**IMPORTANT UPDATE - 3rd August 2024**

The Business Manager at the Dowty Sports & Social has confirmed in writing today that they will not be hosting another reptile market at their venue on Saturday 10^th August 2024. Thanks to everyone who contacted them with their concerns about the South West Reptile Club event. Exotic animals deserve better than to be traded like merchandise in such appalling conditions.

Exotic pet market organisers are planning to stage an event on 10th August 2024 at the Dowty Sports & Social in Gloucester; which would see a wide range of animals including lizards, snakes and frogs carted to the venue in tiny Tupperware boxes, often without food or water, to be displayed, and illegally traded, between stallholders and the paying public. In each of these small takeaway containers is a vulnerable animal capable of suffering physical and psychological harm.

Freedom for Animals has been working closely with our friends at the Animal Protection Agency (APA) and World Animal Protection (WAP) to ensure exotic animal market organisers have nowhere to turn to to hold their cruel events. 

So far we have seen huge successes with the campaign, with many venues already turning their backs on these events, or cancelling their upcoming dates with them.

But, now we need your help to make sure the latest market planned for the Dowty Sports & Social does not go ahead either!

The event organisers - the South West Reptile Club (SWRC) - were recently sent packing by the Churchdown Community Centre in Gloucester, who took the responsible decision to cancel following advice from Tewkesbury Council that the event was likely to involve illegal animal selling. But now they have found a new foothold, in the shape of the Dowty Sports & Social, Down Hatherley Ln, Gloucester GL2 9QH. 

The trading of pet animals at market stalls was outlawed in 1983, as even minimal animal welfare standards cannot be achieved in the temporary, makeshift conditions of a market. In these busy, stressful environments, sensitive exotic animals are boxed up and displayed in small, plastic tubs without food, water or hiding spaces. Essential temperature, humidity and lighting controls are given little to no consideration and scientific research has shown that in such crude conditions, animal suffering is inevitable.

If the event on 10th August 2024 proceeds, it will not have been the first time that the Dowty Sport & Social has hosted a reptile market. The SWRC staged a reptile market on their premises last December, which investigations have shown involved illegal animal selling.

Following the event’s cancellation at the Churchdown Community Centre, our friends at APA emailed dozens of venues in the area to warn them that the reptile market organisers would be seeking a new venue, and would most likely contact them for a place to host. Last week the General Manager at the Dowty Sports & Social responded by email claiming they had not been approached to host such an event but APA has since confirmed, through a tip off, that the venue is planning to accommodate the market on the 10th August. 

So please, for all the animals who will be exploited throughout this terrible market, take action today! 

Head to our 'Take Action' page here!