A Summary Of Owning Exotic Animals

Responsible private ownership of exotic animals should be legal if they are well taken care of. Not to mention, “Terry Thompson did not represent the typical responsible owner. He had a criminal record and animal abuse charges. Equally important, dangers from exotic animals are low. Let People Own Exotic Animals says, “On average in the United States, only 3.25 people per year are killed by captive big cats, snakes, elephants and bears.”

Owning an exotic pet can go wrong in a lot of ways and it can seriously harm the animal you are keeping, other animals, and people; including the animal's owner. If someone would want to try to keep one of these animals they would have to put a lot of work, time, and money into it because you have to keep the animal healthy, happy, safe, and you also have to make sure you are keeping everyone else safe including yourself. Still, you could be putting yourself, the animal, and others in danger.

In most places owning a dog or cat is second nature, but what about a tiger, bear or maybe python? Exotic pet ownership is far from having a clear right or wrong answer but it is in need of a ban for both the protection of animal and owner.For exotic pet owners, owning a wild beast insures a sense of power and uniqueness. It is also their way of contributing to the conservation of a species by having a “backup population” once human population growth and habitat destruction has resulted in extinction (Slater 113). But in reality the ownership of wild animals as pets only helps to damage already fragile ecosystems, both the one from which they came from and the new one in which they find themselves. Animals in captivity are also stripped of a natural life in the wild, free of confinement and unsuitable care. Finally, the risk to humans is very large, injuries inflicted from exotic pets are dangerous and possibly deadly. Bans vary from state to state, ranging from no ban to partial ban to complete ban, but even in states with full bans, exotic pet ownership still occurs. Private ownership of an exotic animal as a pet should be banned in the US, due to disruptions in ecosystems, the dangers that wild animals are exposed too, and the risks to the owners of these pets.

Some people feel they should be allowed to keep exotic animals as they think they are capable of taking care for the animals.

Every child has asked their parents for a pet animal. The thing is though, is what type of animal they asked for. Such as a dog or cat and even the occasional hippopotamus for Christmas, right? Lots of people buy exotic animals not knowing how much work it really takes to take care of them. For example, many people have bought pythons and when they get to a size where they can’t keep care of them they let them go into the wild. Exotic animals are very costly and time consuming, they grow up and get bigger and all in all they are very dangerous.

In a nutshell, exotic animals are a poison to society due to the expense we have to waste on them and their changeable habits. Keep in mind that the next time one might buy an exotic pet, they must be cautious of how these pets may affect a person’s

Even though there are professional trainers to train animals still, there are 1610 incidents in America alone that have been reported regarding exotic pets in which there were 75 deaths. From this, it is clear to see that pets aren’t the safest things to have in your home. Many states don’t allow this but some still do. People should not be allowed to own exotic and endangered animals as pets. Even if they are not threatening you, you may cause a threat to them. These animals should have lots of space to move around and live in a safe habitat. Exotic and endangered animals could be dangerous to society and cause injuries or even death. Even as smart as humans are, they might not be able to handle these animals.

You also have to see what requirements, there are such as having a permit for that animal. “An example of needing a permit in Vermont you’ll need a permit to own an anaconda, but not to keep a pet alligator.” Another example is in “Idaho you need a permit for tigers and other deleterious exotic animals.” One more thing to remember is that exotic animal laws are constantly changing due to concerns for public safety, and animal wellbeing (Exotic Animal Laws by State). Some of these laws are to protect us from the diseases the animals can carry (Inside The Exotic Animal Trade).

Exotic animals kept as house pets are a hazard to the pet owners and any other people around the

While domesticated pets like dogs and cats make good pets many people want to own exotic animals that belong in the wild. These animals range from tigers to pythons, but should not be owned as they need special care most people cannot provide. Not only this, but exotic animals release is harmful for everyone, the exotic animal, humans, and native animals. Lastly, many exotic animals carry diseases that are harmless to them, but fatal to humans. Exotic “pets” are harmful for everyone, not just the pet. This is why people should not be able to own exotic pets.

Most exotic animals are adorable when they are younger, but when they grow up they become aggressive and unmanageable with their size. In Mia Lewis’s article she says “Many exotic animals are strong enough to be dangerous even without meaning to cause harm” (Lewis). Take a lion for example, they are very small to begin, but as they grow they become more aggressive and do not even know it. There thought process of fooling around is way different from what humans think. Another thing Mia Lewis states is that “They are wild animals with wild animal instincts, even when born in captivity.”(Lewis). Some people think that raising and exotic animal from when they were younger until they are older makes it better. Exotic pets can be raised from when they were young until they are old, but they still have the genes of being what they really are. Animals all have genes in them to be who they are made to be, even when people train and raise them and nothing can stop

Without the right attention and care needed for such animals it can sometimes drive owners to find quick solutions people are underestimating the potential risks of owning an out of the extraordinary, exotic, species.

Not all people own exotic animals as pets some keep these animals in small spaces and abuse them. On the Peta.Org website they

People shouldn’t own exotic animals for the reason that the animal can be a potential threat to you or family members around you also public safety is at risk and the last reason why you shouldn't own an exotic animal is animal cruelty is involved ,My first reason is

Exotic animals can easily become endangered animals. According to current estimates, a third of the world’s amphibians, one in eight birds, and a quarter of all mammals are endangered. (“Endangered Species”). On average, there are twenty-three states in the United States of America alone that allow you to legally own an exotic animal, and twelve of those you do not even need a permit to acquire them (Loria). This increases the chance of fatality, malnourishment, being endangered, extinction and other issues. Exotic animals being kept can also endanger humans while being in harm's way themselves. Examples of some popular exotic animals some people might not consider exotic are snakes, birds, monkeys, big cats, and turtles. Turtles are the most endangered in the vertebrate groups due to the pet trade. This is because once you get a turtle, you cannot release it again or else it will not survive. Second, big cats are extremely popular in the US. There are around 10,000 tigers being kept as pets. This means there are more tigers kept as pets than in the wild. Statistically, since 1990 there have been 21 human deaths, 246 maulings, and 143 wild-cat deaths in captivity. Next, monkeys are also incredibly popular. Monkeys can carry various diseases such as Herpes B-Virus, Monkeypox, Ebola, and many more. Owning a monkey is bad for the monkey and for the owner. Additionally, there are over 150,000 parrots smuggled into the U.S. every year. Birds are meant to fly and be free, not to have their wings clipped and be confined into a tiny space. They have lost their whole life, and freedom so they can be called “pretty bird” and fed little pellets. Lastly, are the snakes. Snakes are everywhere around the world, ranging in color, shape, size, and species. In the last decade, more than 12 people have been killed from boa constrictor incidents, and with even more injuries. Snakes are also very dangerous to humans. Not only do a lot of