Exotic Animals Don’t Make Good Pets

It is dangerous to keep an “exotic” animal as a pet. It is also inhumane, say animal experts, because the pets are often forced to live captive. Wild animals are simply not accustomed to living with people and relying on them for care. Also, their unpredictability or size/strength make them a force to reckon with in many cases. Domesticated dogs and cats have been adjusting to life with humans for generations upon generations. One can’t simply assume a wild animal will do this in a matter of months or years.

The risk of public injury is not restricted to size or type of wild animal. Exotics of all shapes and sizes can present unique risks. Small animals, such as lizards or arachnids, pose the same dangers as larger animals, such as birds of prey or large cats. Many exotics carry diseases for which there is no immunization or preventative vaccine available. Serious public health concerns, including rabies, ringworm, tuberculosis, and polio can be carried by wild animals.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 93,000 cases of reptile-associated salmonellosis occur each year in the United States, resulting in as many as 10 deaths. All reptiles and amphibians carry salmonella and are capable of passing the bacteria on to household members even without direct contact. Macaque monkeys, a popular exotic pet, can transmit herpes B virus to humans through bites or saliva, with often fatal results.

Most regular people do not have the means, education and space necessary to care for wild animals. Case in point is the tiger attack that occurred in late 2007 at a California zoo, in which a Siberian tiger mauled two men and killed another. In general, zookeepers have an animal-care advantage over the general public in terms of knowing the precautions necessary for an animal of this size. But even the professionals at the zoo failed to realize the capabilities of the tiger, which scaled an enclosure that was not at the recommended height. Still, there are individuals who keep tigers, lions and other big cats at home as pets.

Exotic animals require specialized care and professional expertise. Ultimately the animal suffers if kept as a pet. Dogs and cats in shelters looking for homes make much better pets for the family.