Exotic Pet Ownership Should Be Banned

[RandySF]

If you set aside the freakish nature of the chimpanzee attack, there is a serious issue at hand. Many people mistakenly believe that a "chimp" is the same friendly primate they see in Tarzan movies. What most don't realize is that the Chimpanzze's capacity for agression in the wild is well documented (ironically, the "scary looking" guerilla is mostly docile. Now we see the consequences of such ignorance. People should not have pets that are best left in the wild.

[Taverner]

1. Depends on the exotic pet

Pot Bellied Pigs make great pets, and they can survive on scraps

[FSogol]

2. guerrilla? Docile? Who knew?

:-)

[Retrograde]

47. as long as you agree with their pet causes

and feed them I suppose they could be. You might even be able to train them to help around the place, but if they try to clean their AK-47s in the living room you should consider smacking them with a rolled-up coy of The Worker.

(gorilla/guerrilla is one of my favorite homonyms)

[TexasObserver]

3. Agreed.

Most pet ownership should be banned, for that matter.

[SIMPLYB1980]

4. I Love my exotic pet, but it's not near as powerful as a chimp.

I agree that chimps are dangerous and best left to professional trainers and zoos, but I don't think all Exotics like snakes, lizards, ect. should be banned as long as they are not endangered.

[wryter2000]

12. He/she is adorable!

If I could have a house full of small reptiles, I would. I love them to bits.

[SIMPLYB1980]

23. Thank you. His name is Draco. He's a bearded dragon.

They make great pets.

[wryter2000]

35. If I get a lizard

It'll be a beardie.

[shireen]

48. wow! that is one magnificent lizard!

Beautiful! Thanks for posting

I've seen iguanas walking on leashes with their guardians. They are very very cool.

[InvisibleTouch]

5. It's not uncommon for people to be killed by horses.

Should they be banned?

I disagree. I'm not in favor of breed/species bans, as long as the animal is well cared-for. Most exotics owners are dedicated, conscientious, and careful. A tragic case should not reflect badly on all pet owners.

Keep in mind also that there are species being captive-bred today who have almost no chance of surviving in the wild at this point in time. If there's ever to be a population available to re-introduce, it will come not only from zoos, but also from private enthusiasts - many of whom work with animals that are not suited to zoos (cryptic species who don't make good display animals).

[csziggy]

22. Many people should not own horses - or only where they can be supervised

I've owned horses for over forty years and bred and boarded horses. I've had to refuse to sell colts to idiots who think they want a stallion even though they had no clue how to handle an already trained adult horse, much less deal with training an intact young stallion. I've boarded horses for people who had no business owning one - the couple who could not even put a halter on their horse correctly much less tack it up correctly or safely for riding would have been a danger to themselves and the neighborhood if they had put the horse in their back yard as they originally intended.

These days many people do not know how to handle domesticated species such as dogs and cats - just watch The Dog Whisperer. I feel sorry for the dogs with the ignorant handling they get from their owners!

As for reptiles in captivity, they can be safely handled and kept, again IF the owners will learn how to care for them. But as the growing populations of released exotic lizards and snakes in South Florida illustrate, many just dump the creatures when they get larger than expected. Iguanas and boas are cute and relatively easy to deal with when they are young, but when they get older and much bigger, they can be dangerous. Now people in South Florida are worried about losing pets and small children not only to alligators, but to snakes and large lizards. http://myfwc.com/nonnatives/exotics/resultsClass.asp?taxclass=R

Nile monitors are now an established breeding population - these critters can grow to five feet or more and could endanger many native species as well as domestic pets. Pythons and boas have become common and are often found ten foot long or better close to neighborhoods. Two incidents of python vs. alligator have been documented, though in at least one case, both lost:

[InvisibleTouch]

25. I agree there are people who aren't qualified.

I've turned down puppy buyers, and I applaud a breeder of any species who screens their prospective buyers and has the integrity to refuse a sale where necessary. At the same time, I would not want to deny the people who are qualified.

The problem of released exotics is a thorny one, and I'm well aware of how much havoc an introduced species can wreck. Sadly it only takes a few irresponsible idiots to ruin it for the rest of us. There should be a middle ground, however, between "ban it all" and "no regulations whatsoever."

[csziggy]

51. Sensible licensing may be the way to go - for all pet ownership

And microchip the animals so if they are found loose, the owners can be found. We've had stray cats, dogs, horses and peacocks show up here - with not one of them having any kind of ID to locate the owners. Dogs are fairly easy to track down, and the horses' owners eventually showed up, but we never found the cat or peacock owners.

Of course, I say this and the only one of our animals that is chipped is the cat adopted from the shelter that does it routinely. B-)

[GoCubsGo]

52. Thanks for bringing that up

The exotic species problem goes way beyond reptiles in South Florida. It includes parrots and other birds, marine and freshwater tropical fish, and mammals, including three species of monkeys! And, invasive plants, well, they're a nightmare in themselves!

I don't know the solution to the problem. Perhaps the various animal rescue organizations need to make themselves better known, so that people can pass on their unwanted exotics, rather than turning them loose. And, some animals, like pythons, monitor lizards, and I dare say iguanas, just shouldn't be kept as pets. At least not without a permit.

[Gold Metal Flake]

6. Barking dog at 3am ownership should be banned.

I am fucking tired today.

[kestrel91316]

7. (gorilla)

[DBoon]

8. Any animal that cannot be physically controlled by the owner should be banned

Whether Chimp or Boa Constrictor

[Journeyman]

9. There have been two vicious dog attacks in my neighborhood in the past year or so. . .

how do you intend to define "exotic"? And why should any animal be blanketly banned when it's more often the "owner" who's irresponsible and not the beast?

[alarimer]

10. Certain exotic pets should be banned certainly.

Wild cats, apes and monkeys to name a few.

As for the rest, we need to take into account their temperament but also their status in the wild. Absolutely no animal (not even fish) should be taken from the wild to become someone's pet. Captive-bred is okay.

I am completely opposed to harvesting fish, shellfish, and live rock for personal, home aquaria for a number of reasons. In many cases, the harvesters use dynamite or other environmentally destructive means and for every single individual that makes it into someone's aquarium, many more die along the way, potentially devastating the species. This is also true of birds like parrots, etc.

[shireen]

53. sustainable aquaria -- it can be done responsibly.

Most of the aquarium stores I buy from are quite responsible. There are occasionally some specimens that i get upset about, but most of the commonly-sold species are either aquacultured or sustainably-harvested.

- Atlantic live rock, from reputable sources, are aquacultured, not harvested from the wild. The porous rock is obtained from land (most of FL is built on ancient reefs), placed in leased sites in the gulf of Mexico for several years to be seeded with critters. No natural reefs are harmed. http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/

- Most corals are cultured in captivity. Just google 'coral aquaculture' to see many examples.

- Some fish and shellfish from the wild are part of sustainable fisheries that provide a much-needed economic boost to poor villages.
http://en.microcosmaquariumexplorer.com/wiki/Buy_A_(Wild)_Fish_-_Save_A_Tree

- Many fish are captive-bred -- many freshwater livebearers, tetras, cichids, barbs. Marine clownfish, seahorses, and corals. Many more ....

Dynamite and cyanide techniques are still used, but there is increasing pressure to shun such operations. Make sure the animals your buy were obtained sustainably, and you can enjoy being a guilt-free aquarist.

[blindpig]

56. Taking

I would agree that no species should be taken from the wild for the retail pet trade, or, for that matter, for the exotic plant trade.

[wryter2000]

11. That's overbroad

I've had two delightful corn snakes. I lost one last year to some illness, and I still miss her. I still have the male.

Corn snakes are small and non-venemous. They're no danger to anything larger than a mouse. In fact, they'd be in danger from a domestic cat. They're easy to care for and can even be left alone for a few days.

People shouldn't be allowed to keep dangerous animals of any kinds. That includes dogs that have been bred and trained to kill. Exotics aren't the problem. Dangerous pets are the problem.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

18. I have a corn snake too

I lub her :loveya:. I took her in from someone who couldn't keep her anymore and I learned a lot about snakes from the experience.

[wryter2000]

37. They're such sweet creatures

And so beautiful. :hi:

[GoCubsGo]

42. And, also not exotic....

Corn snakes are native to the southeastern US. There is a subspecies that is native in Nebraska down to Texas. I guess if you live outside of these areas, then they probably would be considered exotic. But, they are lovely snakes!

[wryter2000]

46. Welcome to DU

:hi:

True, they're natives. They're also not rare in any way. Still, responsible snake lovers get their pets from responsible breeders, not from the wild.

Most people use the term "exotic pet" to mean anything but dogs and cats. I think that's how the OP meant.

[GoCubsGo]

54. Hey, thanks!

I guess I overlooked the OP's meaning of "exotic". I'm a biologist, and I can't help myself! I forget that not everyone else views critters in the same ways I do. ;-)

[jtbrick]

13. I know my wife and daughter wish I'd get

rid of my "exotic" dog. They say it gives them the creeps, especially when the are getting out of the shower.

[wryter2000]

36. Welcome to DU

:hi:

Just don't bring your dog into the shower room. :)

[Scout]

14. for the safety of the animals, i agree

the vast majority of people are not mentally, physically, financially capable of properly caring for exotics ... hell, dogs and cats for that matter.

[slackmaster]

15. How about just regulating it?

I am opposed to prohibitions in general.

I don't believe that just anyone should be permitted to keep a DANGEROUS animal as a pet, without some kind of vetting. They should have to prove that they have facilities to secure the animal, are knowledgable in how to care for it, and have the financial resources to give it proper food and care.

People should not have pets that are best left in the wild.

I agree in general, but there are always some animals that have been born in captivity, rescued after being injured or orphaned, etc. and are not necessarily capable of surviving in the wild.

[mopinko]

16. there are a lot of parrots out there that you have to be a little crazy to own.

most cockatoos are miserable as pets, as are macaws. there are some good owners, and some happy pets out there, but when things go bad, they go bad.

not sure how you legislate that, tho. licensing?

[devilgrrl]

17. Some people know what they're doing with exotic animals, make people get licenses...

:shrug:

[hedgehog]

19. More info about people owning exotic pets:

http://www.texasobserver.org/article.php?aid=2835

[gmoney]

20. Everything is potentially harmful... let's ban it all!

Cars, electric appliances, peanuts, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, kids, senior citizens, dogs, cats, clipboards, fortune cookies...

Let's just ban every fucking thing and just hide in our empty, stair-free, houses while we wait to die of old age or boredom.

[NeedleCast]

21. guerilla

I don't think this word means what you think it means.

[Mari333]

24. well, my parrot does attack

if she doesnt get a morning pancake or egg. naw, shes a doll. she was raised by a nice person, and talks all day. shes spoiled rotten.

[PlanetBev]

26. Aren't birds wonderful, Mari?

I've got an eleven year old parakeet that says "Mommy's Big Bird."

[Mari333]

27. awwwww pic please

parakeets..are smarter then people think..and yes, birds do love..

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. The whole parrot family are more intelligent than people give them credit for

says the mom of three who just had lunch, and begged for Mango as well

They have never, ever had mango... but hey, mom is having it, we want it!

[Mari333]

32. lol they do beg

if I cook, wham, shes screaming for whatever Im eating. lol they love their mom.

[Starry Messenger]

28. I think you must mean large exotic wild animals?

"Exotic pets" kind of covers a lot of ground. I've had pet fancy rats that are considered "exotic". If those little goobers were suddenly returned to the wild, they wouldn't know what to do. There'd be no one to feed them rat chow and lasagna. :) I agree about the chimps, though.

[DFW]

29. Does this mean I shold give up my pet saber-toothed tiger?

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. Piccies, and we will keep the secret

oy, how many zoos would love to add these guy to their collection

:-)

[DFW]

39. Well, OK, but I'm counting on you people to keep this under wraps

And I'm not kidding, either! My kids would never forgive me if we had to give Tiggy up...

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. How cute, even the parrots are going AAKKK AKKK, don't know whether they are scared

or happy

Cute tiggy

:-)

[DFW]

43. As long as he's fed on time, he's a sweetie

And that's about every ten minutes!

[nadinbrzezinski]

44. He's worst than the parrots!

(For the record they eat quite a bit)

[DFW]

55. You should see the fits he throws when I tell him it's time for a dental checkup!

[liberalmuse]

31. I looked at pictures of Travis the chimp...

and thought, "That's not fucking normal." He looked like a really old, overweight American grandpa. There's something wrong with that shit. Most animals (barring cats and dogs) should be left in the wild. You don't see overweight animals who need to be put on Xanax in the wild. Only in captivity. This story has kept me awake at night. It is really, REALLY disturbing, not only because chimps are normally pleasant creatures, but because a woman went to help her friend one day and did not realize it would be the most hellish day of her life. No hands, no eyes, no nose, no jaw. Jesus. Not to mention a lifetime of PTSD because a wild animal you thought was a cute pet your eccentric friend kept tried to devour you. And yes, I'm sick for the chimp, too. He didn't know what the fuck he was doing. He was doing what extinct programmed him to do.

[backscatter712]

33. There certainly should be a strict permitting process.

You're absolutely right in that we shouldn't just let any idiot own a pet crocodile, chimp or tiger - we've seen what happens. It's bad for the owners, it's bad for random people on the street who get mauled or killed by the animals, and it's bad for the animals, as they're in an environment where they don't get their needs met - lots of them get abused, neglected, or get psychologically screwed up (like Travis).

There should be enough room in the law for legitimate animal sanctuaries, with trained experts, and enough facilities and resources to properly care for the animals though.

And there are occasional individuals who are devoted to these animals, and have the knowledge and resources to properly care for them - they should be able to have permits too, if they can EARN them.

In other words, a permitting process that's designed to weed out the idiots.

[sakabatou]

34. I say it depends on the animal being owned

[Hekate]

41. We have more privately-kept (not in zoos) tigers in the US than live in the wild in India/Asia...

Somehow that strikes me as really wrong.

I agree with you -- on a species-by-species basis. Poisonous fish and poisonous snakes are all too easily released into the wild.

Hekate

[Raine]

45. I have tortoise

which I guess falls into the exotic category, he's never attacked anyone and is very loveable. :-)

[ProgressiveProfessor]

49. Exotic is a really broad brush...I would agree with some, not with others, and special licenses for

some.

[Critters2]

50. I've thought about this a lot since that attack.

Can't imagine what a shock it was for that woman, who no doubt thought she knew her chimpanzee. It's made me realize how I am always aware that the beagle and cats are animals, no matter how much I love them and trust them. For instance, I know the beagle has a tendency toward food aggression, so she's always fed in her crate so the cats don't nose around and piss her off. I know my animals have sharper claws and teeth than me, even as I love 'em to pieces!

I think this woman forgot that she was dealing with an animal, not a human family member. One difference, though, is that beagles and house cats have been domesticated for centuries--maybe millenia. The most docile were bred together to make them good house pets. Not so the primates, who have been living with humans a short time. Such animals should be with trained animal behaviorists or zoologists. It doesn't make sense to keep them in a home in a normal neighborhood. This just seems to me to have been asking for trouble.

The key to living with animals is to love them for who they are, and respect their differences. Dressing them up in clothes and drinking wine with them at the dining room table is a really bad idea.