However, over time, it has been seen that what in fact was needed was a strong but firm voice for the keepers’ without the need of the aggression. Pro Keepers’ Alliance we believe is just such a voice.

Pro Keepers’ Alliance deals with the concerns of the keepers’ rights in today’s’ industry. Dealing with the four main features that affect the exotic keeper:

Husbandry Issues

Responsible Ownership

Keepers’ Rights

Animals’ Rights

It stands for all sectors of the exotic community – mammals, primates, reptiles, avian, aquatic. The Alliance is for all the keepers whom support the fight, but do not wish to be involved in the ‘hard core’ political action of Pro Keepers’ Lobby, but do wish to be seen as supportive and contribute where they can.

Pro keepers’ Alliance represents the voice of the keeper, their concerns, their emotions and above all their passion/s for keeping and maintaining animals of their choice within captive care collections.

It supports the keepers who do not demand that they can keep these animals because it is their right to do so, but rather that they can defend the rights they have as a privilege of ownership. For to keep any animal is just that – a privilege.

And keepers have the rights to defend that privilege. For if they maintain under a responsible ownership, and display the right husbandry and promote the wellbeing of their charges – then just like their animals they as keepers also have rights.

Both the Lobby and the Alliance have campaign agendas.

With so much information around, it is all too easy for keepers to simply not bother trying to understand the ins and outs. However, this is the wrong notion to apply, especially in the UK market.

So many organisations are trying to simply 'snuff' out the chances keepers have of being able maintain species for the first time or continue to maintain species within their husbandry skills and experience levels.

Because of both the hidden agenda and the not so hidden schedules that many Anti Organisations present to those whom are either ignorant or oppose animal keeping, we must show to all those against us that as business, hobby, passion we are not simply enthusiastic, but highly skilled, proficient and responsible keepers.

It is therefore the responsibility of all keepers' to ensure, that all involved in this industry do everything possible to show and display to the opposition that we are professionals.

We could run down the anti establishments, but we do see very little point to doing that. With a generally apathetic reaction from the market l feel that the opposition have to do very little to dismantle this industry - well apart from lean back in their chairs and smile, whilst we with our miserable motivation slowly press the destruction buttons.

Because of this belief, l feel that it is all important now at the time of need for all the exotics keepers to stand together, and form a barrier.

It was this reason alone that Pro Keepers' Lobby recognised the need to create Pro Keepers' Alliance.

Let us stand together, join ranks despite differences and unite as one solid wall.

The Alliance stands for: