Argumentative Essay: The Safety Of Exotic Animals

It can cost up to thousands of dollars to own an exotic pet in order to meet all of the animals needs. Also, depending on the animal, if you own an exotic animal you have to dedicate all of your time to your pet. For example, you may not be able to go on vacation or stay somewhere for a couple of days because you can not leave your pet alone and you probably will not be able to find a pet sitter because your pet is not a normal household pet. You have to make sure you are meeting all of the animals needs because if you are going to own an animal like this you are going to have to be a lot more precise on the care taking of it than you would for a normal household pet such as a cat or a dog. For example, the feeding, the temperature you keep them at, the habitat you give them to live in all has to be very precise in order to keep the pet alive and healthy. You also have to make sure the animal is not just healthy and alive, but you also have to keep the animal happy. Most people do not realize all of this when they go out and get an exotic animal so the animal ends up getting sick or they just live a very unhappy

Animals in captivity should be allowed because they can get healthy. The first reason they get healthy is there are rehabilitation programs. According to The Current, “Rehabilitation programs take ill or injured animals and nurse them to health so that they may be reintroduced back to the wild” ( Should Animals Be Kept In Captivity n. pag.). Rehabilitators learn to recognize and treat many kinds of medical and surgical problems (Duke et al. 97). Wildlife rehabilitation saves lives and returns many animals

In most places owning a dog or cat is second nature, but what about a tiger, bear or maybe python? Exotic pet ownership is far from having a clear right or wrong answer but it is in need of a ban for both the protection of animal and owner.For exotic pet owners, owning a wild beast insures a sense of power and uniqueness. It is also their way of contributing to the conservation of a species by having a “backup population” once human population growth and habitat destruction has resulted in extinction (Slater 113). But in reality the ownership of wild animals as pets only helps to damage already fragile ecosystems, both the one from which they came from and the new one in which they find themselves. Animals in captivity are also stripped of a natural life in the wild, free of confinement and unsuitable care. Finally, the risk to humans is very large, injuries inflicted from exotic pets are dangerous and possibly deadly. Bans vary from state to state, ranging from no ban to partial ban to complete ban, but even in states with full bans, exotic pet ownership still occurs. Private ownership of an exotic animal as a pet should be banned in the US, due to disruptions in ecosystems, the dangers that wild animals are exposed too, and the risks to the owners of these pets.

Every child has asked their parents for a pet animal. The thing is though, is what type of animal they asked for. Such as a dog or cat and even the occasional hippopotamus for Christmas, right? Lots of people buy exotic animals not knowing how much work it really takes to take care of them. For example, many people have bought pythons and when they get to a size where they can’t keep care of them they let them go into the wild. Exotic animals are very costly and time consuming, they grow up and get bigger and all in all they are very dangerous.

Firstly, animals in captivity show distraught behavior and don’t have the same abilities as those in the wild. For example, in the article The Loneliest Elephant written by Tracy Tullis, it states, “With limited space and and no infants to care for, captive elephants can become catatonically bored. A great majority of elephants in American zoos -- as much as 80 percent according to a 2013 study by the Honolulu Zoo -- develop disturbing neurotic behaviors, such as repetitive swaying and head bobbing.” Furthermore, it is clear that some animals in zoos behave differently, in a negative manner, in zoos than in their natural habitat (Tullis, 3). Also, a wildlife behavioral biologist Toni Frohof talks about Happy, an elephant kept in isolation at the Bronx Zoo. His words in The Loneliest Elephant was, “She exhibits self-awareness, yet one of the most important aspects of her psychological and physical life, the ability to be around other elephants, she’s been deprived of.” This shows, elephants who are caged in seclusion don’t feel the same as other elephants who get to be around each other 24/7; Happy is forced to be alone for the rest of her life (Tullis, 3). Concludingly, elephants and other animals can form mental and physical issues while caged or isolated.

First of all not many accidents happen from exotic animals. Only 3.25 people die to exotic animals animals a year when about 125 people die of car accidents a year. Also if the exotic animal is caged and welfare has been taken care of why not let people have them.

As a child, many people would often go to the zoo or to the circus and see animals in real life. In circuses, animals would often perform tricks and stunts, dazzling the audience. In the zoo, people would often see animals in their native habitat, or what looks like it. Children were mainly amazed with the animals and were always exited to go see the animals. As the years go by, they start to realize that some of the animals are suffering and are being mistreated, especially in circuses. They see that the animals in zoos are depressed and lonely and the animals in the circuses are chained up. What is worse is that animals in laboratories are often treated very poorly; more poorly than what Americans treat prisoners and refugees. There have been many debates on whether animals should be held in captivity. Some groups believe that animals should not be held in captivity because they have the same capacities as humans. They believe that animals can feel emotion and have a sense of morality. Animals in captivity are deprived of their natural habitat and their instincts. Animals raised in captivity tend to rely more on humans compared to animals raised in the wild. They also believe zookeepers and trainers are putting themselves at risk when taking care of the animals. There have been many incidents including the death of trainers by animals, one highlighted by the movie “Blackfish” by director Gabriela Cowperthwaite. There are others who believe that putting animals in captivity is beneficial for not only the animal, but for humans as well. Humans get more jobs if more animals are put into captivity because there is an increase in the amount of people needed. Another benefit of keeping animals in captivity is that it could help save a species who is endangered and close to going extinct. Another benefit is that it helps increase the amount of food available because some animals are raised for food. Putting animals in captivity wrong unless they are being used for the animal’s benefits.

While domesticated pets like dogs and cats make good pets many people want to own exotic animals that belong in the wild. These animals range from tigers to pythons, but should not be owned as they need special care most people cannot provide. Not only this, but exotic animals release is harmful for everyone, the exotic animal, humans, and native animals. Lastly, many exotic animals carry diseases that are harmless to them, but fatal to humans. Exotic “pets” are harmful for everyone, not just the pet. This is why people should not be able to own exotic pets.

Exotic animals as pets are a very popular thing in the U.S. right now. To get one you need to know a few things such as: The laws, permits, its a criminal business so be careful who you get the animal from, they can be very expensive, they are a commitment, and you need to research that animal to make sure you know the risks.The U.S. is one of the main destinations for exotic and endangered wild animals (Inside The Exotic Animal Trade). As of 2013 around 19.4 million U.S. households had an exotic animal as a pet (Micheli, Robin). There are laws and restrictions to owning an exotic animal (Exotic Animal Laws by State). If you are considering owning one you need to check with your state, city, and county (Micheli, Robin).

Many people are attracted to keeping wild animals as pets. They believe the wild animals to be interesting and exciting. At a young age, the animals may seem easier to tame, but the older these animals get, the more aggressive they tend to become. Many problems can develop from keeping a wild animal as a pet. Wild animals have specific needs that have to be met, in order for them to prosper. “Only the most exceptional zoos and wildlife centers provide a living area that somewhat resembles the natural habitat of these animals, but it is virtually impossible to provide sufficient space for larger species”(CFHS). In captivity animals do not lose their wild instincts. They can be extremely unpredictable, and if provoked they can cause severe harm to people. Some wild animals, such as reptiles and hedgehogs can actually carry bacteria called salmonella, which is very easily transmitted to humans. Exotic animals can be very social, and need to have a companion of the same species living with them. If the animal is kept isolated from its kind, then it can suffer psychologically (CFHS). Many wild animals that are kept as pets often get abandoned because the owner was not able to meet of its needs. Others try to

Exotic animals kept as house pets are a hazard to the pet owners and any other people around the

Exotic animals should be banned from being purchased, hunted, and or traded from their natural habitat. People can look at an exotic animal for a couple minutes, but captivity affects their whole life. Exotic animals caged in non-natural habitats can experience many physical, and mental issues.

And this life-changing decision is not made by the animals themselves. This means that even if the animals are unwilling to make this trade, they have no chance to escape but to accept their fates. Therefore it is convincingly to say that this act is robbing animals of their dignity and liberty, which can hardly be acceptable by nowadays moral standard. [557 words, excluding in-text citations] References Stroud, P. (2007) Defining issues of space in zoos. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 2, 219-222. Pitsko, L. E. (2003). Wild tigers in captivity: A study of the effects of the captive environment on tiger behavior (Doctoral dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). Tait, P., & Farrell, R. (2010). Protests and circus geographies: exotic animals with Edgley's in Australia. Journal of Australian Studies, 34(2), 225-239. Heidenreich, B. (2012) An introduction to the application of science-based training technology. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice, 15, 371-385. Föllmi, J., Steiger, A., Walzer, C., Robert, N., Geissbühler, U., Doherr, M. G., & Wenker, C. (2007). A scoring

Exotic animals should not be allowed in our homes as pets. They are too dangerous and could harm another animal we may have or may harm us! So, animals such as pythons and tigers should not be in our homes. If someone got a exotic animal, would they want to keep it forever? I wouldn’t because of the damage and harm they can do, and it would take a long time to tame them if somebody just went out and brought one home from the pet store.

The animals suffer due to many causes including hunger, limited space, mental harm, etc. "Tigers and lions have around 18,000 times less space in zoos than they would in the wild. Polar bears have one million times less space" (Freedom for Animals). The little space the animals have to move causes harm since they do not possess the capability to exercise the amount they should .Circuses are the worst when it comes to providing space for animals. They are placed in small cages and are only let out when they perform, and receive no toys or attention. Furthermore, animals that live in zoos, circuses and aquariums have been found to develop a disorder called "zoochosis", which are neurotic and atypical disorders that develop due to depression, little mental and physical health, boredom, and unnatural surroundings. Signs of the disorder include, bar biting, pacing, twisting of neck or head, vomiting, etc. (Last Chance for Animals). As well as the animals suffering due to the lifestyle they are forced to live, they are also harmed by those who train them and look after them. For example, according to the Freedom for Animals Association, "in 2010 it was revealed that an elephant at Woburn Safari Park had previously been trained using an electric goad". Animals should not be hurt because of our desire to