What is it about?
Owners of privately kept snakes reported the various ways in which they attempt to meet their snake’s welfare needs. Just over half of participants reported that their snake’s enclosure was large enough to meet the recommendations set by the Australian state of Victoria’s code of practice for the private keeping of reptiles, while only 42% of owners reported having an enclosure large enough for the snake to fully stretch out. They also reported taking care to ensure that their snake was physically healthy, and they regularly observed their snake for signs of a potential health problem.
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Why is it important?
From these findings, educational campaigns can be developed to encourage good practice, evidence-based recommendations in pet snake keeping, thereby improving welfare outcomes for snakes kept in private homes
Perspectives
Writing this article was a really interesting experience for me. I had the opportunity to work with experts in reptile management and human-animal relationships whom I really respect, and learning more about snake owner practices and perspectives was very instructive.
TIFFANI HOWELL
La Trobe University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Self-reported snake management practices among owners in Victoria, Australia, Veterinary Record, February 2020, BMJ,
DOI: 10.1136/vr.105409.
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