What is EMODE?

EMODE is a scientific (yet easy to use) tool that can help you make the right decision when considering taking on an animal as a pet. EMODE can also be used by official personnel when assigning species to restrictive lists of ‘suitable’ animals in trade and keeping.

EMODE is animal and consumer-friendly. It takes into account:

  • what is best for the animal, because some animals may be more difficult to care for than you think and…
  • what is best for you, in terms of the challenges and true costs involved in keeping your animal of interest, as well as helping you to avoid making the mistake of acquiring pet-linked disease or injury.
Lovebirds

Your animal of interest will be scored and will fall into one of the following categories:

E

Easy

Mo

Moderate

D

Difficult

E

Extreme

To help you interpret EMODE scores, an explanation is given of how an animal in a category is likely to affect your lifestyle. Note that for all pets a sound understanding of the animal’s needs is required and in addition to initial purchase and set up costs for appropriate housing and accessories (which may be far greater than you are given to believe) and finances needed for ongoing care, you must also budget generously for veterinary expenses (both routine wellness and emergency care in case of illness or injury).

Easy

It is possible for most people to adapt their lifestyles, with some adjustments, to provide appropriate care for animals in this category.

It is very important to appreciate that no animal is entirely easy to look after and that keeping any animal is a major and often expensive commitment.

Moderate

It is possible for many people to adapt their lifestyles, with significant adjustments, to provide appropriate care for animals in this category.

Caring for animals in this category is practicable for many people provided that they budget accordingly for the care of the animal, research and educate themselves properly, and ensure they have enough time for detailed daily husbandry routines.

Difficult

Providing appropriate care for such animals is unrealistic for most people.

Caring for animals in this category requires specialist knowledge and experience, as well as considerable time, effort, space and money to manage the animal. Keepers should be prepared to revolve much of their daily lives around husbandry regimes for the duration of the animal’s lifespan.

Extreme

Providing appropriate care for these animals is almost impossible for anyone and even zoos may find the care of such animals to be challenging.

Caring for animals in this category requires a high level of specialist knowledge and relevant formal qualifications, as well as more time, effort, space and money than most people are able to afford. Keepers must be prepared to prioritise and fully revolve their daily lives around husbandry regimes for the duration of the animal’s lifespan.

There is no such thing as ‘easy’!

Although many animals fall into the ‘easy’ category, the word ‘easy’ is relative to the other categories and should not be taken to mean that any animal is entirely easy to keep. It is a major responsibility to keep any animal as a pet.

If you are NOT going to take care of an animal conscientiously, then of course any species is easy to keep.

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