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Christina's Reptiles & Other Critters
& Mia's Menagerie
Live animal outreach programs & pet care education
My Code of Ethics
In order to deliver quality and professional outreach programs I strive to adhere to high standards of animal welfare, captive animal care, and public health & safety standards.
The 5 Freedoms of animal welfare
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- Freedom from hunger and thirst, by ready access to water and a diet to maintain health and vigour.
- Freedom from discomfort, by providing an appropriate environment.
Freedom from pain, injury and disease, by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
- Freedom to express normal behaviour, by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and appropriate company of the animal’s own kind.
- Freedom from fear and distress, by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
I consider the health, well-being, and safety of my animals to be of the utmost priority in any situation, and will not force an animal into a situation that places them at risk of unnecessary stress or exposure to harm.
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I adhere to the latest health and safety guidelines as dictated by governing officials in order to protect human health and safety for myself and of my audience members.
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I adhere to all governing regulations regarding the possession, handling, transport, and display of animals.
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I maintain all of my animals in proper habitats that allow for natural behaviors and environmental enrichment.
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I practice strict safety measures when handling or transporting animals to reduce the chance of stress or injury to animals and other humans or personal property.
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I do not support unethical breeding, collecting wild animals for pets, or the irresponsible sale of exotic animals to inexperienced keepers.
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I believe that providing necessary veterinary care is critical to being a responsible pet keeper.
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I believe that reasonable legislation should be introduced and enforced to guide and protect basic animal welfare standards for all species of animals in both private and professional collections.
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I acknowledge that keeping exotic animals poses many ethical dilemmas, so I advocate heavily for responsible pet ownership and education to ensure better animal welfare outcomes.
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I believe that there will always be opportunities to do better. I must remain flexible and informed on current animal care practices, science, and knowledge to continue to provide the best possible care, and to promote the most humane, responsible, and advanced animal keeping practices.
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