It's "common knowledge" that exotics make terrible pets, and convincing people otherwise is so, so hard. My fox belongs somewhere to be free but when she was little she got bit by a wolf and i saved her when she was getting hurt so from now on ive kept her safe. Website by VMBS Communications And not just in the United States, but worldwide (think feral dogs, cats, pigeons, swine). Give it up, and let it live a life where it has everything it needs. I was asleep in the passenger seat with Jezzy curled up in my chest. An irrefutable fact is the destruction of animal habitat by humankind slowing forcing many animals into extinction. This is because there is no government agency responsible for tracking the ownership and sale of privately owned exotic animals. All animals are the same we just spent more time with dogs and cats. 3. In our book, an exotic pet is an unusual species that you wouldnt expect to see around a house or in a cage. Of course I thought ticket. Salmonella affects about 1.2 million people in the US each year. Dogs are the only animals with true genetic inclination to be around humans, and even some of those breeds are not house pets. We build large, resource-consuming homes that we dont need on top of the homes of hundreds of other animals. The state trooper was older and I'm sure seeing three, barely legal teens, one refusing to let go of the ferret, wasn't what he expected. But these arent the only animals to watch out for. If the cat doesn't want to live with humans, it doesn't have to - it can always go and live somewhere else. Many indoor cats have behavioral problems, weight gain, and neurosis as a resultwhich is not unlike what occurs with inadequately cared for exotic pets or zoo animals. Exotic animals are different from regular animals in that they are not kept in the same environment. I think what Melissa was trying to say was that the blue tilapia was not introduced to the ecosystem by the pet trade. You did great. My personal opinion is that the difference between domestic and exotic animals (referring mostly to mammals here) is that domestics are bred to want and enjoy human company whereas exotics are trained to tolerate it. Should a tiger escape and eat 2 school children tomorrow, my point is that these situations are extremely RARE. Pot-bellied pigs, camels, and llamas are some examples. Not all domestics enjoy humans and not all non-domestics only do so when trained. you could try and stop selfish people and inspire selflessness. Here are 10 of them dispelled by an actual exotic pet owner. Tiger mothers are killed and the baby kidnapped for someone's "pet". Visit only ethical and regulated captivity centers. Doesn't it matter that members of the uninvolved public are almost never victims? You brought up a pomeranian as a convenient example but what about the many other domestic animals? There's no such thing as a wild ferret. I can't argue against the negative stuff: disease, environmental problems, bad care from some ownersall of that is true. The booming business in exotic pets is known. Keeping any pet is selfish. But it was actually a list of counties and cities that ferrets were banned (at the time) with corresponding state. Thank you for this article. You made amazing points and your article was very helpful. they are a horrid pet. North Grafton, MA 01536, Tufts Initiative for Human Animal Interactions, Comparative Pathology & Genomics Shared Resource, Tufts New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory, Clipping Your Pet's Nails - Cautions and Clippers, How to Use Pill Pockets to Give Your Pets Medication, Summer Environmental Dangers For Your Pet. And that is just the tip, So, you want to know how many dogs are in the world? Singapore is one of the largest pet importers. But no cat is built to live inside a house (consider learning more about proper indoor enrichment). 4. Many people believe that exotic animals have not adapted to being kept as pets in the same way that domesticated species have. Take any subject upon which opinions vary. Kansas City, MO. However, many exotic critters may not be legal to own where you live. The term exotic pet encompasses a broad range of animals, loosely meaning any pet that is not a dog, cat, or farm animal. My ferret chose to stay rather than run away. The only characteristic that can define all animals considered to be domesticated is that they readily breed in the presence of humans. Animals dont even need to attack to hurt or kill. And Im not one of those people who say Chihuahuas bite more than pit bulls!failing to realize that a pit bull bite is far more severe than a little dogs. Breaking free is one thing, but animal attacks are quite another. 1. "Any animal can bite". Horses, cows, and other large herbivores have caused deaths because of their sheer mass alone, and countless injuries that would never make the major news unless a celebrity was the victim. I don't think there's anything wrong with exotic pets or cats. How about sports betting? Its true, there are problems with the exotic pet trade, and Ill never hesitate to admit this. It doesn't seem to make any sense. Tambako The Jaguar (CC BY-ND 2.0) Via Flickr. Ten years ago, exotic animal owner Terry Thompson returned home to his 46-acre farm near Zanesville after a year-long stint in prison on a federal firearms conviction. This is obviously an emotive subject for alot of people. 5. This is a statement, not an argument. Some conservationists have actually suggested captive breeding of tigers to offset the shooters. You cannot just buy a baby tiger and expect it to be domesticated because it has grown up with humans-- it will still experience the natural instinct to hunt, run around, find a mate, and everything else an animal does in the wild. 7 Southern Pig-Tailed Macaque Monkey Photo credit: Hectonichus Monkeys may not sound like the most dangerous animals in the world. Sadly that is unanswerable, although I would wager millions of years of evolution would be hard to overcome. Emma is a lover of all animals. Her enthusiasm for writing and research is behind the most reliable information for pet lovers. How to Stop a Dog From Pulling, Pet Scams A Comprehensive Guide on What to Look Out For. Thanks for the good info provided here. April 9, 2021. Well, it can get a bit dangerous. The thriving industry is worth over $15 billion a year. If theres no demand, the trade will cease to exist. THAT is irrefutable. I loved her name is Mochie. If you have an exotic pet, you are most likely promoting the exotic pet trade. The exotic pets market is growing. Sep 4, 2020, 10:38 AM. Exotic pet statistics show reptiles can carry the very same bacteria, and you dont have to eat one to get infected. You are saying two wrongs make a right. I meant to say "It doesn't matter if you'll take good care of your "pet" because the animal most likely was (when it was captured and being transported) unable to eat, move, and behave properly.". Perhaps your lynx example is a situation involving an uninvolved member of the public, but it should be noted that the girl received "no visible injuries". Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Now, lets look at whats happening to exotic pets worldwide. Tigers are pretty easy to breed, and therefore anyone can achieve it. It is not realistic to assume that all cat keepers are aware of the commitment involved that should be carried out with all pets in captivityin fact most people view cats as 'easy care' pets that don't require much attention from the owner. That is my opinion. As I've stated, not even zero incidents would be enough to please lawmakers. Still, domesticated animals can also cause severe damage, like the 4.5 million dog bites occurring annually in the US. if those two examples are the same to you then you must have a brain the size of that of an ostrich. I told them I didn't know I couldn't bring her and that I we would turn the car around and not enter, but they called the state trooper. The wild relatives of domesticated cats aren't tigers and lions, This is a wildcat, and not much has changed. But these animals still maintain more acceptance as pets than exotic pets like small wild cats that have no human fatalities on record. 200 Westboro Road I see your argument, though I don't think it is right for anyone to own an animal that deserves to live naturally in the wild. Take A Trip On The Wild Side: Ethical Exotic Pet Ownership. And yet, by and large the wildlife situation in the US national forests is in reasonable shape. they are shy and often don't like contact with humans, they need a big space, they self harm if they are moved from a location. You must really love cats. (Did you see the double animal pun?). Out of those species, over 85% were imported via the pet trade. As of 2018, the US has over, Monkeys are the most common primate that private owners hold. You won't see such a high rate of zoonotic diseases in domestics (for example, domestic felines are only about 30% likely to carry toxoplasmosis, and that isn't even a fatal disease most of the time) . I own an exotic pet, and I agree with all of your points. (On her leash with her name tag). they have a nasty bite. You don't understand animals if you think tigers just want to kill everything. So what! You may be so in love with a serval, or a macaw, but wouldn't you rather see these animals happy? A human-socialized tiger has a better disposition than a feral cat, but the feral cat is domesticated and the tiger is not, because that word means a change of genes. Liked by New York State for Exotic Animal Ownership. I hope some education will help you all. Jezzy passed 3 years later but I still have a photo of her and the trooper. For instance, when Cheetahs are captured, there's more prey. Review some of the arguments that support private exotic pet ownership. Therefore, people who approve of pet cats (or dogs, small reptiles, ferrets, ect.) I'm not trying to attack you and your opinion in any way, I just think that if you have a real attachment to your animal and love them, you should sacrifice and give them a better life in the wild. Generally, the first reaction a typical person has is of course! There are lots of examples like that ranging from criminal justice issues, to controversy surrounding freedom of speech, artistic expression, personal lifestyles, etc. Exotic pet ownership statistics show that the pet trade imports 70% of them into the country. Needless to say I have never been to California. These issues are resolved the same exact way you would with an 'exotic' animal. I'm fairly confident you can't.". One needs to have an open mind to the pros and cons of the big picture putting aside opinions of right and wrong and realizing they are often arbitrary. 1,2 The surge in ownership of exotic animals has certainly contributed to an increase in owners seeking veterinary care for . Despite the knowledge we have on exotic pets, the problem remains. Exotic animals are beautiful and fascinating creatures, but they rarely make great household pets. Exotic animal regulations in New Brunswick. Only some dogs, some of which are unethically incapacitated through breeding (bull dogs, pugs) need human help to breed and survive. You dream it we build it Licensed Bonded Insured Aimnwconstruction dot com do NOT contact me with unsolicited services or offers Privacy | This is not really an environmental issue, and despite this fact, the last time anyone has caught this virus from a macaque was in the 90's. We are talking about exotic pets. Exotic pet incident statistics show its not just these animals that get out. 4. The domesticated cat is established in all 50 states, and there is a powerful lobby to not only stop cat removal for the protection of wildlife, but currently owned pet cats are routinely released to add to the devastation of invasive feral cats which include excessive small animal predation, diseases spread by feces to wildlife, and adding to the number of animals that motorists have to swerve past to avoid emotional upset. Rhode Island. Jungleland USA was a private zoo, animal training facility, and animal theme park in Thousand Oaks, California, United States, on the current site of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Blue says that owners should consider the source through which they obtain their pet when getting any animal, exotic or not. Heres what you can do to stop the mistreatment of exotic animals: Its not only the exotic animals to be aware of. The best way to find a vet who can care for your exotic pet is to ask around and do some research online. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on May 15, 2017: Pete: Not all animals considered to be exotic pets are non-domesticated. Considering that this is "rare", I find it to be unreasonable to cite this as a broad impact from the N. American exotic pet trade. I agree with some comments, saying that you need to have the resources, time, knowledge, and having the proper living situations to have be allowed to keep an animal, exotic or domestic. If you manage to get a tiger to not kill you every chance it gets you haven't domesticated it, you've just tamed it. Humans consume. The stigma against exotic pets is almost completely imagined. @media only screen and (max-width: 719px) { Exotic pets do not harm the environment any more than domestic pets. I agree full heartedly that cheetahs taken from their natural habitat harms the ecosystem, and I will repeat how much I agree with that time and time again, but it is also important to remember that not all exotic animals are endangered. Note: There are those who believe that cats should never be kept exclusively indoors (a dominant belief in some places like the UK), a belief in favor of encouraging a destructive invasive species (another conflict associated with the exotic pet trade), unnecessary killing native wildlife, and spread of disease to wildlife and humans via fecal contamination. im impressed that u know how to put fake info. Some people like to claim that keeping exotic pets will save them in the wild but I think thats untrue in most cases, so I apologize for that on their behalf even if they dont agree with me. I remember being so scared, as they opened the door and reached for her. people should be allowed to own wild animals if they take care of them if they are going extinced they should breed them to help. Nor is it right for one person to dictate which levels of selfishness are appropriate, i.e., the production of domesticated animals is ethical and keeping natural state animals is not. i am cringing so hard right now at this. I'm not advocating for the removal of any animals from their native habitat, but what I am trying to bring light to is the fact that simply because a pet is exotic, it is not always true that it is endangered. Domesticated animals are overbred and many are invasive species. You hide behind "free speech" unbelievable ! Thank you for your time. An adult Axolotl requires a 20-gallon aquarium due to the large amount of . Invasive populations of mammals originating from the exotic pet trade are very rare and pretty much only exist in Florida. Most cats, aside from uncommon pedigree cats like Persians, hunt on their own, VERY WELL, eliminating native species due to it. Site Policies, Veterinary Integrative Biosciences (VIBS), Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology (VTPP), Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH). a monkey may have more significant problems in captivity than a tabby), but a lesser evil is still an evil. margin-right: 0; } I have had a leopard gecko and a yellow lab for about 5 years now and they both have the same needs, water, food and space. In actuality, the same conflicts that exist for exotic pets also exist for domesticated animals. joeaineneennenenenenennennenenenene on November 16, 2016: And to add to that, yes i totally want a fennec fox etc etc but what am i promoting when other people see it and start to think that it's ok to have exotic and wild animals? Why would we condone such a horrendous treating of animals? #views-exposed-form-tagged-content-person-block-2 .form-item-title input { ? But dogs and cats bite too. 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