Animal Protection Agency Foundation (APAF)

Our mission is to advance animal welfare by: 

• carrying out or commissioning research into the animal welfare, conservation, environmental and human health impacts of the exotic pet trade.

• conducting undercover investigations and comprehensive data gathering on the exotic pet trade, and endeavouring to obtain prosecution-quality evidence of any crimes that we witness. 

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• raising awareness of the harmful impacts of the exotic pet trade.

​Trustees of the Animal Protection Agency Foundation include experts in wild animal rescue,  campaigning, volunteer management and education.

​We are supported by scientific consultants and vets who are authorities in the fields of exotic animal welfare and medicine as well as public health, and lawyers who specialise in animal and environmental protection. ​

​Some of our proudest achievements:

• Our research, published in The Biologist, showed that at least 75% of pet reptiles die within one year in the home.

• We initiated and coordinated a comprehensive scientific review of exotic pet regulation in Europe and North America. 

• We helped to develop the ‘EMODE’ system, which provides the only objective and user-friendly means of categorising animals according to how challenging they are to keep.

• We commissioned a scientific report recommending a pet labelling scheme for pet shops to ensure prospective buyers had access to reliable information.

• Our undercover research led to the only UK prosecution of a pet seller at a market.

• We commissioned independent, scientific guidelines for the inspection of pet shops and breeding centres.

• We funded a scientific review of exotic animal welfare consultations by the government, which resulted in key recommendations to prioritise input from independent scientists rather than the exotic pet trade and hobby.

Animal Protection Agency Foundation - Company No. 6371987
Registered Charity No. 1123569