Campaign to halt animal jumble sales

Imagine a jumble sale, but instead of bric-a-brac and cast-off clothes, the stall offered live animals for sale. ​In England, thousands of exotic animals are sold in this way, in substandard conditions from market stalls. Lizards, snakes, turtles and tortoises along with frogs, salamanders and newts are typically offered for sale in containers so small they can barely turn around or stretch out. Little or no consideration is given to temperature, humidity or light regulation – essential to meet the basic biological needs of these exotic animals.

Discounted prices encourage impulse purchasing, and advice given by traders on how to care for the animals is generally misleading and unreliable. All of this spells disaster for the animals.

This suffering must end.

Trading in pets from market stalls was outlawed in the UK in 1983 due to animal welfare concerns. Unfortunately, this law hasn’t always been properly enforced by local councils. Over the years we have worked with councils and venues to stamp out these events wherever they have surfaced – with great success!

Animal sellers try to get around the law by claiming they are not selling animals commercially but are merely offloading off a few of their own surplus pets. However, our investigations have consistently shown that the majority of stallholders at these events are carrying out a business of selling animals, and are therefore breaking the law.

Our work has already resulted in the cancellation of one large reptile market this year, which was due to take place in Buckinghamshire on 28 April 2024. We are currently liaising with local councils and venues around the UK regarding other reptile markets advertised to take place. We want to see these events finished for good.

For more information, read our factsheet. (put in link)

​Help us to end UK reptile markets:

• Please send a letter (put in link) to the government calling for guidance on pet markets to be made clearer – this would improve law  enforcement by local councils.

• Subscribe to our updates so that we can seek your urgent  assistance when needed.

• ​Help us to raise awareness of this campaign by sharing our posts through your social networks.​

Share this page