While there are risks inherent in keeping any type of animal, reptiles are the second safest pet to keep, just behind tropical fish, according to statistical analysis.
Figures produced by the Home Accident Surveillance System reveal there were 328 injuries caused by repitles in a year, compared to 64,063 caused by dogs. Overall it equates to 0.006% of companion reptiles caused an injury.
It is interesting to note that one injury recorded as being reptile related was of a man who tripped in his garden when he thought he saw a snake. Another incident told of a keeper who cut their finger while using scissors to harvest grass. The grass was used to feed to locusts, which in turn were used to feed to a pet lizard.
These erxamples have been quoted in a report called 'Reptiles and Amphibians as Companion Animals' produced by the European Union Association of Reptile Keepers.
EUARK are using the report in the battle to stave off attempts by animal rights organisations to ban certain species across Europe.
