# Protecting Our Hobby: Welfare, The Five Freedoms, and Why "Positive Lists" Aren't the Answer
**URL:** https://reptilecommunity.com/t/protecting-our-hobby-welfare-the-five-freedoms-and-why-positive-lists-arent-the-answer/291
**Category:** General Reptile Chat
**Created:** [December 29, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://reptilecommunity.com/t/protecting-our-hobby-welfare-the-five-freedoms-and-why-positive-lists-arent-the-answer/291 "2025-12-29T15:38:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ReptileCommunity](https://reptilecommunity.com/u/ReptileCommunity)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://reptilecommunity.com/t/protecting-our-hobby-welfare-the-five-freedoms-and-why-positive-lists-arent-the-answer/291/1 "2025-12-29T15:38:55Z")
## **Protecting Our Hobby: Welfare, The Five Freedoms, and Why “Positive Lists” Aren’t the Answer**
### **The “Positive List” Threat: What You Need to Know**
There is a growing push across the EU for “Positive Lists”—a system where only a tiny handful of “approved” species are legal to keep.
- **The RRK Position:** Responsible Reptile Keeping (RRK) and other advocacy groups argue that Positive Lists are **unenforceable, scientifically flawed, and counter-productive.** \* **The Danger:** When a species is banned, it doesn’t disappear; it goes “underground.” This leads to owners being afraid to seek veterinary care, fueling a lack of transparency and poorer welfare outcomes.
- **Action Link:** [RRK’s “Positive Lists Don’t Work” Guide](https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/positive-lists-dont-work)
### **Welfare as Defense: The “Five Freedoms” in Irish Law**
In Ireland, our best defense against restrictive bans is demonstrating that we are **world-class keepers**. The **Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013** is the standard we must live by. It is built on the Five Freedoms, but we should view these as the _minimum_ starting point.
**1. Freedom from Hunger & Thirst (Section 13)**
- **The Law:** Access to wholesome water and food that meets “physiological needs.”
- **Responsible Keeping:** Using gut-loaded feeders and vitamins to ensure nutritional density.
- **Link:** [Irish Statute Book - Section 13 (Feeding)](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2013/act/15/section/13/enacted/en/html)
**2. Freedom from Discomfort (Section 11)**
- **The Law:** A suitable environment including shelter.
- **Responsible Keeping:** This means 100% control over the **Thermal Gradient**. Using high-quality thermostats is not optional—it is a legal welfare requirement to prevent “thermal discomfort.”
**3. Freedom from Pain, Injury, & Disease (Section 12)**
- **The Law:** Prevention or rapid diagnosis of illness.
- **Responsible Keeping:** This requires specialized UVB lighting to prevent Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) and regular health checks. In Ireland, failing to treat a sick reptile is a criminal offense under “unnecessary suffering.”
- **Link:** [HPSC Guidance on Reptile Health](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/zoonotic/salmonellosis/reptilesandsalmonella/)
**4. Freedom to Express Normal Behavior (Section 11)**
- **The Law:** Providing for “behavioral needs.”
- **Responsible Keeping:** RRK emphasizes **Enrichment**. A snake should be able to stretch out fully; a lizard should have room to forage. If your enclosure prevents natural movement, you are technically in breach of Section 11.
**5. Freedom from Fear & Distress (Section 12)**
- **The Law:** Conditions that avoid mental suffering.
- **Responsible Keeping:** Providing enough “security” (multiple hides) so the animal never feels exposed.
### **Buying & Selling: Staying Above Board**
To protect the community’s reputation, we must follow the **2019 Sale or Supply of Pet Animals Regulations** :
- **Traceability:** If you sell 6+ animals a year, you **must** register with the DAFM.
- **Age Limits:** No sales to anyone under **16**.
- **Ads:** All online ads must include the animal’s age, origin, and your registration number (if applicable).
- **Link:** [Gov.ie - Selling Pet Animals in Ireland](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/87771-sale-or-supply-of-pet-animals/)
### **How to Support the Community**
The future of reptile keeping in Ireland depends on us proving that **Responsible Keeping = High Welfare.** 1. **Join RRK:** Stand with an organization that uses science to fight misinformation. [Join here](https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/memberships).
2. **Education over Bans:** Support the “Responsible Reptile Keeping” campaign to show that educated keepers provide better lives for animals than a government-mandated list ever could.
3. **Record Keeping:** Keep a “Welfare Log” for your animals. If an inspector ever visits, showing records of temps, sheds, and feeds proves you are a responsible keeper under the 2013 Act.
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### Author:  [@ReptileCommunity](https://reptilecommunity.com/u/ReptileCommunity)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2026, 12:50am UTC](https://reptilecommunity.com/t/protecting-our-hobby-welfare-the-five-freedoms-and-why-positive-lists-arent-the-answer/291/2 "2026-01-17T00:50:46Z")
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