CONVICTED (2024) | Colin Birch, born c 1956, of Auden Close, Clayton, Manchester M11 4WD – for the mistreatment of several reptiles.
Birch was found guilty in his absence of two offences. The first – which took place in February 2022 – involved the neglect of three iguanas and a spiny-tailed lizard; while the other involved the neglect of five further iguanas in June 2022.
The RSPCA first visited Birch’s flat in February 2022 after concerns were raised about the welfare of ‘lizards’ in the property.
The RSPCA officer – accompanied by police – entered the property and found three iguanas and a lizard being kept in very worrying conditions.
One of the iguanas was roaming free around the dangerously cluttered and overheated flat and another two iguanas plus a spiny-tailed lizard were crammed into a very small fish tank with only rotten or dried up food.
There was no source of UV (crucial to the health of iguanas), no temperature controls and no thermometer.
Given these conditions, the police seized all four reptiles and after being checked by a vet, the RSPCA organised for them to be cared for at a specialist boarding establishment.
In June 2022, the RSPCA was called back to the same property – now unoccupied – to check on five more iguanas who had been left alone to fend for themselves in the flat.
This time, two very young iguanas were found in a pet carrier, one adult was found in a fish tank with no access to drinking water, and two were found roaming loose in the hazardous flat.
Again, the animals had no access to UV or appropriate food or water.
These additional five iguanas were also taken away to be safely cared for in a specialist boarding establishment.
A specialist in exotic pets was provided with photographs from both incidents and stated that the property was full of potential dangers, and the tanks were not not the right size to provide an appropriate environment for these types of animals.
From the February incident, there were too many animals in one tank. In addition, the temperature and humidity required for the reptiles’ needs would not have been met.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer, Dan Tomlinson said: “Pet reptiles rely on their owners to provide an environment in which their welfare needs are met, which sadly didn’t happen in this case, even after detailed advice was offered to the defendant.
“The needs of exotics can be challenging to meet by members of the public because the pet animals’ needs are just the same as they would be if they lived in the wild and require conditions that can be difficult to replicate in a home.
“The RSPCA advises that prospective owners of exotic pets should thoroughly research the needs of the particular species and what is required in the care of the animal, using expert sources, and only consider keeping one if they can ensure they are fully able to provide for these needs.”
He added: “Every year, my colleagues and I are called out to rescue many hundreds of exotic pets which have been neglected or abandoned. These are wild animals and meeting their needs in captivity can be incredibly challenging. We believe that people may buy exotic pets with little idea of how difficult they can be to keep. They often end up in our care after people realise they’re not easy to care for, or once the novelty wears off and the commitment hits home.”
Exotic pet owners need to make sure they can give their animal the environment it needs and that they have the facilities, time, financial means and long-term commitment to maintain a good standard of care, as required under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Sentencing | nine-month community order with 15 days of rehabilitation activity; fine of £100 and a victim surcharge of £95. Banned from owning animals for five years (expires February 2029).
