why CAN'T all animals be pets? 

Introduction 

     What do you think of when you hear the word pet? You probably think of the most common pets such as a cat and dog or even a fish. 

     However there are so many more animals like parrots or foxes or deer. These aren't necessarily pets, but some people do keep them as pets. Is that the right thing to do? Keep reading to find out more why all animals can't be pets. 

Exotic Pets 

     Perhaps you've heard of people owning uncommon pets like a fox or a deer. These animals are called "exotic pets" because they are not normally kept by people. There are many reasons why owning an exotic pet is not good for the animal. 

     These animals are very hard to care for. Many people give up on their exotic pets and release them into the wild. Some animals are dumped outside even though this is illegal. Most released exotic pets aren't able to survive in an unfamiliar habitat, and the ones who do survive can disrupt the local ecosystem. 

The Difficulty of Owning Exotic Pets 

     Have asked your mom or dad for an animal that is cool and different like a parrot or python or axolotl? These animals may seem interesting and more exciting than a common pet like a cat or dog.

    These uncommon pets are called exotic pets. They need lots of care and that of means lots of money and attention. You also need to adapt them to being handled by a human, which may not be safe for the animal. 

     Some wild animals like deer and sheep get scared easily and run away. These animals don't make good pets because of their flight tendencies. They want to run away at any sense of danger, and they should never be kept as pets.

Illegal Pets 

      You might think you want a polar bear, but trust me you don't! Polar bears need very cold temperatures. They are illegal and unsafe to own as a pet!!! Don't keep a polar bear as a pet. 

    Many exotic pets are illegal to own. They need to live in a natural environment, so this makes it hard for them to survive outside of the wild. 

     Zoos and nature preserves have more open space and people who are well-trained to care for wild animals. But even zoos and nature preserves have many challenges and difficulties keeping animals safe, healthy, and happy.  

     For example, a tiger eats about 90 pounds of meat at one time. It is estimated that every tiger eats about one deer-sized animal per week.

     That's a lot of food, week after week after week. If you don't provide the animal with enough food or the right food, it may become sick, stressed, or aggressive.

Releasing Exotic Pets    

      Another problem is that a lot of people give up on exotic pets because of how hard they are to care for. This causes many problems because an animal that escapes or is released in a place outside of its natural habitat may die. 

     Released animals are also a danger to other animals, plants, and humans who live in an ecosystem. 

Burmese Pythons

     For example, Burmese pythons are not an animal that is native to Florida. But in the 1970s, many people bought Burmese pythons as exotic pets and then released them into the wild when they couldn't care for them.

     Today more than 10,000 Burmese pythons live in the wild in Florida. They grow more than 20 feet long and weigh more than 200 pounds. 

     Burmese pythons destroy the habitat for other animals by outcompeting other animals for limited resources, and by killing and eating many small mammals such as possums, raccoons, foxes, and rabbits. The can even eat a deer whole!

     Pythons eat so much food that other animals who used to live in Florida are now disappearing forever.

Breeding Exotic Animals 

     Puppy mills are like factories where dogs are kept in cages just to have puppies that are sold to pet stores. Exotic animals are sometimes illegally taken out of the wild and bred in the same way.  A better option is to get a non-exotic pet legally, directly from a reputable and responsible breeder or a rescue center. IT IS THAT EASY!   

Needs of Wild Animals 

   So what's the big deal about having a wild animal for a pet? Well, it is a big deal because wild animals have a lot of social, nutritional, and physical needs that they can only get from really living in the wild.

     For example, deer tend to panic, so that's why deer aren't a good option to live with. The same is true for sheep or cows. 

     Cats and dogs have grown socialized to living with humans for thousands of years, and that's why those animals make great pets. So you're better off getting a dog or cat at the end of the day.  

Sickness

     If you see an animal out in the wild, you should never pick it up. They may carry diseases such as salmonella, tuberculosis, and rabies, sicknesses that can even kill you. 

     Even though a hungry exotic pet may be willing to eat human food or pet food, this food may not meet its needs and may even cause the animal to become chronically ill. Also, human health can be at risk from some exotic pets. Harm can come from zoonotic diseases, biting, scratching, or venom.      

Dangers of Exotic pets 

     Can you imagine bragging to a friend about having a cool exotic pet? They might appear cool at first, but they can harm you and everybody around you. 

    You might think birds are harmless but they can even harm you. Bird flu is a disease that is spreading across North America, which can spread to other pets, farm animals, and even humans.

    Some exotic animals can even be deadly. Recently, a three year-old was killed by a tiger not in the wild or in a zoo. The deadly tiger was kept as a pet by the child's grandpa! 

    Wild animals are very unpredictable. They can scratch,  bite, or aggressively attack a child or visitor. They are hard to handle and control.  

The Extinction of Some Exotic Pets 

     Due to problems caused by the international pet trade, there are many endangered exotic pets, especially parrots. Since parrots are a very popular choice to keep as a pet, so many parrots have been captured and taken out of the wild that their wild population is decreasing.

     Another problem is that exotic pets that are let go in the wild can become an invasive species.  This can sometimes cause other species to become endangered or even extinct when they are hunted and killed by the invasive species.

    Also, an invasive species uses up the food and resources in the ecosystem that other animals need in order to survive. 

     That is why it is really important NEVER to release an animal into a habitat where it does not naturally live in the wild.

Conclusion

     Now do you see why most animals should not be kept as pets? Don't keep animals that belong in the wild in your house. It's not good for the animal. It's not good for humans. And it's not good for other animals who already live in the habitat. 

    You hurt the environment when you bring in an exotic animal to a place it does not belong. Parrots belong in the rainforest. Polar bears belong in the Arctic. Alligators belong in  warm swamp and marsh environments.

     There are lots of pets in the world that really need a home and need your care and love. Adopt a pet from the Animal Shelter, but keep exotic pets in the wild where they belong!