'Should it really be a pet?'

Should it really be a pet?

najdoyza from the mountains -

I'm seeing a lot of more and more exotic animals being kept as pets and I really have to wonder what some people are thinking. Here in the States there are not many places where I think it would be safe to keep things like cougars, lions, tigers, and many of the other exotics. They are not domesticated and many of the owners just want one "cause it's cool to have" They have no idea of the natural tendencies and temperments of these animals much less a proper environment to raise them in. What do they do with them when they get big and they eat a lot and aren't so cool anymore. They have been around us too long so they are no longer suited to the wild where they should have been left.

I love cougars (my nic is a native american word for cougar) but as much as I have seen some of the animals in rescue shelters and wildlife refuges, I would never consider trying to have one as a pet in a residential area. Dogs and housecats have been domesticated for thousands of years and look what happens to them when they become feral. They are all the more dangerous because they have no fear of humans, so they attack us. Usually childrenThey are beautiful, but many of these animals should be admired from a distance and left in peace in their own habitat.

Comment #1 Odie from the dog house -

Yes I agree with you. I don't understand why people feel the need to keep exotic animals as pets. They need to be in the wild where they can reproduce so not to become extinct.

Comment #2 Silima (198.209.77.233) -

I agree as well. Exotic animals desearve to be in their natural habitat not with a human that might get bored with the animal and kick them out of their house after they get used to the human owner. They are dangerous when angry and will hurt anyone at will. If they weren't so dangerous or on the breach of extiction then sure have them as a pet. Otherwise leave the animals be were they belong.

Silima

Comment #3 racquel (68.88.115.183) -

I have to agree also..

I did buy a "domestic" raccoon... He is 3 years old now.

I will never buy or even own another one. So much work and too many things I had to give up.. Like my home!!! He has taken over.. but at least he is happy.. they are not happy in a cage. and I wont put him in a cage.

I do wildlife rescue also.. and get in dozens of unwanted raccoons.. its very sad.. after a year or so the owners do not want them anymore and bring them to me... They ( raccoons) usually hate my guts.. and probably thinking.. why did my mommie leave me here!

I have no choice but to get them used to the outdoors and release them when I feel they are ready.

Comment #4 Rickky from Planet Of The Pets -

O shut up. Exotic animals are awsome pets! I live in canada and i have a cheetah and much more so bite yourselves!!

Comment #5 becky from llandudno. north wales -

lol ricky you get pissed off way easy dont you.

and for everyone else on this forum.

wtf is your problem. if people want to own these animals then its their choice. at the end of the day you have no say in the matter. yes cats and dogs have been domesticated, they was once wild too ya know and now we name them mans best friend well why is this different matter just because the animals are larger. as long as the owners are taking care of the animal and its healthy and well and sticking to the laws for safety then why dont predujiced people just butt out, its not like they are harming the animal or forcing it to dance ect.. they are simply inviting it into their home to smother in love and attention. a much better life than out in the wild alone, having to fight for food and terrified of poachers ect.. and about this needing to be in the wild so they dont die out. well that is bull because in the wild these beautiful animals are dying out that is why we have breeding programmes. which btw are in captivity so get it right.

the only animal i dont agree with keeping is spiders but thats only because im scared of them. but yet again its the owners personal choice

Comment #6 Danielle (217.171.129.73) -

I think all animals as pets is wrong, they all belong in the wild no matter if they are a dog, cat or hamster, I study animal management and think the way the animals are treated is hurrable, they are poked, proded its un-natural.

No wounder so many animals are in homes and people are attacked.

Comment #7 Chelsea from Colorado -

I think Ricky should Shut up hiself But I do agree with najdoyza I do think that Cheetahs and tigers and all the others that still live in the wild should be free to live without humans bothering them but dogs and cats and hamsters were made to show people how to love something more than DRUGS OR GARBAGE thats why there called MANS BEST FRIEND too... Dogs RULE CATS DRULE

Comment #8 Michelle (1) from Guelph Ontario -

I don't believe it should necessarily be banned, but I also don't think that anyone anywhere should be able to own an exotic pet. I work in an exotic animal sanctuary and believe it or not, sometimes I wish some of these animals could find loving homes and owners. Yes some owners are uneducated and do not realize the amount of responsibility it takes to own an exotic pet. These cases are the ones where you find the owners trying to release them into a wild unknown habitat. In most of these cases the animals do not know how to cope with their new environment and therefore die. But on the plus side there are owners who really have a love for the animal that they have. The exotic animal bann has very good intentions on behalf of one side of this argument but on the other hand the responsible owners do their research and find that a lot of the time these animals who could have been living out a long fufilling life with an owner get cramped up in over populated sanctuary cages. Sometimes they are actually killed too. Unfortunately in this world there is good and there is bad and it's quite impossible to regulate every exotic owner's treatment of an animal. I'm not sure where I stand with the whole argument, maybe one of you guys can help me with this dilema.

Comment #9 shavannah (38.116.200.10) -

animals(as pets)are taken from their homes an familys kepping them in a cage just because rhei cut is like keeping a man in prison cause he has a nice beard. how hypreitcial is it to say that u love animals when you basically enslave them for your presonal pleasure.

Comment #10 Mary (71.32.120.80) -

Hamsters have not been kept as pets nearly as long as most of the exotic pets you are complaining should be in the wild. Foxes, bears, skunks, and lots more all have a longer history of being kept as pets. If they are kept healthy, happy and reasonable steps are taken for safety then there is no problem. If not neglect, abuse, and public endangerment laws would/should already address the problem. No law has ever or will ever prevent anything laws are to punish. There is nothing to punish about having a pet of any species. There is for abuse or neglect of that pet but not if kept properly.

As for problems it really is a small percent but it is news worthy because it's rare. And good owners are not news worthy nor are most attention seekers. They are like any of you and have a pet they love and prefer low profiles too keep their pets safe from people that think better dead than a pet. The problem isn't ownership It's a small percent of bad owners. Most people are not stupid enough to think a tiger will stay a cub forever. Most owners love their pets and will do what is best for them. I believe more domestics get abused and neglected percentage wise than exotics. No one has ever set a tiger on fire while still alive they have cats and dogs. Then, if a ban is to protect animals, ban cats and dogs.

Don't ban a species ban the deeds.

As for taking them from the wild that is a misconception. No tigers are imported only born and bred for many generations in the USA like parrots and your precious hamsters who have not been kept nearly as long as tigers have by people. The vast majority of exotics are born and bred as pets. Everyone prefers a healthy domestically bred and tamed pet to taking a wild one with unknown history and health and intact wild temperament. Just try hugging a wild coon and see if it is even remotely the same as a tame one. Laws on wild animals are strict and those few wind up with more expert folk.

As stated above these AR(animal rights) folks who push these ideas want even dogs and cats banned. They want no human animal contact. They are just picking on the less commonly kept pets first because we are fewer in number and an easier target. Hamsters, ferrets, hedgehogs, parrots, certain breeds of cats and dogs and even gerbils are all already banned in certain states and localities. Anywhere a ban is passed they come back year after year to add more species to the banned list.

• Exotic nimal owners under attack

Comment #11 Cat girl (71.32.120.80) -

What do tey do once they grow up? They keep and love them!

• Lion, tigers, and cougar pets!

Comment #12 Kim (69.19.14.26) -

ok well im not goin to be as violent as ricky but i have a cougar and she is a great pet! yes i agree that people shouldnt hav exotic pets because they dont make great pets in some conditions but in the right condittions they can make good pets. but all you people hear is the bad stuff and so you support groups like peta when you dont hear the truth. i do wish that they were left in the wild but the fact is they arent! can you stop talking trash about people that own exotic pets!?! because its just not fair for them! they love their animals and im sure they hear enough about how bad a person they are because of the pet they have. i kno i do! yea ok you dont support them but that doesnt mean you have to be so rude in telling them. think about if u were put in their position what would u do? most people that have them and are good owners must fight for their pets every day and spend thousands of dollars each year to care for and have the rigth to keep their beloved pet. so next itme you decide to be mean to sum1 with an exotic pet think about what ur gona say and what it would be lik if you were in their position!

Comment #13 kim (69.19.14.26) -

and by the way danielle, do you really believe that dogs and hamsters can survive in the wild?? you must be crazy!

Comment #14 Wayde Forster from New York -

Cat Girl, Mary, and Kim seem to have the right ideas-how about a reasonable middle ground? None of these exotic pets are taken from the wild anymore-they are descended from zoo over-stocks that got into private hands(not always ethical, but its better than selling them to shooter farms) Most endangered animals are so because they simply have nowhere to live. We have taken all of their territory for our exploding population, and they are simply squeezed out. When they are well cared for, most of them are happier than they ever could be in the wild-they have veterinary care, food, water, shelter, and protection from predators. The PETA types that think they need 'freedom' are simply assigning human values to animals that simply aren't aware of such abstract concepts. And, no, I don't think most people should have many of the exotics, but MOST people don't keep them.

Comment #15 Ampersand (99.152.34.0) -

I basically agree with everyone here. But it must be a middle ground. You must realize that many domesticated animals should not live in the wild, nor should many exotic animals live in captivity. If you care for and devote, basically, your life to this exotic animal, then it is better in your hands than in the wild.

--Ampersand

Comment #16 becky (90.206.248.236) -

hey kim hamsters do survive in the wild as do so, e dogs but i certainly wouldnt expect a chihuahua too lol and as for the hamsters in the wild they have a tough life trying to escape snakes and all other predatorts theyre pretty low on the food chain. if we think theyre life is short with us imagine how short it would be in the wild.

i dont get why whoever said its cruel to keep cats dogs and hamsters said that. maybe she isnt allowed to own any pets therefor is jelous or something but as for the poked and prodded ..i dont poke and prod my dogs so i think ya need to back track a little

Comment #17 jade (78.151.118.162) -

cats and dogs have been breed over hundreds of years from the wild to make them tame and loveing, however cheatas r wild animals, and even if they are playing with you they could hurt you, n my hamsta got out into my gardan wtf u rekon happend 2 him>

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