06 November 2000



Focus Finally Bow To Pressure Group

Following a nine-month campaign by national pressure group Animal Aid, the DIY store chain, Focus Do It All, has announced that it is to end the sale of reptiles and exotic spiders in all its branches.

Existing 'stocks' of reptiles are to be sent back to the supplier, the Surrey-based Strictly Reptiles.

Animal Aid's objections to the sales were based on the highly specialised needs of these animals - the majority of whom die in captivity within a year, according to US pet industry data.

Reptile sales have traditionally been a niche market and Animal Aid objected to what it saw as an 'emphasis on large volume sales'.