We believe that wild animals belong in the wild, not as pets. The reality is that a life in captivity is a world away from a life in the wild. We know that most people buy exotic pets because they love animals. Animals bring joy to our lives, so why wouldn't we want them to be a part of our lives every day at home? Sadly, the truth is any wild animal that finds itself caught in the exotic pet trade experiences suffering. Despite our best efforts we are just not equipped to provide wild animals with the care necessary to fulfil all their intrinsic needs.
While keeping some exotic pets may be less cruel than others, no wild animal can have its needs met entirely in captivity. Only domesticated animals like cats and dogs should be kept in our homes, as all their needs are met. What we uncovered in our research is that when breeders or pet stores sell exotics to the public, in most cases very little, if any at all, information about the best way to care for the animal is given out. We encourage you to continue to give your pet the best life possible, for as long as you can.
We also ask you to commit to not purchasing another exotic pet in the future or breeding the one you own. You can unsubscribe at any time here. World Animal Protection will not sell or swap your information with any third party.
For information on how we use your details, and how we keep your details safe, please read our privacy policy. If you are no longer able to care for your exotic pet, we encourage you to surrender the animal to a local rescue group or humane society. But they grow up to be wild animals, kept in cages, chained up or loose.
There's just no good outcome there," said Richard Patch, vice president of federal affairs for the ASPCA , which pursues regulation of wild-animal ownership and trade at both the federal and state level.
One primate can kill a human. These animals can be a danger to the community, degrade the environment, live miserable lives and end up a huge cost to taxpayers. State laws regarding exotics vary widely; in some states, people can legally own almost any animal; in others, even seemingly innocuous animals like ferrets are banned. If you're considering owning a pet, first check with both your state and county.
Then do some research about the animal's requirements and risks to make sure it's a suitable pet. Reptiles, for example, can carry salmonella and may not be appropriate for households with small children. Ferrets are prone to adrenal disease, which requires special medical care. At Hess's clinic, one of only two in the country accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association , she even treats wallabies, marsupials similar to but smaller than kangaroos.
They exude Aussie charm, but if you want one, be prepared to spend several hours a day with the animal in a pouch against your chest during the first months, which is essential to its well-being. What you'll pay for exotic pets varies as much as the pets themselves and will differ according to region, rarity and source. And many exotics can be had for free, or for a small adoption fee, from rescue organizations such as the House Rabbit Society.
The best place to get information about exotics is from a vet who specializes in exotic pet care. You can find one on the websites of the Association of Avian Veterinarians aav. Read more : The simple truth about pet-ownership economics. In order to truly understand what's involved in caring for an exotic pet, it's best to first talk it over with a veterinarian before committing, said Dr.
Reef fish are sometimes stunned with cyanide or forced to the surface with explosive blasts to make them easier to collect. Birds too are at risk. Before , when the U. One of the most egregious cases highlighting the need for change occurred in , when authorities raided U. Global Exotics, a wildlife wholesaler in Arlington, Texas. Reviewing the case, investigators calculated that each week, the company disposed of some 3, dead or nearly dead animals, equating to a 72 percent mortality rate every six weeks.
During the municipal court case, one witness cited a study suggesting that 70 percent of all reptiles in the pet trade die before reaching their final destination. Global Exotics, according to Warwick, who worked on the case. Telecky is even more pointed. The port of Los Angeles, which includes seven airports and seaports, has more wildlife moving in and out than any other port in the country.
Yet in , the U. Fish and Wildlife Service had only six inspectors assigned to it. Given the logistical limits, usually they can pursue only the most extreme cases, Ventura says.
There are legal limitations too. But he had to clear the shipments, because he had no legal basis for seizing or delaying them. Read more from Kolby about how U. CITES, the wildlife trade treaty, mandates that shipment of certain live animals must minimize injury or cruel treatment—but its regulations apply only to transport, not to how animals are captured, stockpiled, or eventually housed, says Sue Lieberman, vice president of international policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Species covered by the treaty are supposed to be shipped according to the nearly pages of rules outlined by the International Air Transport Association IATA , to which airlines belong. Federal regulations provide some humane treatment protections for animals when they enter the U.
He says he never received any training to make such evaluations. When inspectors do happen upon a shipment that clearly warrants action, such as injured or dead animals, they can issue fines, Ventura says. Hoping to update the rules to protect millions more imported animals, the Fish and Wildlife Service drafted regulations in the mids to define principles for humane transport of reptiles and amphibians.
Weissgold, then a wildlife trade policy specialist with the service, was part of the effort. A group of stakeholders from inside and outside government participated, and eventually they settled on a new set of guidelines, Weissgold says. But before the process to legally adopt the regulations began, the pet industry began to push back behind the scenes to pressure officials not to adopt the changes, Weissgold continues.
PIJAC members also undertook a letter-writing campaign to protest the changes. The Fish and Wildlife Service ultimately dropped the effort. Telecky, who had been present at the meetings, also remembers this turn of events.
Still, most U. The government is still interested in creating regulations to ensure the humane transport of reptiles and amphibians, but other priorities simply continue to take precedence, says Frank Kohn, a biologist with the service specializing in CITES.
Many conservationists and policymakers are only beginning to awaken to these challenges, but conservation biologist Sekar says the trend is in the right direction. As scientific evidence that animals think and feel grows , so does the public call for improving animal welfare. Still, he says, not enough exotic pet sellers and buyers think about this.
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