Dieren geDownload - Platform Verantwoord Huisdierenbezit
Dieren geDownload - Platform Verantwoord Huisdierenbezit
Dieren geDownload - Platform Verantwoord Huisdierenbezit
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<strong>Dieren</strong> <strong>geDownload</strong><br />
Executive summary<br />
Companion animals are animals that are kept in or near the home for companionship, sports or as a hobby,<br />
with the exception of horses and as hobby kept small ruminants and poultry. To gain insight in the<br />
characteristics and extent of the Dutch trade in companion animals through the internet and to make an<br />
inventory of the opinions of the stakeholders the Stichting <strong>Platform</strong> <strong>Verantwoord</strong> <strong>Huisdierenbezit</strong> (a Dutch<br />
organisation which focuses on responsible pet ownership) issued a research project.<br />
12 general advertisement sites were selected to be the object of this research. Concerning the characteristics<br />
of the trade a literature study was done. To determine the extent of the trade, all newly placed advertisements<br />
on the 12 selected general advertisement sites that offered live companion animals were counted for 14 days.<br />
To determine the opinions of stakeholders a survey was done among buyers and providers, and different<br />
organisations were interviewed.<br />
The nature of the trade in companion animals through the internet is very complex. During 14 days a total of<br />
26,904 new advertisements were placed in which live companion animals were offered. 893 different<br />
(sub)species / animal groups were offered. The estimated number of animals offered was 86,360 with an<br />
estimated value of a little over 9 million euros.<br />
The interviewed organisations stated several conditions concerning the trade in companion animals through<br />
the internet that should be met. Mandatory identification and registration, more and better supervision,<br />
education and an increase in awareness are needed.<br />
The value of the companion animals offered on the internet found in this research is much higher than the<br />
RDA estimate of the amount of money spent on the purchase of companion animals in the report ‘Shared<br />
care, facts and figures’ (‘Gedeelde zorg, feiten en cijfers’).<br />
It is advised that there should be one central point where buyers and owners of companion animals can find<br />
all the information they need. Also the inspection agencies need more knowledge and capacity for more and<br />
better supervision. A behavioural code could be agreed on among advertisement sites and more research on<br />
the subject is needed.