EXOTIC pets often suffer for months or die in poor conditions because their owners do not know how to look after them properly, according to the RSPCA.

The charity is hoping that its Handle With Care campaign, which was launched yesterday, will encourage pet owners to think carefully before taking on a demanding animal.

Alan Wolinski, the RSPCA's Northern manager, said: "There are many people who have a wealth of exotic pet care knowledge who set an excellent example, but there are many without.

"In addition, a worrying number of pet shops are not questioning the knowledge prospective exotic pet owners have, and the information given by many pet shops is often poor and misleading.''

Last year, the charity collected more than 2,500 neglected, unwanted or abandoned exotic pets.

A survey of vets carried out by the RSPCA said the profession felt the number of exotic animals suffering because of their owner's lack of knowledge was increasing.

The survey also revealed that many vets did not have the knowledge or experience to treat exotic animals.

Mr Wolinski said: "Clearly animals with specialist needs are frequently going home with uninformed people to conditions that will ultimately lead to their suffering, and veterinary treatment can be hard to find."