It is also estimated that, due to the fact that many keepers like myself have multiple reptiles and inverts, there are more reptiles and inverts kept as pets in the UK than there are cats and dogs. The exotic pet industry is worth $15 billion a year. It is often the case that those who oppose exotic pet keeping on the grounds that they are unsuitable for captivity do not logically consider the welfare of traditional pets, applying their same logic. Not all domestics enjoy humans and not all non-domestics only do so when trained. I was asleep in the passenger seat with Jezzy curled up in my chest. This doesn't really further the cause of exotic ownership, it just points out the problems with non-exotic pets. Why would a reputable breeder be responsible for the actions of unscrupulous people who kill their animals to sell to the wildlife parts trade (if that even happened in this country)? I can't argue against the negative stuff: disease, environmental problems, bad care from some ownersall of that is true. I'd like to focus on animals that are already hated or persecuted rather than the camels and zebras that everyone loves, but I'm afraid that, in the ten years it'll take me to get there, nothing will be legal anymore. Smaller cats don't seem to have caused any recorded fatalities, but they've come very, very close: A 7-year-old boy was reportedly bitten bone-deep on the neck by a 40-pound declawed African serval, and a 2-year-old was mauled by a "pet" bobcat, which chewed off his right index finger and heel, and left a severe bite wound to his right cheek. If preserving the safety of the public is the ultimate goal, efforts would be better spent addressing large domesticated animals, which are a bigger threat due to how they are traditionally kept. . I saw in another article that you didn't believe that bears could be properly kept by private owners. As my username suggests, I'm playing devils advocate here, because there's no such thing as an "irrefutable" argument. Brazil has a similar situation with mammals. they're happiest when they are around people companions. If you have an exotic pet, you are most likely promoting the exotic pet trade. This includes hamsters, parakeets, or even bunny rabbits. The author is objectively a bad person. I'm looking for the provincial regulations related to the Exotic Animals Act. http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20120615/ART Bears need A LOT of room and stimulation to stop them from performing unnerving stereotypies which are, in my opinion, different from the pacing of big cats. "And your claims that "no pet big cat has escaped and attacked a member of the public" is patently false.". 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. Exotic animals subsist on aspects of their environment that cannot be fully replicated in a domestic setting. Between 19902021, over 1,300 exotic pets have escaped in the US. Tools. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Being prepared to invest a little bit into big enough caging is important in providing the animal with a decent home.. Invasive populations of mammals originating from the exotic pet trade are very rare and pretty much only exist in Florida. These exotic animals spend their entire lives in water, never coming onto land. so its kinda confusing if we should let them go but they could get captured or something bad happens. What such evidence exists that the 'pet trade' involving captive tigers is a significant reason that people go into jungles and shoot wild tigers? And not just in the United States, but worldwide (think feral dogs, cats, pigeons, swine). All require the owner to do research, lest their care is executed poorly. It likely impacts humans. It's not democratic I know that much. } Take A Trip On The Wild Side: Ethical Exotic Pet Ownership. 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. The average exotic pet owner would get their pet from where they already do: from breeders in their country. He held her, and pet her. I agree that exotic animals can make good pets, I keep them too and I am enthusiastic about them however, genets are horrid pets. This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. If you want an animal just to own it, and not to make money, no license. i love foxes i even have one sleeping in my gaming section where i do youtube vids my fox is the best shes very fast and she likes to play outside. Singapore is one of the largest pet importers. Exotic animals also require specialized care that may differ from the needs of more common pets. Exotic Animals Are Banned as Pets for Welfare Issues. Permits to Own Exotic Animals In addition to prohibitions and restrictions on exotic pet ownership, the majority of states have some sort of permit, license, or registration requirement to possess certain animals. The captive big cat population in the US is estimated to be up to 10,000 animals, and the captive tiger population at up to 7,000. I just named a slew of exotic animals that are no more disease-ridden than dogs and cats yet when talking about disease, everyone wants to talk about macaques. "Any animal can bite". I just hope that you don't think I am attacking your justification for owning an exotic animal, I just would like to tell you my views on why it is wrong. I know it is IMPOSSIBLE that you've never seen someone's cat carrying a helpless animal to play with. Purchasing the bird isn't cheap either; these beauties cost anywhere from a grand to $10,000 easily. There are no differences between tigers and domesticated cats in that regard. 7 Southern Pig-Tailed Macaque Monkey Photo credit: Hectonichus Monkeys may not sound like the most dangerous animals in the world. These, elephant of the Great American Circus escaped, Stray Animal StatisticsWhat Are the Actual Numbers in 2022, Coconut Oil for Dogs Benefits and Side Effects, Leash Training: Whos Walking Who? Let the authorities handle it and stop thinking all American pet owners need to be punished by having their pets banned due to the actions of criminals. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. There are special rules that allow you to show or exhibit them in the state. Since that is not our intention, and since its perfectly feasible that an exotic pet can thrive in captivity, the act of keeping pets is not immoral. Salmonella affects about 1.2 million people in the US each year. Where should we draw the line with what is in need of being eliminated to provide an instant resolution to the bad stuff associated with it? My mother called me an hour later to say that the cop had called her saying we were fine but what happened. Exotic Pet Ownership Typically, the term "exotic pet" refers to any non-domesticated animal; this excludes animals like guinea pigs and canaries. What you said is very true, when endangered species are taken from their natural habitat the ecosystem does suffer. Now as for inherently dangerous animals: Without having researched this, I can confidently say that this animal has never killed a person in recent history, other than disease transmission (last occurred in 1997). You Are Helping Greedy People Make Animals Extinct ! The exotic pet trade also damages food chains and ecosystems. This means there's less vegetation which means animals that rely on the vegetation die. Think about that. Take any subject upon which opinions vary. } It is important for potential owners to consider whether an animal is bred and housed ethically by the breeder. He asked for a picture with her and with us. 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. A couple years ago I compiled a list of statistics from NHS published figures comparing the hospitalization caused by exotics and domestics. ]]>*/, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University Although not always an ideal pet for everyone, the Serval is a gorgeous exotic cat from Africa. All I can say is that dog and cat supporters, i.e. They are a domesticated animal dived from the European polecat. My little 6kg dog and my cat would do far more damaged to me or anyone else if they attacked than any of my exotics. Thanks for the good info provided here. However, many exotic critters may not be legal to own where you live. 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. And yet, by and large the wildlife situation in the US national forests is in reasonable shape. 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. I moved to Florida and got a ferret. So, what can you do to help these animals? In 2016, 13.3% of households were estimated to have specialty or exotic pets, a 25.5% increase from 2011. And ferrets are probably some of the more popular small animals, so numbers are high. Exotic means something comes from a distant foreign country regardless, of where a person got it. You say their's 5 arguments for exotic pet ownership, yet you're only giving me 1 and then you rehash the same point.. We get it!! I try my best to inform those who approach that they are part of the weasel family and related to polecats and minks. We build large, resource-consuming homes that we dont need on top of the homes of hundreds of other animals. More than 13% of households in the United States own at least one exotic animal, and that number continues to rise as people look for new, cool exotic pets to bring home. You cant meet the animals needs and a lot of those animals end up in some kind of a sanctuary or theyll have an unhappy life; they may also be more susceptible to diseases they otherwise wouldnt contract.. But what does this mean for the animals and us? Tambako The Jaguar (CC BY-ND 2.0) Via Flickr. Median home list price: $449,950. A TikTokker is showing viewers the reality of exotic pet ownership Enlarge this image Asha, an African serval, has almost a million followers on TikTok. Maybe this is true, not one of my areas of interest. So theres a serious amount of animals shipped worldwide. Neither are the incidences involving small cats like servals. Most exotic pets are wild, and thats where they belong, not cooped up as a pet. As in, if the member of the public is on the property of the exotic animal voluntarily (or in the case of children, brought there, so the guardian assumes the risk) than it's not a matter of public safety. No one intends to harm animals by keeping them as pets even though this can unintentionally occur. You think because you can, it's o.k. I returns handing me a paper. Privacy | My cats are in the house, outside the house, friends with the neighbours and sleep wherever they want to. Rhode Island. A yard, a house, proper vet care, supplies, etc. Texas A&M University | More and more veterinarians are willing to see some non-domestic animals, such as pocket pets.. The incident happened . Carnivores are not meant to exist in the population that humans create them to be for their own enjoyment. It is rather astounding that owners of bonafide invasive species would become enraged that some exotic pets have also become invasive. (At the time I had a Female ferret name Jezzabell who was 8 years old at the time) And wanted to go on a cross country road trip. Would a tiger be more 'happy' (trying not to anthropomorphasize) in the wild than in a cage? But these arent the only animals to watch out for. they smell, they are nocturnal so they are asleep all day. You're better off with ZAA accreditation. Summary: The above map details states that ban, partially ban, require licensure, or provide miscellaneous regulations on private ownership of wild or exotic animals.Currently, 20 states have what can be called "comprehensive bans." These bans typically classify wild cats, large non-domesticated carnivores, reptiles, and non-human primates as "dangerous animals" or otherwise prohibit private . But still my favorite pet/animal is a fox. Dog ownership is more popular, with 69 million pooches and over 45.3 million felines. 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. border: 1px solid gray; The sheriff had no choice but to, Exotic pet injury statistics remind us of a case in 2009 where a pet chimp attacked and brutally mauled a family friend trying to return the pet to its cage. Just touching an exotic animal can make you sick. I think my selfishness level does not exceed that of most modern people. but when reading the articles you'd swear you can't take a step wtihout stepping on a sake. Emma is a lover of all animals. so your telling me owning a chihuahua is just as selfish selfish as purchasing a baby leopard. In the 90s, between 25 million birds were sold globally. Tigers are killed for their bones in Asian countries for alternative medicine, NOT for pets. Lets look at some exotic pet attacks and their statistics. VSA provides financial assistance to pet owners for veterinary care. Voted Up! The term exotic pet encompasses a broad range of animals, loosely meaning any pet that is not a dog, cat, or farm animal. Also the cats/dog thing is not something worth discussing. The booming business in exotic pets is known. i don't know if a pet snake will have as much freedom. This is ultimately why your analogy to extreme sports fails - if something goes wrong during a skydive, the only one who will bear the consequences are the skydiver and his family, who presumably understand the risks involved. But aside from this, monkeys are one animal. The garden plant trade is also equally damaging. In most states, many exotic animals are not allowed to be owned as pets, period. Emmas passion for animals started at a young age. Exotic pet owners keep exotic pets for the same reasons that domesticated animal owners keep domesticated pets, which is the hope of a symbiotic relationship with their creature of choice. I guess there can be some expectations, but that's probably very small. In fact, it is humans that have invented the concept of selfishness and have set criteria for attempting to avoid the poorly viewed attribute while no other animal has. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on April 26, 2015: Someon des-- A properly cared for cat cannot. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on February 15, 2017: Whatever: You're existing in a fantasy world. The only thing that needs to be addressed is whether or not the species fares well in captivity, and I'm certain that there's just as much 'evidence' for most exotic pet species as there are for indoor-only domesticated felines and possibly even dogs, despite their extreme willingness to live with us. 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. The large majority of special interest groups oppose exotic pet ownership because they feel it is wrong, that animals do not 'belong' in captivity, and that pet owners cannot meet the needs of non-domesticated animals, making it 'cruel.'. I was hoping to get a little more information. 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. This is a statement, not an argument.". It's insulting when people approach someone who's obviously invested in a subject and attempt to 'argue' using basic points they heard in some anti-exotic pet pamphlet. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on February 20, 2018: Adam, It's not my job to defend owning pets in general just because mine are exotic. Many myths about exotic pet ownership are perpetuated by animal rights groups and public ignorance. Dogs, for example, have had 30,000 years of certain breeding to domesticate them. In my opinion the world would be less selfish if no one kept exotic pets, though you are right that the world is corrupt and people everywhere are selfish. So "safe pets" caused over 40,000 treatments to be needed and that's not even including other pets deemed as safe like cats/rats/mice etc and reptiles/inverts, so called "dangerous wild animals", didn't even make it into 2000. thanks for having this article it helps me for my school presentation. About 140 non-native reptiles and amphibians have been introduced to Florida. they have a nasty bite. If you intend to import an exotic animal from a foreign country, you should directly contact our import specialists to determine what the requirements are in your situation.The telephone number is (301) 851-3300 option 2 or you can email vs.live.animal.import.export@usda.gov. A rare getaway happened on October 7th, 2020, when a baby red kangaroo escaped from a truck in Monroe, Washington. Very nice and well written article. all have formed invasive populations in the wild). 50% of pets in the US are considered exotic. Some species are also, Big cats are also quite popular, especially in the US that has. Volunteer Services for Animals (VSA) is an organization of volunteers dedicated to animal well-being and the promotion of the human-animal bond through programs of education, advocacy and assistance. Alabama, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Nevada have NO laws, allowing citizens to own whatever they want and however, they want. Accessibility | However, many use the term to include native species as well (e.g., snakes may sometimes be considered exotic as pets even in places where they are found in the wild). You need to know more about them, they have special demands and people don't always bother to research about that. Of course I thought ticket. I believe that pets must not be caged and be allowed the freedom of movement. If nobody wants exotic pets, traders wont catch them. Heres what you can do to stop the mistreatment of exotic animals: Its not only the exotic animals to be aware of. Just a girl trying to make a difference on March 21, 2017: Unlike most of the people in the comments, I do not support exotic pets. My point is why contribute to the selfishness? Good job. .page-title__wrapper { The quality of the captive situation varies as does the species being subjected to it. Suggestions for future topics may be directed toeditor@cvm.tamu.edu. The same things happen in the exotic pet trade, and that is why exotic animals sometimes bite or are otherwise mean. Tags: Alice Blue-McLendon, Exotic Animals, pet talk, 2023, Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Do two "wrongs" make a right? But there arent specific products for exotic pets, which presents a massive issue. The presence of wild-looking spots still unnerves most people more than rowdy dogs kept loosely confined in backyards. It's true we've damaged their environments, but our goal should be to fix those environments not make them our pets. I know you might not be able to give your animals up so they can live in the wild because they can't hunt, but I hope your views may change in the future. Exotic Pet Ownership. Animals help us fill the void, and even if you have the money, time, and knowledge to care for exotic animals, why do it? The breeder you got your lemur or whatever from will tell you some story about how this animal was saved when in reality it was probably captured and taken away from it's family. It doesn't mean that we should do it to other animals. For example, there have been instances, although rare, where privately owned tigers and lions, some of which could have been former "pets", were slaughtered so that their parts could be sold on the black market. There is little or no difference between subjecting a domesticated pet or an exotic pet to captivity. Unfortunately, due to the sheer demand. It doesn't seem to make any sense. I understand what Melissa is saying however I was talking about the impact exotic animals have on our eco system. I wouldn't let her go and I was a crying mess. I lived in California and that was horrible. however, leopard geckos bearded dragons, crested geckos, skinks, corn snakes, king snakes etc. .toggle-text { Between 19942012, owning amphibians and reptiles jumped from 2.4 million to. African pigmy hedgehogs, even sugar gliders can make good pets. But exotic pet statistics show that the $15 billion industry is growing, and we need to do what we can to stop it. Thank you very much. Many exotics are also cared for in relation to their species-specific needs, so some exotics have outdoor access or live exclusively outside. State regulations fall into one of five categories: 1. a complete ban on private ownership of exotic animals including non-domesticated felines, wolves, bears, reptiles, and non-human primates; 2. partial ban on private ownership of some exotic animals (ownership precludes previously mentioned species); 3. a license or permit is required by the Median home list price: $337,500. It's all linked, we should have a low tolerance for people with exotic pets, because there will always be some POS out there who wants to capitalize on the exotic animal business, and to those people it doesn't matter how many have to suffer in order to make a living. So me, two other friends, Jezzy and their dog hit the touristy spots. Her cat Pumpkin enjoys stretching out in the office while mom researches the best information on how to care for their fellow furry friends. I don't mind people taking care of abandoned animals etc or maybe an exotic animals somehow decide it likes you and wants to stay but. I don't think there is anything wrong with keeping cats. They do similar things to lions and tigers they'll take the cubs from mom, tell you she wasn't accepted and sell them off. The Act states that the exemption list is set by regulation, rather than being included in . The severity of the problem may vary in extent (i.e. These animals are tortured and kept cruelly for our enjoyment. You hide behind "free speech" unbelievable ! Circus animals are notorious for their break frees. Many behavioral and physical disorders that are seen in cats are often secondary to stress from lack of appropriate stimulation. The exotic pets market is growing. Lets explore the chances of your pet escaping. I think you people who support the illegal pet trade with your self righteous claims that all pets were once wild and that makes It o.k. Thanks again! This is stupid cats and dogs are nice and wild animals would eat you for a snack. 3. margin-left: 0; Read. Many people also consider the ferret (Mustela putorius furo) a domesticated animal. 1,2 The surge in ownership of exotic animals has certainly contributed to an increase in owners seeking veterinary care for . It might surprise you to find out how many of these animals are kept illegally. Tambako The Jaguar (CC BY-ND 2.0) Via Flickr. View history. So what! 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. Its true, there are problems with the exotic pet trade, and Ill never hesitate to admit this. Bears, Cougars, Moose, Elk etc. The escape of 50 exotic animals near Zanesville, Ohio, last month brought into the spotlight the complex issues, as well as dangers, of keeping wild animals as domestic pets. As of 2018, the US has over three million pet birds alone. I am in almost total agreement, but I think this article is more why have domesticated animals is just as bad or as good as having exotic animals. The NRA and proper hunting license management\enforcement. The definition of a wild or exotic animal is one that does not belong to one of seven domesticated species: dogs, cats, horses, pigs, cows, sheep or goats. When we got to California, we entered from a less trafficked road. It might not sound like a lot, but these are only the officially reported cases. Look it up if you don't believe me. width: 100%; If anything, this tells us to be concerned about macaques but we have around 100+ other exotics to assess. In Mexico City, a 500-pound lion escaped from a local lawmakers private zoo and attacked a woman and child. In actuality, the same conflicts that exist for exotic pets also exist for domesticated animals. The existence of the animal means that some people will abuse it. Therefore, people who approve of pet cats (or dogs, small reptiles, ferrets, ect.) In fact, despite the vivid imagination of law makers, no pet big cat has escaped and attacked a member of the "uninvolved" public (people who aren't the owner, or voluntarily visiting the animal) in the U.S. There are few veterinarians that can treat your pet, food, and shelter may be expensive, or the animal needs specific or time-consuming care. Is it ethical to support 10 "good owners" if you're also supporting 50 "bad" ones? On a side note.. Im not necessarily against exotic pet ownership. Domesticated cats are probably the most popular animal kept as pets on Earth, and at least within the USA, it is a common practice to keep cats exclusively as house pets, which is a practice (intelligently), promoted and recommended by many vets, animal rescues, and animal rights organizations for the safety of the cat as well as outdoor wildlife. Blue says that owners should consider the source through which they obtain their pet when getting any animal, exotic or not. Second leopards are endangered and taking them out of their natural habitat (were they can roam around and hunt and live their life the way nature has intended) for human amusement. Approximately 90.5 million domesticated animals live in 70% of pet-owning households (2022). Or really anyone who does anything that affects animals negatively. It is becoming crystal clear that many things humans do as mere hobbies and pleasure have negative impacts for our world, but laws seem to be made only when people are wrongfully intimidated by something. What difference does it make how they are obtained ? Needless to say I have never been to California. Tigers tame rather well, just as well as any cat, or perhaps better. Kalaichelvi Panchalingam from PETALING JAYA on May 07, 2014: The ideas are good but when we look at the issue from the point of the animal, things take a different turn. they are a horrid pet. Despite the knowledge we have on exotic pets, the problem remains. /*-->