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Exotic pets have been in the news lately. I define exotic pets as wild or barely domesticated animals that you’d sooner expect to see in a zoo than someone’s home. They’re often illegal to own. Even then the classification gets tricky; I’ve previously written about potbelly pigs and hedgehogs, two uncommon pets, that are sometimes illegal in certain states or counties.
In these cases, however, the illegality issue has to do with invasive species; certain types of hedgehogs and pigs are not native to the country and officials want to keep out the non-native breeds. When I’m talking about exotic pets, I’m talking about animals that most people would define as wild and that, again, most people wouldn’t even think of trying to own: big cats and dogs (we’re talking several tons large, not your 20-pound cat), bears, alligators, primates, and the like. They’re often predators of the sort that could at times consider humans their prey.
Some of you might remember a news story from several months ago about a number of such animals that were on the loose in Ohio. They didn’t escape from a zoo, but from a farm where a private owner was attempting to keep them as pets, or at least as sorts of fancy farm animals. The authorities had to track down and kill these animals as they were a danger to the people in the area.
Now lawmakers in Ohio are looking at a ban on exotic animals. Originally a stricter one was proposed, but USA Today reports that at the beginning of February Ohio State Senator Troy Balderson, the main man behind the bill, was looking at looser regulations.
What do they mean looser regulations? I know I’ve said that some of my dream pets are lions and tigers (I blame Disney’s “Aladdin”), but that’s just the point: they’re a dream. I could never conceive of anyone trying to own wild animals like this.
But as it turns out, Balderson’s easing his regulations for good reason. The original bill would have made the laws so tight that it could have forced animal sanctuaries, such as the American Primate Education Sanctuary in Blacklick, Ohio, to shut down. Animal sanctuaries provide valuable services and I certainly wouldn’t want to see them forced to close their doors, so now I’m actually glad of the bill’s reconsideration.
The original bill would have banned all exotic animals from the state – something I can get behind. The less strict version allows owners to keep animals they already have; I’m not as happy about that.
What I don’t understand is why it wouldn’t be possible to allow such animals only on a strict permit basis, so that animal sanctuary owners can prove that they’re professionals who understand these sorts of animals and that they’re not treating them as pets. Basically, create a law that allows wild animals to stay in zoos and sanctuaries but not in private homes. That’s what makes the most sense to me, but then I never understand how the legal process works so maybe that would be too difficult to regulate.
It just boggles my mind that people think they can own these animals and know what they’re doing, and prevent anyone from getting hurt. Sure things might be fine for years, but so many of these cases end in some form of tragedy. We might love animals of all types, but if we truly do we should recognize when we’re not the appropriate caretakers for wild animals; that love should prompt us to make sure they’re in the proper care.
Related Articles:
What to Do If You Find an Injured Wild Animal
The Basics of Horse Care, Pt. 1
Assault with a Deadly Hedgehog
Deceased Dog Granted Legal Status Beyond Property
*(This image by babasteve is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
