Secondary Research

Factual Articles
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?p=439&more=1 An article with
facts about exotic pets. http://www.hopeforpets.org/Benefits%20of
%20Owning%20a%20Pet.htm A thorough explanation of the benefits of
owning a pet.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201105/do-we-treatdogs-the-same-way-children-in-our-modern-families - An article with key
fact on domestic pets, including pet insurance, food costs and medical
costs.
We can use the facts to be include in the voiceover.
BBC News Articles
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29653486
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-20729756 -Two
articles from BBC News on how much trust is put on pets and owners of
dangerous dogs. These could both be used as part of the script in the
voice over.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201105/do-we-treatdogs-the-same-way-children-in-our-modern-families - Another article on
the treatment of dogs, but instead of it being about the trust in pets, it is
around how pets are treated just like humans.
What has to be considered when having an exotic pet?

How long the animal will live and how large it will grow.

What it eats and how much.

What environment the animal needs. Many exotics (such as reptiles)

require a carefully-controlled environment, or they may become sick
and even die. The environment must allow for natural behaviour, such
as burrowing, climbing or basking.

Size of enclosure - this is likely to increase as the animal grows!

Should the animal be kept alone or with others?

Whether the animal will be active at night (nocturnal) or during the

day?


Is there an exotics vet nearby who can treat this animal if it
becomes sick?

Do you need a licence or other legal paperwork to keep it?

http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/other
TV Shows and Films to look at:
Pet School
Marley & Me
Beethoven
The Supervet (Channel 4)
Crufts
Gus the Grizzly Bearhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04kg07y/aithne-air-ainmhidheanallabout-animals-15-gus-am-mathan-molachgus-the-grizzly-bear
Clips can be taken from these TV shows and films to be used as cutaways.
Books and Radio to look at:
Pets and the Family
Pet Life Radio- A variety of different radio shows based on certain pets. We
could be used to
Pet Rescue Radio Advert for Dogs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3oQiXIeMo8
Pet Rescue Radio Advert for Cats http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ3XRVATQ-k
Dogs Today Magazine http://www.dogstodaymagazine.co.uk/
Between Pets and People: The importance of animal companionship
Medieval pets- looks at the history of pets and who owned a pet and why
they owned them. Facts could be used as part of the voice over.
Pets, Part of the Family: The Total Care Guide for All the Pets in Your Life- A
book that partners a television series by Gary Burghoff that could be used
to take quotes from as part of the voiceover, whilst taking clips from the
television series to be used as cutaways.

Manual of Exotic Pet Practice- Gives a history of exotic pets, as well as

explanations of why they have become popular and the advantages and
disadvantages of keeping an exotic pet. Quotes can be taken for the
voiceover.
Cost of pets
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-2042014/How-does-costdog-cat.html

The average lifetime cost of owning a dog today stands at around

16,900 and for a cat 17,200, according to research by Sainsburys pet
insurance. And it's set to get even more expensive.

The average annual cost of owning a dog is currently 1,183.

However, pet inflation will bump this up over its lifetime.

If you bought a new puppy today, Sainsburys estimate the annual

cost could easily rise by about 20 per cent to 1,418 during its life
expectancy, which is on average 13 years. This would take the cost of
owning a dog to nearly 18,500 in its lifetime.

The average annual cost of owning a cat is slightly lower at 1,028,

but this could increase to annual cost of 1,270 in 15 years time the
average life expectancy of a pet cat in the UK. This equates to an increase
of 23.5 per cent in the annual cost of owning a cat and means a feline
friend would set you back over 19,000 in its lifetime.


(Although keep in mind that statistics show that 98% of the exotic
animals bought as pets die in the first 2 years.)

It is cheaper by the pound for us to buy 17,000 pounds of meat at a

time than for you to buy a weeks worth for one cat.

Exotic cats range in price from a 550 Bobcat to a 1,500 tiger cub.
Most of the mid size cats, like Servals and Caracals cost 900 to 1,300
and Ocelots can run as high as 9,000. The more rare the cat, the higher
the price.

http://bigcatrescue.org/buy-a-big-cat/
https://www.aspca.org/adopt/pet-care-costs

http://www.doughroller.net/smart-spending/exotic-pets-can-cost-a-lot/
Exotic Cats
Lions, Tigers and Bobcats, oh my. Exotic cats can live to be 20 years old,
so the commitment is long and expensive. A secure and spacious enclose
can cost plenty for your cat to run around in and they eat A LOT. Exotic
cats will need to go to the vet more often then regular cats and their
problems are usually super-sized in nature. There is also the initial cost of
the kitten, which is usually between 900-1200.
Tortoises
They may begin no bigger than the size of a quarter but an African spurthigh or a sulcata tortoise can grow to 200 pounds over its 80-year life.
Diet can be particularly challenging with this house-pet and nutritional
problems lead to medical problems which leads to veterinarian bills.
Mouth rot, funguss and other problems are pretty routine with many
reptiles and finding a vet whos experienced in these issues can require
extra measures, like a lot of travel.
Macaws
A Macaws life-span can be up to 75 years and a Macaw eats expensive
bird feed, in addition to fruits and vegetables. They require high humidity,
warmth and ultraviolet light year-round, making them a very high
maintenance pet. One of the immediate drawbacks of owning a Macaw
(The picture shows a Scarlet Macaw) is the noise. Macaws love to talk
and unless you properly train them, the neighbours down the street are
going to be knocking at your door all hours of the night.

Monkeys
Monkeys, depending on the species, can be with you for 35 years and they
can weigh up to 45 pounds. Monkeys eat a healthy diet of fruits,
vegetables, proteins and breads. Its another mouth to feed, which means
your grocery bill will grow along with your primate. Monkeys, like toddlers,
can be picky eaters, which means theyll likely waste some of the food
that you spend time and money preparing.
Kinkajous
Honey bears, known as kinkajous, are sometimes kept as pets. They live
around 20-25 years, weigh about 8 pounds and can stand 25 inches tall.
Kinkajous are in the raccoon family, so their up all night. Be prepared.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/monkey-businessrising-interest-in-exotic-pets-sees-primate-ownership-in-england-andwales-soar-to-over-9000-9110047.html
Government& Legislation
Pet Animals Act 1951 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/14-15/35
1)
Licensing of pet shops- No person shall keep a pet shop except under
the authority of a licence granted in accordance with the provisions of this
Act. Animal Welfare Act 2006- directed to from Pet Animals Act, In
determining whether to grant a licence for the keeping of a pet shop by
any person at any premises, a local authority shall in particular (but
without prejudice to their discretion to withhold a licence on other
grounds) have regard to the need for securing:
(a)that animals will at all times be kept in accommodation suitable as
respects size, temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness;.
(b)that animals will be adequately supplied with suitable food and drink
and (so far as necessary) visited at suitable intervals;.
(c)that animals, being mammals, will not be sold at too early an age;.
(d)that all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent the spread
among animals of infectious diseases;.
(e)that appropriate steps will be taken in case of fire or other emergency;
2)

Pets not to be sold to children under twelve years of age.

Caring for pets

Its against the law to neglect or be cruel to an animal thats kept as a pet.
If youre responsible for an animal, you must make sure that you care for
it properly.
1. has a proper diet and fresh water
2. has somewhere suitable to live
3. is kept with or away from other animals, depending on its
needs
4. is allowed to express itself and behave normally
5. is protected from, and treated for, illness and injury
You must be over 16 years old to buy an animal.
Licences
You may need to get a licence from your local council for:

some types of exotic wild animals

domestic-wild hybrid animals

running a business like a riding stables or pet shop

You dont need a licence for most common domestic pets.

http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/other
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals/using/pets.shtml
Below is a list of the top ten UK pets in 2014. On the right hand side of the
page you can find links to Pet Population Abroad (EU and USA) and under
Historical Pet Population you can find figures on Regional Pet Ownership
and Cats and Dogs by Breed.
Top Ten Pets for 2014 (based on running totals over two years):
1. Fish kept in tanks: 20 - 25 million (9% of households)
2. Fish kept in ponds: 20 million (5% of households)
3. Dogs: 9 million (24% of households)
4. Cats: 8 million (17% of households)
5. Rabbits: 1 million (2.4% of households)

6. Domestic fowl: 1 million (0.8% of households)

7. Caged birds: 1 million (1.4% of households)

8. Guinea Pigs: Half a million (1.1% of households)

9. Hamsters: 400,000 (1.4% of households)

10. Lizards: 400,000 (0.7% of households)
Other popular pets are horses and ponies (400,000 / 0.3% of households),
snakes (400,000 / 0.5% of households), pigeons (300,000 / 0.2% of
households), tortoises and turtles (300,000 / 0.6% of households), frogs
and toads (100,000 / 0.1% of households), newts/salamanders (100,000 /
0.1% of households), gerbils, rats, mice and insects (100,000 of each and
0.2 for gerbils and 0.1% of households for other populations).