A Pet Peeve ? furanimalrights

?Would you keep a cat in a fish bowl? Or a hamster in a horse stable? Would you feed rabbit chow to your dog, or try to train a snake to sit?? These are valid questions that The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, more commonly known as ASPCA, asks when discussing ?Exotic Animals as Pets.?

On their website, the organization argues that there are four main reasons why exotic animals should not be kept as pets. The reasons are because it is bad for the animals, it is unhealthy for the humans they live with, it is detrimental to the environment, and in many cases, it is against the law.

The first explanation, because it is bad for the animals, is a legitimate concern. Not only is the animal in a strange environment, but also owners who travel with their exotic pets are putting the animals in danger. For example, people who are traveling to the United States with their pet are subject to ?health, quarantine, agriculture, wildlife, and US Customs requirements and prohibitions.? It is also important to note that those ?pets excluded from entry into the United States must either be exported or destroyed.?

Moreover, exotic animals are difficult to properly care for according to an organization titled Safe Haven that focuses on Illegal Pets. For example, if a person were to keep a cougar as a pet, the large cat would require a meat ration of three percent of its body weight plus supplements. Oftentimes, exotic animals have diseases due to their improper nutrition, which could require very expensive veterinary care. What is more, these animals can never be re-released into the wild again because they lack the proper survival skills. In fact, Safe Haven argues that re-releasing certain animals back into the wild may lead to an even crueler?death than euthanasia. (For more information on this organization, see here.)

Secondly, exotic pets can be harmful to humans. This is perhaps why the United States requires that all animals, even dogs, cats, and ferrets, must be vaccinated against rabies at least thirty days before entering the United States according to this website on pet immigration. An example of how exotic animals could be potentially dangerous to people is how ?All processed or unprocessed avian products and avian by-products from countries that are considered affected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) are refused entry into the United States.? ?(Read more about this topic here.)

Not only is the bird flu a realized fear with these animals in the picture, but other diseases are prevalent as well. Diseases with which exotic animals can infect humans: chlamydia, giardia, hepatitis A, rabies, ringworm, tuberculosis, measles, monkey pox, marburg virus, molloscum contagiosum, dermatophytosis, candidiasis, streptothricosis, yaba virus, campylobacteriosis, klebsiella and amebiasis; as well as infections from various nematodes, cestodes and arthropods.? While admittedly, some of these diseases are not fatal, some are. For more information, visit this page.

The third reason exotic animals as pets are hazardous because they can negatively affect the environment. According to ASPCA, when people keep exotic animals as pets, they disrupt the ecosystem. If the animal were to ever come in contact with members of its own species, it can easily spread diseases, possibly killing its own kind.

Lastly, in some cases, keeping exotic animals as pets can be considered illegal. According to ASPCA, ?The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have each opposed certain exotic animals as pets. Some state and local laws prohibit the sale or keeping of exotic animals. Other states require that a person obtain a license. Still other states have no laws.? In many cases, it depends on the specific state. (To look up the exotic pet laws in your own state, see this site.)

So what can animal activists do to ensure that exotic animals stay in the wild? They can turn to ASPCA?s new media. By supporting the organization?s Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube accounts, they can get involved and concentrate on making sure these types of animals do not become pets. They can also take a pledge, donate, and sign up for the email newsletter.

In conclusion, it is no secret that humans should let exotic animals live in their natural environment.

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Source: http://furanimalrights.wordpress.com/2011/08/07/a-pet-peeve/

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