When referring to exotic pets, the term exotic has become personalized depending on the individual’s locale and exposure to various species. While the general consensus considers only cats and dogs under the umbrella of domesticated pets, there may be individuals exposed to greater diversity who would also include reptiles and large cats. Due to lack of knowledge of these uncommon animals in regards to health and safety hazards, legislation is put in place to regulate the trade and ownership of exotic species. A species is considered exotic if it has not gone through the entire domestication process, which would also require selective breeding of a minimum of thirty generations. Exotic species such as reptiles would have maintained the skills …show more content…
Species-specific permits should be required for ownership of exotic species that are known to be tame if bred in captivity and require standards of living that are not easily accessible. This may include appendages for thermoregulation, sufficient space, and available veterinary care. A permit would be given to a person who has completed and passed informative classes on their desired species, confirming their knowledge on the animal’s housing, nutrition, and health needs. Although the process may be tedious, allowing leverage for owning exotic species would encourage an individual to go through necessary and legal precautions. That would be the safe route, rather than obtaining and owning the animal illegally and thereby compromising one’s health and safety. This would apply to exotic species, such as reptiles, which have not evolved to live in a household and are falsely depicted as low maintenance animals (DeNardo, 2017). Therefore, species-specific permits would also hold the …show more content…
Zoonotic diseases are diseases that can be transmitted between different species. Although it may require a large amount of funding, shutting down illegal trafficking would act as a more effective control over biohazards entering the United States, including zoonotic diseases that would increase mortality rates of young and immunodeficient individuals. For example, symptoms of Salmonella are more severe when transmitted to a human from an exotic animal such as a reptile, rather than from a domesticated pet such as a dog (Fehr, 2015). Those with compromised immune systems such as people with AIDS are susceptible to death by certain zoonotic diseases (Fehr, 2015). There has been an increase in human clinical cases of salmonellosis correlated with an increase of reptiles as popular pets (Cristina et al., 2012). This poses a concern due to antibiotic resistance of these reptiles along with lack of public knowledge regarding their risks (Cristina et al., 2012). The purpose of the permits and the required classes would serve to educate the public of potential zoonotic risks from handling exotics such as reptiles. Classes for permits are still necessary even with the ban on wild exotic species because an exotic animal’s history told by the seller is not always reliable (Nowak, 2016). Therefore, if the animal was not bred in a regulated
Burmese pythons (Python molurus) are popular pets in the United States because of their attractive color pattern, reputed docility, and the allure, for some, of owning a giant snake. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, approximately 99,000 Burmese pythons were imported to the United States between 1996 and 2006, compared to only 17,000 between 1970 and 1995. The species is classified by the World Conservation Union as “near threatened” in its native range in Southeast Asia due to exportation for the pet trade and hunting for skins. Thousands of pythons are also captive bred each year in the U.S. for sale as pets. An inexperienced snake keeper who takes home a 20-inch hatchling is, within a year, responsible for a brawny eight-foot predator.
Should exotic snakes or other large reptiles be allowed as pets in Florida? Right now these escaped/released feral reptiles create an estimated $120 billion in environmental damage each year according to David Steen on Slates Animal Blog.
However, there are ways to correct the issues with the present system. If all 50 states and other countries around the world were to institute stricter regulations, such as those mentioned above, it would help make owning exotics safer. Animals like lions and puff adders have no place being in anyone’s home, but other animals like ball pythons and leopard geckos are reasonable. The most important thing that the authorities can do to help regulate the exotic pet trade and reduce the potential damage caused by it, is to educate the public. It is essential that people be involved in and aware of decisions that are being made. Especially decisions that concern their safety and that of the world around
These numbers illustrate the risk that exotic animals pose to owners and community members. Keith Gisser, an exotic reptile owner, claims he's “not the kind of animal owner neighbours need to worry about”, yet Brian Johnson, Gisser's neighbour, says one of the reptile owner's snakes escaped into his backyard (www.wkyc.com..). Injury and fatalities are a risk, endangering the community when exotic animals are kept as pets, which is yet another reason why owning them should be illegal. Exotic animals carry diseases and infections that can be potentially harmful or fatal to humans, jeopardizing the safety of the community. These diseases range in severity from common ringworm infections in African pygmy hedgehogs to lyssaviruses in pet bats (Belotto et al)....
Kukol, Zuzana. "Let People Own Exotic Animals." USA Today 21 Oct. 2011, Opposing View sec.: n. pag. Middle Search Plus. Web. 11 Dec. 2013. .
Do you think that keeping exotic animals as pets should be legal? Well, I think that owning exotic animals as pets should be illegal. First, safety is a main concern for both the animals and for people. Secondly, it cost a very large amount of money to properly care for these animals; money people usually don’t have by themselves. Finally, it is against the law in many places to own these animals. Exotic animals should not be kept as pets.
The quote states “Exotic animals are wild animals with wild animal instincts, even when born in captivity. A wild animal is never 100 percent predictable. An animal that has behaved one way for many years cannot suddenly change. Domestication is not something that happens in one or two generations: it takes hundreds or thousands of years” (Lewis).
Exotic animals, such as lions, tigers, and bears might seem like cute and cuddly pets at first, however, little do people know how dangerous and endangered these furry creatures truly are. In this case exotic means coming from foreign countries all over the world. The want for exotic animals in the United States and all across the globe is in very high demand. People are taking them from their natural habitats and putting them in a cage for the rest of their life. It is predicted that the demand will keep going up and animals will become more endangered, if nothing is done about it. Therefore, the ownership of exotic animals should be banned in America because it is dangerous to humans and they are mostly endangered. Although some disagree that they should be able to own any animal for various reasons.
... or register for their use; pet owners, agriculture use, and retail pet stores are not under the control of the federal law (Explanation). Also under the AWA, there are regulations on how animals can enter the chain of commerce to eliminate the use of stolen animals (Explanation). Research facilities have to abide by legal restrictions on the imposition if pain during experiments; they must create an animal care
Animals that are brought to the United States and taken to someone’s home are said to have to go through the “exotic pet trade.” These animals are taken from their natural habitat, such as Australia, Brazil, and Africa and are exposed to harsh transport. Some examples of animals that are put in these conditions are parrots. They sometimes have their beaks and legs taped and are stuffed into tubes. Turtles suffer harsh conditions as well. They are trapped with tape inside their shells and shoved into small compartments along with many other turtles. These animals are put in such horrible conditions that many die before arriving at their destinations (“Exotic Animals as Pets”). These animals have to reason to be suffering because if they were left free in their natural habitat as they should be they would not have to
The prevalence of pet ownership in America has more than tripled during the last several decades, rising from 67 million households during the 1970s to 164 million households in 2012 (Human Society, 2014). The conscious decision by 62 percent of American households to own at least one pet represents a long-term commitment of time, money, and dedication to the needs of a wholly dependent entity. The basic needs for all pets, inclusive of companion animals and farm animals, include several provisions. These provisions include access to safe, clean drinking water at all times, access to high quality food commensurate to the weight of the animal, and adequate shelter from excesses of heat and cold (Agape, 2014). Beyond the life-essential basic needs of animals lay commonly accepted requisites that define responsible pet ownership. These requisites or minimal standards of care include access to veterinary care, access to exercise, and freedom from physical harm.
In all instances where varying species are kept under the control of an institution the justification of their captivity is under question. Zoos and aquariums both fall under this questioning,
"Do We Need Zoos?" : An All Creatures Animal Rights Article. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2015.
The purpose of this paper is to focus on a subject within my educational field that I can research and inform the public about. I plan to become a veterinarian .which would require my daily contact with humans and animals. Zoonotic diseases are risk factors that I have to be aware of in order to protect myself as well as my patients and their owners. Luckily developments in medicine have made it possible to cure zoonotic diseases and even prevent them from ever being contracted.
and make sure that the animal remains confined to a specific area if not kept in the house. Under no