To some people, owning a strange, wild, or even dangerous animal is seen as fashionable or “cool.” In a world filled with cats, dogs, hamsters, and other ordinary pets, there’s an exciting reaction to owning a unique and controversial animal. It’s the wow factor that ultimately drives people towards obtaining exotic pets throughout the world. Millions of these wild animals are taken from their habitats, sold to the market, and bought by individuals to keep as pets every year.
Another significant danger that arises when a wild animal is kept in captivity and handled by humans is the possibility of an attack. When keeping an exotic animal in one’s house, the possibility of that animal becoming aggressive is very high. An already stressed animal is bound to snap at any moment, and it may take very little to set them off. Snake bites, maulings, and scratches are not uncommon. Born Free USA has documented over 2,000 attacks by exotic pets since 1990, and that number continues to grow as the pet trade industry expands throughout the world.
As animal lovers, it’s extremely important to understand the dangers and negative aspects of keeping exotic animals as pets. Our immediate reaction to seeing a cute baby tiger or a playful monkey on the internet would be “I NEED IT RIGHT NOW!” But this isn’t what we want to be thinking. We want to be able to understand that a wild animal belongs in the wild. These animals are the happiest in their natural habitats, and that’s what any animal lover would want for them. If you want to learn more about animals in captivity and exotic pets, I recommend visiting Born Free USA. This website includes a lot of information and spreads awareness on this important issue. You can also choose to adopt or donate to help give back and make a difference. Citations
“Welcome to Born Free USA.” State Laws Governing Private Possession of Exotic Animals, www.bornfreeusa.org/. Rettner, Rachael. “Exotic Pets Are Dangerous to Health.” LiveScience, Purch, 21 Oct. 2011, www.livescience.com/16667-exotic-pets-attack-ohio.html.
7 Comments
Bridget N
2/26/2019 06:05:08 am
Great job! This blog is very informative, you did a great job of providing specific details about the risks of owning an exotic animal. I find this blog very interesting and obviously something you are passionate about.
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Chloe J
2/26/2019 06:40:54 am
Hi Bridget. Thank you for stopping by my blog! I'm glad that you found this post interesting. It definitely is something that I care a lot about.
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Chloe J
2/26/2019 06:42:27 am
I'm glad you enjoyed this post, Audrey! Thanks for stopping by.
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That's so interesting to look at. All of the facts are absolutely outstanding! I can't believe that little baby animals are taken away from their mom's just because people want them, that's just not right. I will definitely be on the look out for any animal cruelty and I'll try and help as much as I can!
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Chloe J
2/26/2019 06:43:54 am
I'm so happy that you found this post interesting, Bella! Thank you for taking the time to educate yourself on this issue and for planning to take action!
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6/9/2019 03:16:15 pm
I had never thought about this until I read an article on it a few years ago. First, I had no idea people actually gave rabbits to each other for Easter. I thought it would only happen in those families where Chihuahuas are accessories and/or "therapy dogs"--not in the real world. Thanks for helping us understand the consequences of our choices--and for doing so in a non-preachy way, Chloe!
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