Owning Exotic Animals.....
- Thread starter sillysally
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That was kind of my point. There needs to be a new differentiation as to what is considered 'exotic'. Ferrets, chins, gerbils etc are not exotic, they are now domestic animals.
For wild animals I think there should be regulation on where you can get them, to make sure more animals are not taken from the wild, nor are byb.
For wild animals I think there should be regulation on where you can get them, to make sure more animals are not taken from the wild, nor are byb.
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If you think it'll be a good fit, then great. They are TOTALLY different from ferrets (which I've never owned, but have played with). Or Rabbits...or any small animal. One thing I should say is that they are VERY easily frightened, particularly by small children. Even if the kids are really good with the animals, every time they make a sudden movement or squeal, it's going to frighten the animal.
Also, I'm sure you've already read this, but unless you've got AC I wouldn't want a chinchilla in Florida. Above 70 degrees they can get heat stroke...you can manage it with refrigerated rocks and stuff, but it's something to keep in mind.
Also, I'm sure you've already read this, but unless you've got AC I wouldn't want a chinchilla in Florida. Above 70 degrees they can get heat stroke...you can manage it with refrigerated rocks and stuff, but it's something to keep in mind.
I have ac I know about that and already have rocks picked out and the breeder has said she will be finding a good kids chin in her rescue or giving us a baby she said the sounds are only a big deal at first, in fact 2 have. The care is not much more then a ferret they are totally different but in a way thats better for us.
Ive spent hours reading on them and talking to breeders and owners.
Ive spent hours reading on them and talking to breeders and owners.
My feeling is that domestic animals are geared to be with humans. Wild animals should be left to be wild and live life the way they were designed and equipped....with a few exceptions, like some smaller rodents or some retiles and some birds. But animals like lions, tigers, bears, wolves, primates and many others should be off limits to just every Tom, Dick and Harry and only zoos and wild life sanctuaries or some other select kind of place with special licensing and special knoweldge should keep wild animals and it should be kept to a minimum. I just think humans interfer too much sometimes. Why can't the human race leave these poor animals alone? Haven't we done enough damage already with dogs and cats? As it is, too many people can't even take care of their dogs. I can't even begin to imagine the horrors so many wild animals would live with if most of the general public could own whatever kind of wild animal their little, selfish whims would dictate.
I am for exotic ownership but with regulations and permits. I know many wolf, fox, coyote, and coydog/wolfdog owners on my other forum. Their dogs often get more space and interaction than many in zoos.
I've also experienced the other side of this... I had a few friends with monkeys and exotics in houston that did not get proper care. I remember working in the animal shelter and getting a full grown lioness surrendered. I had a neighbor that kept a tiger inside his house... I think when you're dealing with WILD animals and particularly large predators there needs to be restrictions and things like enclosure size requirements and fence requirements. It is different than dealing with any kind of dog and should be treated as such. I don't really see a slippery slope through regulation. I just think there has to be a middle ground somewhere...
I also agree that ferrets and chins and the like should be not considered exotics anymore. They've been domesticated for quite some time now.
I've also experienced the other side of this... I had a few friends with monkeys and exotics in houston that did not get proper care. I remember working in the animal shelter and getting a full grown lioness surrendered. I had a neighbor that kept a tiger inside his house... I think when you're dealing with WILD animals and particularly large predators there needs to be restrictions and things like enclosure size requirements and fence requirements. It is different than dealing with any kind of dog and should be treated as such. I don't really see a slippery slope through regulation. I just think there has to be a middle ground somewhere...
I also agree that ferrets and chins and the like should be not considered exotics anymore. They've been domesticated for quite some time now.
Eh, my ferrets are in a cage for 20 hours of the day. They have more than double the space they need, especially considering they are just sleeping the whole time. Pet store ferrets are HORRIBLE, and I will NEVER buy a ferret from a pet store. The place they get them from, is a ferret-mill. NONE of my guys are bought from pet stores... by me. They all were, yes, but then they all, for whatever reason, found themselves needing a home and I took them in. I have not even paid money for any of them.
*imagines trying to chase tigers out of my trash cans like the neighborhood cats* 
I agree with labrynth.......and also with whoever said 'new definitions' of exotics are in order.
I have an amazon red lored parrot, I love him and he loves me.........but really, sometimes I feel sad for him not being in south america flying free and doing all they do in the wild. Not that Marty was ever born free, this life is all he knows (domestic/house/cage life)..........but I think somewhere inside of him, he knows there's supposed to be ''more'
I agree with labrynth.......and also with whoever said 'new definitions' of exotics are in order.
I have an amazon red lored parrot, I love him and he loves me.........but really, sometimes I feel sad for him not being in south america flying free and doing all they do in the wild. Not that Marty was ever born free, this life is all he knows (domestic/house/cage life)..........but I think somewhere inside of him, he knows there's supposed to be ''more'
By definition, ferrets were never domesticated... as there has never been and will never be wild ferrets. Black-footed ferrets, yes, but that is nothing like the ferrets people have as pets. Actually, the domestic ferrets are much closer to polecats (who they were bred down from) then black-footed ferrets.
I really dislike Animal Planet's 'Fatal Attractions'. They make it seem like owning an exotic animal as a death sentence for the owner. I have not seen one episode where the attack wasn't provoked or the person was mishandling the animal.
My neighbor owns two cougars. This cougar was owned(?)/trained by them.
YouTube - TV Commercial Mercury Cougar 1975
My neighbor owns two cougars. This cougar was owned(?)/trained by them.
YouTube - TV Commercial Mercury Cougar 1975
The hardest part for me to get over when someone says that they want to own an exotic such as a bear, lion, monkey, etc. is WHY??
Why on earth would you want to own a monkey? I sometimes can't sleep when I see reports of bears wondering around. When I lived in Pa we could hear mama bear calling to her cubs and it left me rather uneasy. To have something like that living in close proximity to me was enough. What is the point of owning large predatory animals. Unless you are wealthy or a zoo I don't see how you could properly enrich their lives.
Ferrets, rats, gerbils, parrots, chins etc I don't view in the same light as the above mentioned. All of these are able to be stimulated and kept happy by the right owners, but just as with all animal ownership there will be people that don't do it right or care to. It happens with dogs and cats just as easily.
Why on earth would you want to own a monkey? I sometimes can't sleep when I see reports of bears wondering around. When I lived in Pa we could hear mama bear calling to her cubs and it left me rather uneasy. To have something like that living in close proximity to me was enough. What is the point of owning large predatory animals. Unless you are wealthy or a zoo I don't see how you could properly enrich their lives.
Ferrets, rats, gerbils, parrots, chins etc I don't view in the same light as the above mentioned. All of these are able to be stimulated and kept happy by the right owners, but just as with all animal ownership there will be people that don't do it right or care to. It happens with dogs and cats just as easily.
I don't agree with owning animals such as lions, tigers, things like that. People can barely take proper care of a dog. It scares me to think of them with an animal as powerful as a tiger. 0_o Plus I don't think it's quite humane to keep an animal built for roaming miles of territory in a cage. I don't want to go seizing animals from the very few people with the know-how to keep them properly or anything like that. But I do believe that wild animals should live in the wild.
I do think it's illegal in the states to buy or sell primates now.
I do think it's illegal in the states to buy or sell primates now.