know what actions you have and are taking to make a positive difference to wild animals in the wild and the lives of the many wild animals that are forced to live amongst us)