Keeping exotic animals as pets

[Shotokan-kez]

There was a family close by to me who have just been in deep trouble by the police and animal protection for keeping over 200 reptiles and exotic animals in a garage. Two of which were dragons that were dead, there were also some dead snakes, rats and other small rodents.

To keep an animal like this takes proper research into how to look after and care for these animals, so they can live proper healthy lives. You see far too much poor exotic animals being dumped by their owners through lack of knowledge and then not liking the responsibilities. I do know of people who have kept these animals and have been very responsible, so im not targeting these people, just the ones who are mean and cruel.

I myself could never imagine owning such an animal because of the responsibilty. Plus i think i may be a little scared of the animal if it was a snake or some kind of exotic spider . I will stick to my rabbit, cat and goldfish.

So the questions are.

1. What pets do you have?

2. Should exotic animals be kept in the home?

3. What are your feelings on this subject?

[Holland]

Dangerous animals should be only kept in a zoo. Now exotic in the "burmese monkey" way would be different...that's okay as long as the person knows what they are doing.

Since the apartments I live in do not allow dogs, I own a hamster. His name is Sanchin.

[Zapatista]

I'm personally against owning exotic animals, whether it's an individual or a zoo. The only "owning" of exotic animals is on preservations for animals in which there are hundreds of acres for the animal to wander and it would have proper land formations for that type of animal.

The only time I support owning an animal is when it can't survive in the wild and its parents couldn't live in the wild. Basically, I'm talking cats, dogs and other common pets who were specially bread for being a pet.

I've had two dogs in my lifetime. The first was a mutt that my mom and dad got from the Humane Society (that's the place to get a pet, not a pet store) that died when I was 7. Her name was Buffy and she was the sweetest dog. My mom told me that when I was a baby my mom would put me in a stroller and Buffy would lay next to me and everytime somebody walked by the fence Buffy would get up and "protect" me.

Then my next dog was at my dad's house (my parents seperated) Her name was Bryna (pronounced "Bear-Nah") and she was a Norweigan Elkhound (purebread). She was a $1,500 dog that my dad got for $50 (and many different accesories included too, such as cage and toys). The previous owners were a young couple who broke up and the guy left the dog with the girl and the girl couldn't have the dog in the apartment according to the contract with the landlord so she was desperate to get rid of her.

Both dogs were amazing and I love 99% of dogs that I meet. I'm thinking of getting a cat when I'm done with college because I want an apartment/condo and those aren't good with dogs (or aren't as easy as a home)

[Canoe2fish]

I don't agree with owning exotics either. But what if an owner was operating as a non-profit organization working to rehabilitate endangered species or operating as a rescue program looking to place these special animals in an appropriate environment? I would find this acceptable in this case.

As for me, I think I will alway have a dog. Great companions...

[Zapatista]

I don't agree with owning exotics either. But what if an owner was operating as a non-profit organization working to rehabilitate endangered species or operating as a rescue program looking to place these special animals in an appropriate environment? I would find this acceptable in this case.

As for me, I think I will alway have a dog. Great companions...

That's what I mean for my exceptions, but I have problems (though not as much as with a zoo) working to rehabilitate endangered species because of human interaction with the animals that they would not have in the wild. No matter how hard they try to make the environment realistic, there will still be that interaction that isn't common with humans. That's why I like sanctuaries, wild animals can live as they were supposed to and not need intereferance by humans.

[bushido_man96]

I think owning exotics is ok, if there is proper certification that the animal can be owned, and the responsibility is taken to care for them properly.

Personally, I like dogs. I currently have no pets.

[Shotokan-kez]

I guess zoo's are okayish, i do agree with canoefish though, as long as they are being looked after properly. There is too much animal cruelty in the world today. At the moment in the uk its been a lot around greyhounds, perfectly healthy young dogs being killed or dumped because they can't race anymore.

[Orion]

Well I have a dab lizard which is slightly exotic but not dangerous, although he does have an attitude problem and I have to cats.

I have no problem with people having exotic animals one of the guys at work has about 30 snakes but they are all looked after properly. Talking of animal cruelty some ***** shot my cat with a pellet gun. I think the same laws should apply if you harm an animal as a human.

[Patrick]

Unfortunately, I feel that the natural progression of this thread is going to be political, which is not appropriate. So, I am going to go ahead and close it. Sorry, but thanks.