Keeping exotic animals as pets

Would you keep a cat in a fish bowl? Or a hamster in a horse stable? Would you feed rabbit chow to your dog, or try to train a snake to sit? Yes, these are sillyeven dangerousthings to do. Unfortunately, people do something similar when they keep exotic animals as pets, for example… Would you keep a cat in a fish bowl? Or a hamster in a horse stable? Would you feed rabbit chow to your dog, or try to train a snake to sit? Yes, these are sillyeven dangerousthings to do. Unfortunately, people do something similar when they keep exotic animals as pets, for example…

Iguana

Lemur

Snake

Spider

Parrot

It may be easy to buy an exotic animal, but it is not a good idea. It is bad for the animals, bad for us and bad for the environment. It may be easy to buy an exotic animal, but it is not a good idea. It is bad for the animals, bad for us and bad for the environment.

It's Bad for the Animals Domesticated animals like dogs and cats don't do well without people, and wild and exotic animals don't do well with people. Stress, trauma, and behavioral disorders are common in exotics kept as pets. Unfortunately, getting medical care is extremely difficultand not just because it may be illegal to have them. Domesticated animals like dogs and cats don't do well without people, and wild and exotic animals don't do well with people. Stress, trauma, and behavioral disorders are common in exotics kept as pets. Unfortunately, getting medical care is extremely difficultand not just because it may be illegal to have them.

For one, many exotic animals hide symptoms of illness. And even when illness is suspected, finding a proper vet could require a visit to the zoo. It's not easy to find a vet to treat your exotic animals. For one, many exotic animals hide symptoms of illness. And even when illness is suspected, finding a proper vet could require a visit to the zoo. It's not easy to find a vet to treat your exotic animals.

It's Bad for Us The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that 90% of imported green iguanas carry "some strain of intestinal bacteria." Renquist and Whitney (1987) give an excellent summary of many of the diseases that primates alone can transmit to people. They report that up to 25 percent of both imported and domestically bred macaques have or have had the herpes B virus. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that 90% of imported green iguanas carry "some strain of intestinal bacteria." Renquist and Whitney (1987) give an excellent summary of many of the diseases that primates alone can transmit to people. They report that up to 25 percent of both imported and domestically bred macaques have or have had the herpes B virus.

Exotic animals, by definition, are not domesticated. Exotic animals are unpredictable. Their behavior may change with seasons or life cycles in ways we don't understand. They rarely bond with their owners. Pet primates, big cats and reptiles have attacked and seriously injured their owners, unsuspecting neighbors and bystanders. Exotic animals, by definition, are not domesticated. Exotic animals are unpredictable. Their behavior may change with seasons or life cycles in ways we don't understand. They rarely bond with their owners. Pet primates, big cats and reptiles have attacked and seriously injured their owners, unsuspecting neighbors and bystanders.

It's Bad for the Environment Where do exotic animals come from? It is very hard to breed most exotic pets in captivity one of the many tell-tale signs that even experts don't understand what these animals need in order to thrive. To meet the demands of those who keep exotic animals as pets, dealers often have to take the animals from their native lands. This disrupts the ecosystems from which they are stolen, and can disrupt the ecosystems to which they are taken if they escape or are set loose. Where do exotic animals come from? It is very hard to breed most exotic pets in captivity one of the many tell-tale signs that even experts don't understand what these animals need in order to thrive. To meet the demands of those who keep exotic animals as pets, dealers often have to take the animals from their native lands. This disrupts the ecosystems from which they are stolen, and can disrupt the ecosystems to which they are taken if they escape or are set loose.

The Law The government responds to the problems posed by exotic animals kept as pets, but the laws often are inadequate. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have each opposed certain exotic animals as pets. Some state and local laws prohibit the sale or keeping of exotic animals. Other states require that a person obtain a license. Still other states have no laws. The government responds to the problems posed by exotic animals kept as pets, but the laws often are inadequate. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have each opposed certain exotic animals as pets. Some state and local laws prohibit the sale or keeping of exotic animals. Other states require that a person obtain a license. Still other states have no laws.

Even though the government does try to help, we have to rely on our own common sense and ethics to prevent the cruelty and damage that owning an exotic animal causes. Exotic animals are not good pets. Let's concentrate on saving these animals natural homesnot removing the animals from them! Even though the government does try to help, we have to rely on our own common sense and ethics to prevent the cruelty and damage that owning an exotic animal causes. Exotic animals are not good pets. Let's concentrate on saving these animals natural homesnot removing the animals from them!