Latest news with #ElisaAllen
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Katie Price comes under fire after her £2000 bald cat 'suffers with sunburn' -sparking new animal cruelty row
Katie Price has come under fire after one of her £2000 Sphynx cats reportedly suffered with sunburn during the recent heatwave. The former glamour model, 47, has owned several pets over the years, but has come under scrutiny after five dogs, a horse, and a chameleon all died while in her care. And Katie has sparked yet another animal cruelty row after her bald cat Kevin was left with sunburn, despite her attempts to protect his skin. In a video, Katie is seen stroking her cat as she remarked: 'Oh Kevin you have been in the sun today, you have got sun burnt despite us putting sun cream on you... look at his little face', reports The Mirror. As she doted on the pet, which looked very red, she captioned her clip: 'Trying to keep the cats out of the sun is hard work.' The video sparked a furious response from Peta spokesperson Elisa Allen, who slammed the star for seemingly ignoring warnings about the proper care for her pets. She told the publication: 'Anyone who warns Katie not to hurt the animals she takes in might as well be screaming into the wind, for all she seems to care. And here we go again: her cat is sunburnt – something she was likely warned about when acquiring a gimmick cat, bred to look odd and be hairless.' In a warning about sun safety for cats like Katie's, Peta says cats with 'light or no fur can burn easily, which is just one reason to keep them indoors. 'If they do go into a secure garden, apply vet-approved sunscreen and ensure they have plenty of shade. Cat guardians must stay alert, if you spot redness, swelling, or signs of infection, seek veterinary care immediately.' MailOnline have contacted representatives of Katie and Peta for comment. Earlier this year, a petition calling for Katie to be banned from owning animals garnered more than 37,000 signatures after seven pets have died under her charge. She attributes these tragedies to 'bad luck,' with most occurring while she was away and has since secured the garden of her new home to ensure her pets' safety. In February, the mum-of-five hit back at those who criticised her, telling The Sun: 'When people say I shouldn't have animals, it's circumstances that were out of my hands. 'It's no lack of me not looking after them or anything like that. I love animals, I love nurturing.' Last year, leading charity PETA penned an open letter to Katie after reports that she had given away her puppy Tank due to 'losing interest'. The charity also offered her £5,000 if she signs a contract to not acquire another animal. 'While your intentions may be good, the ever-growing number of animals who have either died under your supervision or been given away is impossible to ignore, and people are rightly concerned,' PETA Vice President Elisa Allen wrote, in the letter shared by The Sun. 'Whatever you may offer as reasons for their suffering, relinquishment, or demise, the fact is that you are consistently harming these sensitive, sentient individuals, and I hope you agree that this is a solution.' PETA added: 'things have gone horribly wrong with many of the animals under her supervision'. In response to the open letter, a representative of Katie's told MailOnline: 'Katie has asked PETA many times to have a conversation with her directly, but instead they continue to play the narrative out in the media.' 'If they want to have a direct conversation with Kate they can get in touch.' 'Isn't it a waste of charity money or have they got funds available to give out to celebrities, which should be going towards animals?' The reality star has previously dealt with the deaths of her five dogs, a horse and even her chameleon, Marvin. Before getting another kitten in January, Katie rescued a black Labrador puppy from a neighbour in November last yea r, making her have a total of seven dogs, eight pets in total. She has four Chihuahuas - named Captain, Buddy, Colin, and Batman - as well as a French Bulldog named Precious, a German Shepherd Tank and a Labrador puppy. Her beloved dog Blade died in June 2023 just seven months after Katie's other dog, Sharon, was killed on the same road. Sharon was killed when she allegedly escaped and ran on to the road where she was hit by a car. She was picked up off the A24 by the driver and taken to Arun Vets in Pulborough, West Sussex, where her death was confirmed. In 2020, Katie's pet dog Rolo suffocated in her home, while her Alsatian Sparkle was mowed down in February of the same year, in shocking echoes of the death of her dog Queenie, who was killed in 2018. One of Katie's horses was tragically killed on a road in 2017 after escaping from a field In July 2020, Katie was criticised by animal rights activists after Rolo's suffocation. The French bulldog died after getting stuck in an electric armchair while the reality star was packing some bags in another room, reported The Mirror. Rolo was given to her daughter Princess as a birthday present. Katie later revealed her shock after she was illegally advised to give her late puppy Rolo cannabis oil before he 'suffocated to death in an armchair'. One of Katie's horses was tragically hit by a car and killed in 2017 after escaping from a field. And in 2018 her dog Queenie was struck and killed by a delivery driver. UNNAMED HORSE (2017) One of Katie's horses was tragically struck and killed by a car on the A24 in November 2017, after escaping from its field. She shared a photo of the car with its smashed up windscreen to her Instagram, writing: 'Last night our friends horses including one of ours escaped from their field and ran onto the road we are devastated. 'We are extremely upset to find out one of our horses was killed last night being hit by a car... 'Thank god the driver of this car was very lucky and escaped and wish him well, police were amazing and so was the local community and thank them all! 'Our friends other four horses thank god are alive with a couple of them injured and are still being treated by the vet and will be ok!' DOBBY AND HAGRID (2017) Katie owned two Sphynx cats named Dobby and Hagrid after the characters from Harry Potter. However, in December 2017 she said she was selling them for £1,300 each because her dogs didn't get on with them. She continued to post photos of the cats on Instagram until 2021, so it is unclear whether she sold them. Katie was left 'devastated' after her German Shepherd, Queenie, was killed in a hit and run accident. The dog was gifted to her on her 36th birthday by her now ex-husband Kieran Hayler. In a since deleted Instagram post, Katie said Queenie was hit by a 'heartless' delivery driver who left the dog to die. She wrote: 'I'm absolutely devastated heartbroken my faithful loving family dogs life Queenie has been shortlived as she was killed by a heartless delivery driver who ran into our dog seeing her struggle and drove off without telling and left her to die. 'Very disappointed a human being can be this heartless! Security cameras show this and we have reported to police! DEVASTATED is a understatement.' MARVIN (2018) Katie has owned a string of different animals, and even had a pet chameleon named Marvin. However, Marvin died in November 2018 with Katie allegedly claiming the lizard died 'of a broken heart' after her son Junior moved in with his dad Peter Andre. A source close to the star told The Sun: 'Marvin didn't go with Junior when he moved in with his dad over the summer. And now Katie thinks that the reptile has died of a broken heart.' But the insider added: 'However, with all of her money troubles Katie has been unable to heat her mansion, and chameleons needs to be warm at all times.' They also revealed she had wanted to keep the children's pets at her house, as she hoped it would mean the kids would visit her more. They said: 'Katie is blaming Peter for Marvin's death as she claims that he wouldn't take Junior and Princess's pets when they moved in with him. 'But Katie didn't want him to take them as she thought the children would visit her more if the pets stayed with her. 'The whole family has been left devastated by Marvin's death, but especially Junior - he is heartbroken.' While a source close to Peter said: 'He was never asked to look after it. It's outrageous that she's blaming him.' PEGGY (2019) Katie sparked backlash from fans in February 2019, after gifting her daughter Princess with a pet hedgehog. Fans slammed Katie for bringing the spikey mammal, named Peggy, into her home with her dogs, saying Peggy would be 'terrified'. In October of that year, Katie then lost Peggy for two weeks in her 'Mucky Mansion'. In a YouTube tour of her home, she admitted the hedgehog had gone missing somewhere in the house. A source later revealed that she had since found Peggy again, saying: 'Peggy is back - Katie always knew she'd find her again.' BEAR (2019) Katie bought another Alsatian named Bear in November 2018 for £1,000, who is the half-sister of Sparkle. However, she gave away the dog only six months later in April 2019 after he had three near death experiences in a matter of weeks. Both Bear and Sparkle kept escaping from her house and were nearly run over several times. In February 2019, Bear ran onto a busy dual carriageway but was luckily saved by a passerby who took him to a vet. The following month, he escaped again and was rescued by a passing police officer near the A24. Katie eventually rehomed Bear in April, with a source telling The Sun: 'Bear kept getting out on the main road and Katie doesn't want to risk him getting hurt or worse. 'A breeder is going to have him neutered and find him a permanent loving home, and Katie will still have plenty of pets around to keep her company.' Katie's third Alsatian, Sparkle, tragically passed away in a very similar way to her late German shepherd Queenie. The dog allegedly escaped from the star's home and was hit by a car on the A24, near her 'Mucky Mansion', the same road that Bear was nearly run over on. Sharing the news on Instagram, Katie said: 'Hey guys, really f***ed off this morning. I've just woken up to realise that one of my dogs has been killed on the road. 'I've just checked with the neighbours and everything seems to be how it was when they left the dogs so I don't know how they escaped but yeah, one of my Alsatians has been hit and killed. 'I was away last night with my PA and I left my neighbours to feed the dogs because that's what they do when I'm not there. She added: 'Obviously something has happened in the night.' ROLO (2020) Katie's pet dog Rolo suffocated at her home after apparently getting trapped in an electric armchair. Despite receiving CPR, the French bulldog - a gift for daughter Princess's 13th birthday - could not be saved. Katie told YouTube followers: 'There was nothing they could do, but they did say he wouldn't have died in pain, it was quick.' The dog had only been with the family for a few weeks before its tragic death leading to anger from the public towards Katie and the breeders who sold her the puppy. The breeders took to their Instagram to defend themselves, saying they had done 'everything we possibly could' to ensure Rolo went to a good home, including background checks and a home visit. They wrote: 'Rolo's death was a tragic accident that had nothing at all to do with his health or @jrcbullies'. Katie commented on the post, saying: 'It's nobody's fault and something that happened tragically we are all devastated about so instead of pointing fingers think of how we are all feeling so respect us all.' However, she later revealed she was illegally advised to give Rolo cannabis oil, after she was gifted the substance in a 'puppy hamper'. Rolo fell asleep under an electric chair after having the non-psychoactive cannabis derivative and later 'suffocated' after the family's nanny sat on the chair. Katie told the Mirror that a vet told her giving the puppy CBD oil may have encouraged him to seek out a cosy place to sleep, such as the chair. A spokeswoman for Katie said: 'Katie was told the oil was for dogs and safe. It was endorsed by the breeder. Katie will join forces with Peta and any other groups that need her to speak out.' A source close to her added: 'As awful as it sounds, this will bring some comfort to Katie in understanding why Rolo crawled into the space. 'She feels let down too by a system that allows CBD oil to be marketed for pets despite it being illegal. Katie had backlash, hate mail, death threats and trolling over Rolo's tragic passing. As a family, they continue to mourn.' PRECIOUS (2021) Katie gave the family's French Bulldog to a builder working on her Channel 4 show Mucky Mansion little more than a year after getting her. The dog was a gift from her on-off fiancé Carl Woods, to celebrate their six month anniversary. 'She's a French bulldog called Precious – [my daughter] Princess came up with the name,' Katie told The Sun. 'It's my six-month anniversary present from Carl. We might not have a baby, but this is our new baby together.' CAPTAIN, BUDDY, COLIN AND BATMAN (2022) Katie currently has four Chihuahuas named Captain, Buddy, Colin and Batman. However in January 2022, fans feared for Buddy after she took him horse riding, by stuffing him down her jacket. That same year, she was left 'devastated' and 'in bits' after losing Captain while on holiday in Dorset with Carl. A source told The Sun: 'Katie was in bits. She thought Captain would be fine off his lead as they were staying on a friend's private property which was very secure but he managed to run off.' They went on to tell the publication: 'Katie was devastated thinking she has lost him for good, or that he might get run over.' After eight hours of searching she then received a phone call to say Captain had been found after being taken to a local vet, where they were able to identify him via his microchip. SHARON (2022) In November 2022, Katie's beloved dog Sharon was killed when she allegedly escaped and ran onto the road where she was hit by a car. The Pomeranian was picked up off the A24 by the driver of the vehicle and taken to to Arun Vets in Pulborough, West Sussex, where her death was confirmed. A source close to Katie told The Sun that the tragic even was 'rotten luck' and claimed that Katie was 'in bits'. BLADE (2023) In June 2023, Katie confirmed the death of her protection dog Blade, who was also struck by a car near her West Sussex property. Taking to Instagram, she wrote: 'Words can't express the lost of my best friend my protector my absolutely everything who had sadly passed away today. I have no words to say how I'm feeling but numb and shocked rip Blade.' She revealed that the RSPCA had visited her house after Blade's death, but then claimed that someone had deliberately killed him. Katie said: 'Update – RSPCA have been up to my house not having any concerns about my animals and never had. 'We are trying to put together how Blade has been killed and his last steps as this is a deliberate target to kill him.' TANK (2024) Katie bought German Shepherd Tank a month after Blade's death. However, in August 2023 she was accused of hitting the puppy in a TikTok live as he sat on her clothes. She could be heard yelling: 'Get off! You're sitting on my jumpers, my love, jumpers that I love. Get off. Jesus Christ... Anyway, as I was saying...' As Tank moved out of shot, Katie could be seen raising her hand to the animal, with users claiming they heard a 'loud smack'. Then she gave Tank away, reportedly because he no longer 'looks cute on Instagram'. The Sun reported that the mother-of-five got rid of the dog after 'losing interest' in him because she needed to 'train' him.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Animal rights fanatics Peta are branded 'disgusting and outlandish' for hitting out at William and Kate because they allowed their dog to have puppies
Outspoken animal rights activists who targeted Prince William and Kate for breeding their cocker spaniels were today condemned as 'doctrinaire fanatics'. The Prince and Princess of Wales were branded 'staggeringly out of touch' in a provocative statement from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta). The firebrand US group said nobody should be 'churning out a litter' when shelters were full of dogs needing homes in a so-called 'animal homelessness crisis'. But critics of Peta hit back today, describing the organisation as an 'extremist group' and 'animal rights terrorists' who are 'themselves staggeringly out of touch'. Peta is known for being outspoken and has attracted criticism from those who claim it operates as a 'political protest group' despite having charitable status – but the organisation insists its aim 'is, and always has been, to reduce animal suffering'. Elisa Allen, vice president of programmes for Peta, had said of the royal couple: 'The Prince and Princess of Wales should know that shelters here and worldwide are overflowing with puppies desperate for a second chance at a loving home.' She told MailOnline that 'churning out a litter in the midst of this animal homelessness crisis is staggeringly out of touch'. Ms Allen - who once sent Meghan Markle a vegan leather handbag as a birthday gift in 2018 - added: 'If William is going to lead, he might well take a lesson from King Charles and Queen Camilla, who have chosen to adopt from a shelter rather than contribute to the problem.' But royal author Lady Colin Campbell responded, saying: 'I see the animal rights terrorists are at it again. Peta has attacked the Prince and Princess of Wales for daring to breed from their dog. 'They commend – rightly - the King and Queen for rescuing dogs from Battersea Dogs Home, while condemning Wiliam and Catherine for allowing their family dog, which is a descendant of her brother's beloved dog, to have puppies.' Writing on X, she added: 'Doctrinaire fanatics refuse to acknowledge that they do their cause more harm than good by trying to bully people for making perfectly reasonable and acceptable choices. There is nothing wrong with perpetuating the line of a beloved pet.' The British-Jamaican socialite added that she had 'whelped several generations of beloved dogs, while also taking in generation after generation of rescue cats'. Former Conservative MSP Brian Monteith, who is now a communications adviser to the anti-Peta campaign group Peta Watch, told MailOnline: 'For Peta to attack the Princess of Wales during her battle with cancer over her decision to raise a puppy with her children is disgusting. 'Peta should apologise and withdraw its comments. But this animal rights group has form for outlandish attacks - it's done to attract publicity and donations when it provides no support to animal sanctuaries or rescue centres.' Mr Monteith, who was also a Brexit Party MEP, also described Peta as an 'extremist group', writing in the Telegraph today: 'It is the Waleses who are supremely in-touch with their role as parents building a caring family, while the virtue-signalling headline grabbers are themselves staggeringly out of touch.' In response to Peta Watch's claims, Ms Allen said Peta's aim 'is, and always has been, to reduce animal suffering and people are glad to receive information from our investigations and fact checking that give them the ability to make compassionate decisions'. She added that Peta and its global entities were backed by more than nine million members and supporters, and it had been a UK registered charity for nearly 30 years during which it had convinced hundreds of designers and retailers to drop fur, angora and wild-animal skins. Kensington Palace has refused to get involved in the row, declining to comment when approached by MailOnline today. The row erupted after William was pictured with his dog Orla and three of her puppies in a photo taken by Kate and released by Kensington Palace on Saturday for his 43rd birthday. The picture was accompanied by the caption: 'Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!'. The initials referred to Kate, who is more formally known as Catherine, and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis . In the photo, one of the chocolate cocker spaniel puppies is being stroked by William while their mother Orla is behind him. The Prince and Princess have had Orla since 2020, after their first dog together Lupo, also a cocker spaniel – which they were given as a wedding present from Kate's brother James Middleton – died unexpectedly. James is an experience breeder and has owned three generations of cocker spaniels. Orla gave birth to four puppies last month and the photograph was taken in Windsor on a sunny day earlier in June. The royal couple are understood to be planning to keep one of the new puppies. In February, Camilla told how she had adopted a rescue puppy after she was left heartbroken by the death of her beloved dog Beth. The Queen revealed the addition to her canine family called Moley – because, in her words, the dog 'looks just like a mole' - when she met a fellow dog lover at an event in Canterbury, Kent. Buckingham Palace posted the news of the death of Beth on social media last November alongside a montage of images of the royal pet, with the message describing the joy the animal brought to Camilla. Beth, a Jack Russell terrier, was adopted by Camilla from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2011, just like her other rescue dog Bluebell, the following year. Moley is a girl born on Boxing Day and is also from Battersea, the animal rescue centre in South London which Camilla supports as patron. The late Queen Elizabeth II owned more than 30 corgis, many of them direct descendants of her first one Susan, who was so loved she accompanied the then Princess Elizabeth on her honeymoon. She was also kept dorgis – a cross between a corgi and a dachshund. Charles also owned Jack Russells, including his beloved Tigga, who lived until the age of 18 and grew up with princes William and Harry. A willow and bronze wire sculpture of Tigga stands in tribute to the cherished pet in the gardens of Charles's Gloucestershire home Highgrove. Tigga's daughter Pooh went missing on the Balmoral estate in 1994 after running off into the trees, but was never found again. Back in January, the Duchess of Sussex said she was 'devastated' after the death of her rescue beagle Guy, who she adopted from a rescue centre in Canada. Meghan and her husband Prince Harry still have two other dogs – another rescue beagle called Mia and a black Labrador called Pula.
NDTV
30-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
PETA Demands Renaming World Milk Day To 'Bovine Mammary Secretion Day'
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has written a letter to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), demanding that the United Nations (UN) agency rename World Milk Day, celebrated on June 1, to 'World Bovine Mammary Secretion Day'. The animal rights group said it wanted the agency in charge of the "awareness day" to stop hiding what cow's milk really is and rebrand with a more 'transparent' title. "As World Milk Day aims, in part, to "spread the word about dairy," we'd like to propose a re-brand which would help you do just this by making clear what the white stuff from a cow really is: change the name of the awareness day to World Bovine Mammary Secretion Day," read the letter by PETA's Vice President of Programmed, Elisa Allen. "This rebrand reflects the fact that cows don't make milk because they're cows, but because they are mothers. What you call a "global food" is really a food intended for baby cows and bulls only." PETA argued that the production of milk led to cruelty against the calves, who were separated from their mothers "Cows' secretions aren't meant for humans any more than those of dogs or cockroaches are, but, thanks to human demand for their mothers' mammary secretions, calves are denied nutrients and the maternal bond forged when a mother feeds her infant." The non-profit group said the cows are "repeatedly milked" with as many as 60 per cent of them developing painful udder infection mastitis. "This infection, coupled with the fact that cows on factory farms often live coated with faeces, explains why a litre of milk can have up to 400,000,000 somatic (pus) cells." The group added that the dairy industry released massive amounts of greenhouse gases, which led to environmental degradation. This is not the first instance when PETA has come up with rather odd name ideas. Earlier this year, PETA argued that the definition of 'rat' should be changed in the Cambridge Dictionary. It claimed that the present entry perpetuated harmful stereotypes about the small, furry mammal. 'The derogatory association fuels false perceptions about rats and promotes speciesism – the human held belief that other animals are inferior.'
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Now woke scientists want to rename World Milk Day 'Bovine Mammary Secretion Day'
This Sunday marks World Milk Day, designed to 'celebrate the power of dairy'. The awareness day, introduced by the United Nations in 2001, aims to highlight milk as a 'vital, accessible food source that nourishes billions'. But one group who won't be celebrating are PETA, who are calling for the name of the day to be changed. A more fitting title, they argue, is 'World Bovine Mammary Secretion Day'. In a letter, written to the Food and Agriculture Organization, they point out that cows secrete milk to feed their offspring in the same way as humans. However, calves in the dairy industry are removed from their mothers, often very shortly after birth, so that 'the milk meant to nourish them can be stolen and sold to humans'. 'This rebrand reflects the fact that cows don't make milk because they're cows, but because they are mothers,' writes PETA Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen. 'What you call a 'global food' is really a food intended for baby cows and bulls only.' PETA – which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – also argue the dairy industry releases massive amounts of greenhouse gases. Their letter reads: 'As World Milk Day aims, in part, to 'spread the word about dairy', we'd like to propose a re-brand which would help you do just this by making clear what the white stuff from a cow really is: change the name of the awareness day to 'World Bovine Mammary Secretion Day'. 'Cows' secretions aren't meant for humans any more than those of dogs or cockroaches are, but, thanks to human demand for their mothers' mammary secretions, calves are denied nutrients and the maternal bond forged when a mother feeds her infant. 'Cows used by the dairy industry are forcibly inseminated repeatedly – often using what industry insiders have called a 'rape rack' – to ensure a steady supply of milk, which a cow produces only after she gives birth. 'But, often within hours or a day of birth, those babies are taken, causing both mother and child extreme distress. 'Males are usually sold for veal, while daughters follow in their mothers' sad footsteps.' They said that cows are repeatedly – usually mechanically- milked, and many develop painful udder infections as a result. 'Consumers deserve to make informed choices and to know what they're drinking,' Ms Allen added. The letter, from PETA Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen to the Food and Agriculture Organization, in full 'So far, dairy marketing has been as opaque as the product itself, but rebranding June 1 as 'World Bovine Mammary Secretion Day' can end this whitewashing, instead revealing that what most call 'milk' is really secretions extracted from exploited, unwell, and grieving mothers.' Earlier this year, PETA argued the definition of 'rat' should be changed in the Cambridge Dictionary. In a letter to its editor, the organisation said that when the term is used in reference to a human it depicts an 'unfair' representation of the small, furry mammal. It reads: 'We're writing on behalf of rats and those who care about them – as well as anyone who appreciates accuracy in language – to ask that you please update your entry for the informal noun "rat", currently defined as "an unpleasant person who deceives others or is not loyal". They have also previously called on posh decorating range Farrow & Ball to rename animal-themed paints such as 'Dead Salmon' to make them more 'vegan friendly'. Other paint names they want changed include 'Smoked Trout' and 'Potted Shrimp'. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF FARMING COWS The livestock animals are notorious for creating large amounts of methane, which is a major contributor to global warming. Each of the farm animals produces the equivalent of three tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and the amount of the animals is increasing with the growing need to feed a booming population. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, trapping 30 times more heat than the same amount of carbon dioxide. Scientists are investigating how feeding them various diets can make cattle more climate-friendly. They believe feeding seaweed to dairy cows may help and are also using a herb-rich foodstuff called the Lindhof sample. Researchers found a cow's methane emissions were reduced by more than 30 per cent when they ate ocean algae. In research conducted by the University of California, in August, small amounts of it were mixed into the animals' feed and sweetened with molasses to disguise the salty taste. As a result, methane emissions dropped by almost a third. 'I was extremely surprised when I saw the results,' said Professor Ermias Kebreab, the animal scientist who led the study. 'I wasn't expecting it to be that dramatic with a small amount of seaweed.' The team now plans to conduct a further six-month study of a seaweed-infused diet in beef cattle, starting this month.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Aquariums banned from allowing children to pet crabs and squid
Aquariums are to be banned from allowing children to pet crabs and squid. An overhaul of zoo and aquarium standards was announced on Saturday, with the aim of improving animal welfare. One major change is the prohibiting of vertebrates, cephalopods such as squid and octopus, and crabs from being kept in touch pools where they can be handled by visitors. Touch pools are built to mimic the natural rock pools found at the seaside and are home to a range of animal life. In nature these habitats are often filled with starfish, whelks, limpets and crabs and in aquariums. Those such as the one at the Sea Life London Aquarium are used to teach visitors, often children, about marine life. But rock pools in aquariums and zoos will no longer be able to host crabs or squid as a result of the new Government rules. The changes come after recent research has found that handling can be distressing to the animals, which are more intelligent than previously thought. The move has been applauded by animal-rights activists and there will be a two-year adjustment period before the changes need to be made. Elisa Allen, Peta's vice-president of programmes, told The Telegraph: 'Animals are not curiosities to be prodded, and prohibiting touch pools for decapod crustaceans and cephalopods – now recognised in UK law as sentient beings capable of feeling pain, stress, and distress – is both necessary and long overdue. 'These settings offer no escape from the relentless onslaught of human hands and fall far short of meeting the animals' complex physical and behavioural needs. 'Cephalopods, in particular, require ample space to explore, environmental enrichment, and the ability to hide – none of which are provided in the cramped, barren confines of a typical touch tank. It's past time we move away from treating other animals as mere playthings.' A Sea Life spokesperson said: 'The welfare of all creatures in our care is the number one priority at Sea Life. 'We welcome the updates to the standards for modern zoo practice, which will ensure that the UK continues to lead the way in the safety and welfare of animals in zoo-licensed premises. 'This is at the forefront of what we do at Sea Life. Whilst we await the full details, we have already begun preparing for the changes and will review further following publication.' The new welfare rules will also force zoos to make sure elephants have large outdoor space in which to roam, with the requirement for a herd of five or fewer elephants increasing sixfold from 3,000 square metres to 20,000 square metres. All zoos that contain the most dangerous animals, such as big cats, gorillas or elephants, will also have to have guns available to ensure public safety. Dr Jo Judge, CEO of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) which represents over 130 zoos and aquariums said: 'The new standards are a significant step up in legal requirements and cement Britain's position as a global leader for zoos and aquariums.' Baroness Hayman, the animal welfare minister, said: 'We are a nation of animal lovers, and our best zoos and aquariums are truly world leaders in setting the standard for how wild animals should be kept. 'Today's long-overdue reforms lay the foundation for an even stronger, even more compassionate future for all zoos and aquariums – and the animals they protect. This is the first step as part of our commitment to deliver the most ambitious animal welfare reforms in a generation. 'We're making sure all sectors have the tools they need thrive, which is vital in our mission to deliver economic growth and make lives better for people across the country under our Plan for Change' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
