The RSPCA has issued a warning over keeping exotic pets after finding seven snakes abandoned at a home in Greater Manchester.
The animal welfare charity was notified of the reptiles when owner contacted them alongside his landlord to say that he would be leaving them behind as he was moving home, and the seven snakes were then later discovered in a front room and an upstairs bedroom of the property.
The seven snakes – which were identified as a royal python and six corn snakes – were found in the town of Heywood in Rochdale.
The RSPCA inspectors that attended the property, Catherine Byrnes and Ryan King, found that, despite being kept in makeshift plastic tubs and containers, all seven snakes were healthy and in good condition, and were subsequently taken into the care of a specialist reptile rescue near Knutsford on 25 April.
Giving a little more insight on the situation as they found it, Inspector Catherine Byrnes said: “While the needs of the snakes weren’t being met when we found them in this property they were in a good condition and the owner had clearly been feeding them, to look after snakes you do need to provide a living environment for them with adequate heating, lighting and humidity.
The seven snakes were identified as a royal python and six corn snakes / Credit: RSPCA
“We did find some heat mats in a bedroom, but obviously the owner hadn’t got around to using them or housing his snakes properly.”
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Now, the RSPCA has issued a warning to those looking to keep exotic pets.
The charity fundamentally says it wants anyone wishing to own reptiles to research the needs of the particular species, before deciding if they can meet those responsibilities, as many people are unaware of the commitment needed to keep a snake as a pet.
“Potential owners need to think carefully before they adopt snakes and other exotics because they are specialist animals,” Ms Byrnes added.
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“You need to have the correct set-up to look after them and you need to understand you are responsible for finding them a suitable home if you are unable to continue caring for them.
“We can help out, but it is not that simple as animals like this can be difficult to rehome.”
Featured Image – RSPCA
News
How will the Government’s new digital ID alternative for alcohol sales work?
Emily Sergeant
All licensed venues across England and Wales now have the choice to introduce digital proof of age for alcohol sales alongside physical.
Instead of having to hand over physical ID that contains personal information, such as names and home addresses, customers now have the choice to simply provide confirmation that they are 18 or over on their phone – helping to better protect privacy and personal safety in the process.
This means that, no matter whether you’re buying a drink at your favourite pub, heading to a festival, or enjoying a night out at a concert, you won’t need to worry if you’ve left your ID at home.
According to the Government, this new change will benefit businesses greatly too, as certified digital services are able to check that an ID is genuine and belongs to the person presenting it much easier than the alternative can, which therefore helps to reduce the risk of any fake or borrowed IDs going undetected.
Well, according to the Government, it could be as simple as a customer showing a QR code for staff to scan, or tapping their phone against a compatible reader, where staff will then receive a clear confirmation on their device that the customer has passed the age check.
This change follows a 2024 Government consultation where it was reported that 72% of respondents supported the use of digital identities for age verification when buying alcohol.
Digital Government Minister Stephanie Peacock reiterated that ‘it will remain an individual or business’ choice whether to use or adopt [digital ID]’ and that physical ID will ‘still remain a valid way’ for customers to prove their age.
“This groundbreaking change in the law will mean you do not need to carry a physical ID, nor hand over sensitive personal information such as your name or address just to prove your age, allowing everyone to feel safer on a night out,” she concluded.
Featured Image – Robin Worrall (via Unsplash)
News
Manchester to host G20 Summit in 2027 with more than a dozen world leaders descending on the city
Emily Sergeant
Manchester has been confirmed as the host city for the G20 Summit next year.
It was already announced back in November last year that the G20 Summit would be coming to the UK in 2027, and plans were apparently already being discussed to host it in Manchester even before Andy Burnham became Prime Minister and Number 10 North was set up.
But now, ahead of this year’s leaders’ summit being held in Miami in December, it has been confirmed that the G20 Summit will arrive in Manchester in November 2027.
Manchester is said to have been picked to host the leaders’ summit because of its ‘cultural heritage’.
Bringing together 19 of the world’s largest economies and two major multilateral bodies – the European Union and the African union – G20 members who will be invited to attend the summit next year make up 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population as a whole.
Manchester has been confirmed to host the G20 Summit in 2027 / Credit: 10 Downing Street | Paul Kagame (Flickr)
G20 members are also some of the UK’s closest economic partners, the Government insists.
17 of the UK’s top 20 global export markets attend the summit, as do 18 of the UK’s top 20 sources of foreign direct investment.
The presidency of the G20 is currently held by the US but will pass to the UK after the leaders’ summit hosted by the president at his Trump National Doral Miami golf resort in December.
The 2027 summit will be held at Manchester Central, it has been confirmed, and other locations across the UK will also host other G20 events as part of the year-long presidency, but these are yet to be announced.
Emily Sergeant -
4th May 2022 
