Dieren geDownload - Platform Verantwoord Huisdierenbezit

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