We Want to Introduce a ‘Permitted List’

We want a ‘Permitted List’ introduced to ensure only animals with welfare needs that can be met in captivity are kept as pets.

What we are calling for

We’re campaigning for the introduction of a ‘Permitted List’ of animals that can legally be kept as pets in Scotland.

Many wild and exotic animals are currently kept in environments that fail to meet their complex physical and behavioural needs, leading to widespread suffering through poor housing, inadequate diets, lack of social interaction, and limited opportunity to express natural behaviours.

Access to these animals is too easy, with inconsistent care advice and a shortage of specialist veterinary support, often resulting in abandonment, repeated rehoming, and additional pressure on rescue centres. Some species can also pose risks to public health and safety.

A Permitted List would ensure that only animals whose full needs can be met in a home environment are kept as pets, helping to prevent suffering, educate owners, reduce strain on rescues, improve public safety, and create a clear, enforceable system.

To achieve this, we will work with a dedicated taskforce of stakeholders to address welfare risks, regulate acquisition, improve access to accurate information, and develop effective demand reduction strategies.

Download the Manifesto

Steve the Marmoset’s Story

Why we need a Permitted List for pets to protect animals like Steve

I was called Steve. I lived alone in a small cage, in a busy living room that was never dark, never quiet. I could hear televisions, children shouting, doors slamming. I was fed marshmallows and crisps because they made me seem “happy.”

I wasn’t happy. I was stressed, underweight and constantly frightened.

Marmosets like me are wild animals. In our natural homes, we live in groups, communicate constantly, and roam freely through trees. We’re social, intelligent, and need space, diet, and light that match the rhythms of the rainforest, not a living room shelf.

When the Scottish SPCA found me, I was pacing the cage, over grooming my fur from stress. I was rescued, treated, and eventually transferred to a sanctuary that specialises in caring for monkeys. There, I finally met others of my kind. I have been given the ability to climb, play, and experienced things I’ve never have before — like choice.

But there are more like me

Across Scotland, people keep exotic species that can’t thrive in domestic settings, and often without understanding how complex our needs really are.

That’s why the Scottish SPCA is calling for a Permitted List for pets, a simple, clear approach that allows only animals whose welfare needs can truly be met in a domestic environment, to be kept as pets. It’s not about taking pets away; it’s about preventing suffering before it begins.

I was lucky enough to be found. Many others aren’t.

Take action today

The collective voice is stronger. Please take 5 minutes to email your local candidate and let them know you support our manifesto. We’ve written the email for you but adding your own words and personal voice will really help.

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