Wild animals have evolved over millions of years as independent, free-living beings, with needs, instincts and behaviors that are inseparably linked to their appropriate habitat and to a free state of life. It is inappropriate and inhumane to force a wild animal to live the captive life of a pet.
Exotic animals
pose serious health risks to human beings, as many carry zoonotic diseases such as herpes B, monkey pox and salmonellosis, all of which are transmissible to humans. Keeping wild animals as pets can be dangerous, as many can bite, scratch and attack the owner, children or guests.Animal owners can be legally responsible for any harm, injury, or illness caused by the animals they keep. Finding new homes for large, hard-to-manage animals can be difficult, if not impossible, especially since most zoos can't accept them. Many species lead complex lives with broad social dynamics that cannot be reproduced in a captive environment. Even those raised in captivity have the same genetic traits as their wild counterparts, so they are not suitable for a life like pets.
The American Veterinary Medical Association, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have expressed opposition to the possession of certain exotic animals by people. The farm is suspected of washing otters caught in the wild to supply the exotic pet market, as well as to a chain of interactive otter cafés in Japan. People who own exotic animals often try to change the nature of the animal rather than the nature of the care provided. As a result, most of these animals are euthanized, abandoned or condemned to live in deplorable conditions.
Exotic creatures such as chimpanzees, pythons, kinkajus and red macaws have won the hearts of animal lovers looking for companions, but having exotic animals as pets can have hidden costs, both for people and animals. As the largest pet store chain in Canada and the only large store still selling reptiles and amphibians, PetSmart contributes to the cruel multi-billion dollar trade that exploits wild animals on an industrial scale. The animals are caught in their native habitats and transported to several countries to be sold as pets. Salmonellosis associated with exotic pets has been described as one of the most important public health diseases, affecting more people and animals than any other disease alone.
Human contact with reptiles and other exotic animals accounts for 70,000 cases of salmonellosis every year. The enormous global demand for these and other exotic pets drives the illegal capture and trade of millions of birds, mammals and reptiles each year, most of which die when captured or transported. The sale and possession of exotic animals is regulated by a series of federal, state and local laws that generally vary by community and animal. In general, the City or County Council has determined that the possession of certain exotic species poses a serious threat to the health, safety, and welfare of community residents as a result of a recent attack in the area, an escape or because of the physical attributes and natural behavior of the animals and thus adopts an ordinance that regulates or prohibits private possession.
These exotic animals are cute and cuddly when they are young but they have the potential to kill or seriously injure people and other animals as they grow older. Although it is widely recognized that non-human primate bites are some of the worst animal bites, little research exists in this regard.
