I did own a Sun Conure Parrot for five years. She was a beautiful parrot, loved her so much. Where I moved would not have been a good place for this parrot; really miss her so much.
I can understand the attraction, but I believe that the exotic wildlife trade industry is generally very cruel. If I "owned" an exotic animal, it wouldn't because I bought it, because I do not want to support that industry.
A lot of exotic pets do end up being given up, but so do domestic pets. I hope you're aware that either way it can be a lose-lose. The thing here is to not ban exotic pets altogether, but instead to educate everyone on how to better care for them. The only way to prevent something from happening really is to ban it, yet is that the approach we are taking for dogs and cats? No, so I really don't think we should take that same approach to exotic pets.
I didn't actually say 'exotic' pets should be banned, I said I don't want to support the industry. I will continue to support legislation to ban certain practices involved, just as I do with cats, dogs and other animals that suffer at the hands of humans. http://www.bornfreeusa.org/ar...
Why wouldn't you support the industry? It's not doing any more harm than domestic pets. You certainly sounded against it in your first comment. The website you showed me is extremely biased.
My reasons for not wanting to support the industry are numerous, and not based on any one source. My question for you, is why do you CARE why I don't personally want to support the industry?
Because a lot of the time, people who don't support this industry are against it based off of wrong information, which in turn affects people like me who DO keep these animals, because then they are banned in various places and we have to move from our homes in order to keep our pets.
Not at this time, though I have had several. I also have decades worth of zoo/circus experience and licensing. My old wolf passed away 4 years ago. Ocelots make crappy pets.
Frankly, most people have no business with an exotic animal. It's a death knell for the animal, invariably. My mother had a monkey, now on the endangered species because of the pet trade. She learned the hard way that they aren't these cute loving little fur beasts. Our local zoo was swamped with exotics that people could non longer deal with. Please people, stick to the domestic ones.........
Yes, and much effort is expended by many individuals and organizations to deal with this issue. However, there can be fewer regulations for exotics than for domestics, and far more people invested. Most people haven't a clue as to how many exotics, and of what species, there are out there.
Not a one of those items you posted showed the owner to be irresponsible in providing good care to their animal. Some breeds are far more aggressive than others and people may get more dog than they can handle. But there is a point to an animal being referred to as 'domestic' rather than 'exotic'. The term itself indicates indicates an acclimatization to habituation with Man. If those incidents you cite are so alarming, imagine what the exotics can do.
I'm not sure exactly what your stance on exotic pets are, but I advocate exotics only to responsible people, just as I advocate pets to only responsible people. Those people who "don't have a clue" should not be getting an exotic, in my book.
My stance on exotic pets I thought should be quite clear. I do not believe exotics belong in 'private hands'...PERIOD. Domestic animals require concerned, knowledgeable and committed owners. The downsides to exotics is huge, the upside - merely an ego stroke for the human owner.
The "downsides" of exotics is not any bigger than the downsides of domestics. And the upsides is exactly the same! Do you even know what you're saying? You have no factual data to support your claims.
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/ar...
Frankly, most people have no business with an exotic animal. It's a death knell for the animal, invariably. My mother had a monkey, now on the endangered species because of the pet trade. She learned the hard way that they aren't these cute loving little fur beasts. Our local zoo was swamped with exotics that people could non longer deal with. Please people, stick to the domestic ones.........
http://abcnews.go.com/Technol...
http://abcnews.go.com/US/zane...
http://articles.cnn.com/2009-...
http://www.dispatch.com/conte...
http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/new...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/...
^All dogs that killed their own owners.
Not a one of those items you posted showed the owner to be irresponsible in providing good care to their animal. Some breeds are far more aggressive than others and people may get more dog than they can handle. But there is a point to an animal being referred to as 'domestic' rather than 'exotic'. The term itself indicates indicates an acclimatization to habituation with Man. If those incidents you cite are so alarming, imagine what the exotics can do.