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Exotic Animals as Pets: Hip or Harmful?By Pia Lara Solomon
Have you ever thought about keeping an anaconda, a monkey or maybe a tiger, instead of having a traditional pet like a dog or a cat? Maybe you’ve decided you want to breed hissing cockroaches, or learn more about the leopard gecko. In the last three years, more than 650 million exotic animals were legally imported into the country. That’s more than 200,000,000 animals per year! The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported recently that there is an increasing demand for exotic pets, noting that many parents are eager to get their children the very latest in such animals. Exotic animals are certainly attention-getters and can bring a lot of excitement into your life. So, what’s the catch? Besides becoming household pets, exotic animals are brought into the United States legally for circuses, zoos, and other exhibitions, while still others are imported for food, hunting or research. Read about the Bengal tiger that was lucky enough to end up at a safe preserve, rather than as a stuffed trophy for a hunter.
And an alarming number of exotic animals are smuggled into the country illegally, sometimes under horrible conditions. Unlike cats and dogs, which are domesticated and used to being around humans, exotic creatures are often taken from the wild and then expected to conform to life among people. One risk to your safety stems from the unpredictability of their behavior. Think for a moment how you would feel, if you suddenly had to live in the wild with a troop of monkeys. Would you know how to interact with them? Now look at it from the monkey’s point of view. Imagine being snatched from the wilds of Central America, forced to go on a journey, then put on display in a store, only to end up as a “pet” at a strange house in Florida. Wouldn’t you be frightened? If an animal feels threatened, it may attack as a means of protecting itself. Because of this danger, many exotic pets end up living in chains or cages. Unfortunately, being locked up can have the effect of making them more stressed and unpredictable. Most households aren’t set up to give exotic animals what they need (for example, familiar or “native” foods, or enough space to roam). Plus, you may have to look around to find a veterinarian who’s specially trained to provide medical care to these animals. A baby tiger cub is certainly cute and cuddly, but when it grows into a 600-pound adult the owner may be at a loss as to how to meet its needs. Unfortunately, more and more exotic animals are abandoned each year because their owners can’t take proper care of them. Check out this News-Journal editorial about how exotic pets cause problems. Some animals carry exotic bacteria and viruses that can be transmitted to people. Monkeypox, a smallpox-related virus spread from pet prairie dogs to people, is just one example. Illnesses and diseases caused by human interaction with exotic pets can be minor but some have been deadly! In fact, the Center for Disease Control recommends that humans should always wash their hands after handling reptiles, for instance, to reduce the risk of catching the salmonella virus. You always should be careful when handling exotic animals, even if it is only for a little while. Be sure to buy your exotic pet legally, from a licensed exotic animal dealer or pet store. Always make sure your pets remain healthy by taking them regularly to a veterinarian. And don’t forget to wash your hands after each handling! Educating yourself and those around you about your exotic pet will help you to care for and enjoy your new best friend. Try these interesting newspaper activities: 1. Search The News-Journal and clip out advertisements on purchasing and/or caring for pets. What types of animals are advertised? How many are domesticated pets? How many could be considered “exotic?” Using poster board, create a colorful graph showing your results. Decorate it with some of the ads you clipped, then hang it at home or in your classroom. (Sunshine State Standards LA.A.2.2, MA.D.1.2)
Check out these web sites to learn more: Learn about the ASPCA’s Position Statement on Exotic Animals as Pets. www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=adopt_exotics. Explore the Exotic Animal Care Information Resource for Many Species of Alternative or Exotic Pets. (www.altpet.net). What’s your vision of an exotic pet? Tarantula? Cheetah? Panda? Take a look at this website with fun and interesting links to just about everything you ever wanted to know about animals—wild or tame. http://teachers.westport.k12.ct.us/resource/animals.htm. |
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