Abstract
According to the best available data, over 65 million pet (or companion) animals are maintained in the UK (PFMA, 2014). Although this figure includes large species, for example horses, the majority are household or garden animals. The approximate composition of this ‘pet’ population includes: 100,000 insects (which likely more broadly implies a variety of invertebrates); 40-45 million ornamental fish; 100,000 frogs and toads; 300,000 tortoises and turtles; 400,000 lizards; 400,000 snakes; >2 million domestic fowl and caged birds; >2 million small mammals; 9 million dogs; and 8 million cats (PFMA, 2014). Several thousand species are thought to be involved…