Image via Wikipedia
There’s nothing scarier than someone saying that a 15 foot boa constrictor escaped from a house nearby. As everyone in the neighborhood goes into a panic, you may wonder, “who needs an exotic snake?” No one. These are not domestic animals. They were not meant to be household pets. People who think they need an exotic pet are typically not very responsible pet owners. Once that snake becomes unmanageable, they often let them go on purpose.
Exotic Pets Belong In Their Exotic Habitats
An exotic pet from the jungles of South America belongs in South America. An aquarium in Florida is not the same thing, and neither are the Everglades. When exotic animals are introduced into unfamiliar natural environments, they have no natural predators, so they become a threat to the ecosystem. On the other hand, some simply can’t survive in the new environment, and that is cruel.
Exotic, Wild Animals Are Unpredictable
If you’ve ever heard a horror story about someone’s pet tiger killing their two-year old baby, here’s the first fact: Tigers aren’t pets. If a pet boa constrictor kills the family poodle, don’t get mad at the snake. It’s doing what it naturally does. Even monkeys are dangerous. There’s a well-known story about a woman’s monkey ripping her friend’s face off in a rage of jealousy. Animals don’t reason like humans, so no one should blame the animal. It’s stupid to think your exotic pet won’t hurt you or someone else.
Legal Considerations
Many of these pets enter the U.S. illegally. They are caught and transported in cruel conditions. They are not cleared for health issues, and they are definitely not pets.
