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> Wildlife Are Not Pets
 Wildlife
Are Not Pets
by The
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
The Humane Society of the United States (and
WRR) strongly oppose keeping wild animals as pets. This principle
applies to both native and nonnative species, whether caught
in the wild or bred in captivity. The overwhelming majority
of people who obtain these animals are unable to provide the
care they require.
Caring for Wild Animals Is Difficult or Impossible
Despite what animal sellers may say, appropriate
care for wild animals requires considerable expertise, specialized
facilities, and lifelong dedication to the animals. Their
nutritional and social needs are demanding to meet and, in
many cases, are unknown. They often grow to be larger, stronger,
and more dangerous than owners expect or can manage. Small
cats such as ocelots and bobcats can be as deadly to children
as lions and tigers. Wild animals also pose a danger to human
health and safety through disease and parasites.
 Baby
Animals Grow Up
Baby animals can be irresistibly adorable —
until the cuddly baby becomes bigger and stronger than the
owner ever imagined. The instinctive behavior of the adult
animal replaces the dependent behavior of the juvenile, resulting
in biting, scratching, or displaying destructive behaviors
without provocation or warning. Such animals typically become
too difficult to manage and are confined to small cages, passed
from owner to owner, or disposed of in other ways. There are
not enough reputable sanctuaries or other facilities to properly
care for unwanted wild animals. They can end up back in the
exotic pet trade. Some may be released into the wild where,
if they survive, they can disrupt the local ecosystem.
 Wild
Animals Spread Disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) discourages direct contact with wild animals for a simple
reason: They can carry diseases that are dangerous to people,
such as rabies, herpes B virus, and Salmonella. The herpes
B virus commonly found among macaque monkeys can be fatal
to humans. Thousands of people get Salmonella infections each
year from contact with reptiles or amphibians, causing the
CDC to recommend that these animals be kept out of homes with
children under five. A recent outbreak of monkeypox was set
in motion when small mammals carrying the disease were imported
for the pet trade and infected native prairie dogs, which
were also sold as pets.
Domestication Takes Thousands of Years
Wild animals are not domesticated simply by
being captive born or hand-raised. It's a different story
with dogs and cats, who have been domesticated by selective
breeding for desired traits over thousands of years. These
special animal companions depend on humans for food, shelter,
veterinary care, and affection. Wild animals, by nature, are
self-sufficient and fare best without our interference. The
instinctive behavior of these animals makes them unsuitable
as pets.
 Capturing
Wild Animals Threatens Their Survival
When wild-caught animals are kept as pets,
their suffering may begin with capture — every year
millions of birds and reptiles suffer and die on the journey
to the pet store. Even after purchase, their lives are likely
to be filled with misery. If they survive, they may languish
in a cramped backyard cage or circle endlessly in a cat carrier
or aquarium. More commonly, they become sick or die because
their owners are unable to care for them properly. The global
wild pet trade continues to threaten the existence of some
species in their native habitats.
Having any animal as a pet means being responsible
for providing appropriate and humane care. Where wild animals
are concerned, meeting this responsibility is usually impossible.
People, animals, and the environment suffer the consequences.
The above article is reprinted with the
permission of The
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
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