The keeping of exotic pets is a hot topic lately. In October, the Zanesville Tragedy shocked millions when Terry Thompson was found dead of apparent suicide, and his animals running loose. Most were slaughtered by local law enforcement, even endangered tigers, animals still caged, and non-predators like giraffes and monkeys. The (non-human) death toll was staggering, and many called for changes in laws regulating exotic animal ownership. Just before Christmas, the movie We Bought a Zoo was released in theaters. The movie is based on a book about the true story of a family who runs a small private zoo - the real life Dartmoor Zoo in Devon, England! This zoo just welcomed baby capybaras into the world. Capybaras are becoming ever more popular because of Caplin Rous (who died January 3rd, 2011) and his successor, Garibaldi Rous, both of whom are online personas blogged at www.gianthamster.com by their real life owner, Melanie Typaldos. So exotic pets are big news... but why do people keep them, when so many dogs and cats are in need of homes? What pets are considered exotic and of those what pets are legal (here in Utah)? Are exotics dangerous, and if so, should they be allowed to be kept at all?
"Why don't you just get a dog?"
One woman explained her decision to own sugar gliders in this way:
"I can't believe how many times people would ask me, 'why don't you just get a dog or cat? There are so many in shelters.' And there are. And someday, when a dog fits into my life right, I plan to adopt one. But right now, my sugar gliders, my crazy, nocturnal sugar gliders work for me. They are my life. I don't have a big yard for a dog. I had a room for my gliders to fly. I am a night owl, and they sleep while I am at work, and play when I get home. And my sugar gliders are bonded to me, I love them. They mean the world to me. I spend insane amounts researching their care. Gliders are right for me. A cat might be right for someone else. I have a friend who has a raccoon and I believe that is right for her. I have a cousin who is completely devoted to her greyhound. Sugar gliders are for me."
Just as not every dog is a good fit with every family, not every cat is a good fit with every family, not every family is a cat or dog family. Maybe a bearded dragon is exactly what they need, love, and want. Maybe a sugar glider or a ferret or a guinea pig is better than a dog for someone in an apartment. Maybe a tortoise is the perfect choice for someone with allergies. Maybe someone with the means and experience chooses a big cat for companionship and protection in favor of a dog (though not here in Utah, where it is illegal).
There is no debate that shelters are flooded with unwanted dogs and cats needing homes. If you can find room in your heart for a "less exotic" pet, there is no shortage of adoptable friends to pick from. Check Petfinder.com or go to a specific rescue or shelter. There are some amazing ones here in Utah, including Best Friends Animal Society, Friends of Animals/Furburbia, Utah Animal Adoption Center, etc. But the fact is, not only Fido and Fluffy are languishing in shelters... exotics are, too. Petfinder is a great place to find them, too. Birds, reptiles, mammals, and others, are not immune to the economy. Owners who fall on hard times can no longer afford to keep exotics, who are often more expensive to care for than traditional pets. Also, exotics have the additional issue of people purchasing without knowing the often high maintenance involved in their care. Those animals then need to find a home with someone who did do their research. That person might be you. For more information on adopting exotics, check out this article about Utah's Week for the Animals and exotics up for adoption. Also, while this article is about the sad reverse (what to do if you have to rehome your exotic pet), it includes a list of specific rescues with exotic animals.
Lions and tigers and bears [and ferrets and gerbils and lizards and parrots]... oh my?
The term "exotic pet" is absolutely not synonymous with "wild, dangerous animal" but some people seem to think it is. For one thing, even with the larger, more risky animals, such as big cats, primates, and others, by virtue of being raised and trained by humans they are not wild... they are domesticated. Merriam-Webster defines Domesticate as "to adapt (an animal or plant) to life in intimate association with and to the advantage of humans." That doesn't mean that exotics are the same as "traditional" pet. They have not been domesticated for the years and years that dogs and cats have. Knowing that animal for what it is, respecting it's unique needs, is important to being happy with your exotic pet. If a person has the ability, financial means, and desire to safely keep even a potentially dangerous pet like a wolf, that can still be a pet. They are domesticated. Taking home an actual wild animal, removing it from it's environment, on the other hand, be it a monkey, a chipmunk, or frog, is dangerous and unethical.
The term "exotic pet" can mean many things, though. Some definitions include some pretty common critters. One definition is any animal that is something that is not indigenous to a particular region. That means bearded dragons from Australia, "teddy bear" hamsters from Turkey, Hyacinth Macaws from South America, Nigerian Pygmy Goats from Africa, and oriental fire-bellied toad from Asia, all pets readily found at pet shops (or at least Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT). In the veterinary fieild, the definition is even wider. Most veterinary practices will not treat anything other than dogs or cats. To have your rabbit seen, even if she is pretty local, being an American Fuzzy Lop (and if she is, you should know that the president of the American Fuzzy Lop Rabbit Club is located here in Utah!), you will have to take her to an exotic vet. The AVMA tends to consider more than just tigers, exotics... tiger finches and tiger salamanders are, too. So, you may be an exotic pet parent, and not even have known it before now! Of course, here in Utah, we have fairly strict laws about what animals we may keep as pets. Some, such as guinea pigs and sugar gliders, and now allowed with out special permits. Others, such as captive bred martins (similar to a ferret) or raccoons are allowed only with special licenses and permits issued by the state. There are also a myriad of animals prohibited here in Utah, including not only the "dangerous" ones, primates, etc. but capybara, descented skunks and degus (both very popular exotic pets legal in most other states). To learn more about what is and isn't allowed here in the beehive state, check out this article.
Fatal attractions and nanny states
When something horrific happens in the world of exotic pets, there is often a knee-jerk reaction. It happened when Travis the chimp attacked his owner and Charla Nash, maiming her severely. And it is happening now with Terry Thompson's reserve. Tragedy struck, and now people are crying for bans on owning exotics and fueling federal bills such as the Constrictor Ban and many state bills, though none currently in Utah. Utah already is one of the stricter states in regards to exotics ownership. Last March, there was a bill to allow certain individuals to keep venomous rattlesnakes as pets (currently prohibited), but it did not pass. But is banning really the way to protect ourselves, and the welfare of the animals, from tragedies like Zanesville?
If society overreacts and bans exotics because of actions of a few deranged individuals, then we need to ban kids, as that is the only way to totally stop child abuse, and we need to ban humans, because that is the only way to stop murder. Silly, isn't it?
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