The RSPCA received more than 230 calls about neglected, abandoned and stray exotic animals last year in Dorset, new figures show.

The animal welfare charity has released its annual statistics today (Thursday 25 April), which reveal the plight of the more unusual animals.

Across England and Wales in 2018, the charity received around 15,790 calls about exotic animals. That is more than 40 a day, or more than one every hour. The RSPCA investigated 1,832 cases of animal cruelty - relating to all animals - in Dorset last year.

The RSPCA believes the reason behind some of the suffering of these exotic pets is that owners do not research their needs and do not understand the type and amount of care that they need, resulting in them escaping, being abandoned or neglected.

In November 2018, RSPCA Animal Welfare Officer Jo Blackburn was called to an importer of American soft drinks in Blandford after they had found a small lizard in their warehouse.

The green anole lizard would have originally come from Louisiana in America and survived for three weeks in a shipping container and then a stint in their warehouse before it was discovered. The lizard was taken to the RSPCA specialist reptile centre in Brighton.

Stephanie Jayson, RSPCA’s senior scientific officer in exotics and qualified exotics vet, said: “We have real concerns about the welfare of reptiles and other exotic animals kept as pets in this country.

“Reptiles and other exotic pets are completely reliant on their owners to meet their welfare needs including requiring the correct levels of heat, light and humidity, plus an appropriate diet. Some species can grow very large, live for a long time or require a licence or paperwork to be legally kept or sold. Many of the animals we’re called to help are found stray outside, where they can very quickly suffer in the cold.

“These animals are commonly found for sale in pet shops and are advertised online. In the past, animals have often been handed over to buyers with little or no information about how to care for them properly, although new regulations in England should improve this.

“We believe that people may buy them with little idea of how difficult they can be to keep and the animals are sometimes neglected when the novelty wears off and the commitment hits home. This is why we would encourage anyone thinking of getting an exotic pet to find out as much as possible about the animal’s needs and whether they’re the right pet for them.”

The RSPCA, which has a team of specially trained exotics officers, rescued more than 4,000 exotic animals in 2018, including more than 500 snakes, more than 300 turtles, 145 bearded dragons, five raccoon dogs and even four marmosets and one wallaby.

Some of the incidents involving exotic animals that the RSPCA dealt with include:

● A royal python found dead in Wool Pitch, Cwmbran, Wales with bruising around its mouth in January 2018. Inspectors suspect he was beaten before being abandoned.

● In February 2018, two stray raccoon dogs were found within a mile of each other in the same Cumbrian village of Burneside, believed to be pets from the same home. The RSPCA does not believe these animals should be kept as pets as it is not possible to meet their needs in a domesticated environment.

● Also in January 2018, a very sick 10 ft boa was found in a vivarium in the back seat of an abandoned car in Bristol. He was very weak, in a poor condition and with serious respiratory problems - sadly he had to be put to sleep.

● In June last year, a bearded dragon was found abandoned next to bins in a Nike shoe box in Sittingbourne, Kent. Owing to an old tail injury, he was named Stumpy and was put up for rehoming.

● In December 2018, a dead marmoset monkey was found in a street in Edmonton, London.

Stephanie continued: “It is heartbreaking to see animals like this found injured or suffering as they are stray or abandoned outside in inappropriate temperatures. Some of the animals we see, like monkeys and raccoon dogs, have no place in the home and we would urge people not to take them on as pets.

"Others are still a long-term commitment and need specialist care and equipment so we urge anyone considering taking them on to fully research their needs using expert sources, only consider keeping one if they can ensure they are fully able to provide for these needs and consider rescuing rather than buying.”

For information about the exotic animals looking for a home at the RSPCA, visit www.rspca.org.uk/findapet and to learn more about how to care for these animals, see our care sheets for some of the more commonly kept exotic pets.