Exotic Pets

I think this is ok if some one has the room and the ability to look after an animal of this nature! They would have to have plenty of securely enclosed space and the ability to ensure that the animal as well as anyone who came to the property could be safe and also the knowledge of the animals needs that it could be kept healthy both mentally and physically! I don't know how I would feel if I lived beside someone with this type of pet but I know it wouldn't be possible where I live now! xxx

I think it's crazy, I happen to know a guy who has a bear for a pet. Not personally of coarse, but he lives about 5 miles before my brother-in-laws house, My kids think it's the coolest thing ever. Because he walks his bear on a leash, as if it were a dog, and we have spotted this a few times on our way to visit the family. CRAZY!!! you honestly think he can manage that bear with a leash? freaks me out everytime I see it.

Well I think unless you can provide a large and suitable habitat then it should not be allowed. I mean tigers dont belong in your livingroom people. Some say caging an animal in a zoo is bad but I think they provide very nicely for the animals. So unless you own a zoo or something stick to house cats please.

I love animals, and big cats like lions, tigers, panthers, etc. are my favorite animals. And if they could be trusted like the average pet dog I would have a ton of them! But they are more wild than anyone can imagine, even pet ones. It's their natural instinct...it doens't make them bad but it makes them dangerous. So I would not have one. But if my neighbor had a pet like that I would not complain, I wouldn't move, I wouldn't do anything. I might actually go over and see it every once and I while. I love them! But I would always be extra cautious around them, watch for behaivor that says they are going to attack...maybe only pet them through their cages.

When I was a kid, I've always wanted a tiger for a pet. I just thought the cubs were so cute. Well, as I was growing up, I've heard about all those horror stories of exotic pets and how you can never really domesticate. And I thought, I just wouldn't take that chance. Give me my dog, anytime. LOL.

i don't think we should be allowed to keep wild animals as pets. i've seen stories of children being killed or maimed by their or the neighbors' wild pet. wild animals should stay wild. having them caged up is not good for them, nor for us.

I don't think people should be allowed to keep such animals as pets, not just because of the obvious safety issues but it's just not fair to the animal. These animals needs can't possibly be met if they're kept as a domestic pet or even in a zoo. They are wild animals and should be respected as such. The same applies to monkeys and other smaller animals too. As for what if my neighbour got hold of one - well, even though I live in a flat (apartment) nothing would surprise me with my neighbours but I would certainly be calling the appropriate authorities about it!

I think there are very few people who should be allowed to house such animals. There are instances when it's needed, whether they are for entertainment (show biz) or rescue, but they have to be kept in the right environment and the owners have to be trained. I've often wondered how some of these people are allowed to keep exotic animals, especially large dangerous ones. What is the purpose, other then for their own pleasure to say they have something most others will never have access to? We have zoos for a reason. Animal rescue places are generally on huge amounts of land and the animals allowed to spend their final days in an area where they themselves cannot be hurt and the chances of them hurting others are slim. To bring these types of animals into our cities and around humans is simply asking for trouble if you ask me.

so he had a total of 5 big cats....wow...it was only a matter of time really. i guess they did not realize that big cats can get very territorial. so if ANY of these cats were males...yah...i think if a person is board certified and KNOWS how to handle them,care for them...and does not live close to other people...it would be okay. i mean everything in life is awin-lose situation...they just happened to lose.

I do not believe people should be able to have these kinds of animals as pets because they can kill you. These animals are meant to be out in the wild so they tend to act like they are. If my neighbor had a grizzly bear then I would be moving.

i would turn my neighbor in if he had a grizzly or some other wild animal. It's against the law to have a wild animal like that unless you have a special permit but in order to get the permit,you have to have knowledge of how to handle wild animals plus enough space for the animal to move around freely.I do hear of people getting hurt by wild pets but they bring it on themselves. These animals don't belong as someone's pet.they don't call them wild for nothing

I totally do not think that people should have exotic animals for pets. These are wild animals that are not meant to be tamed. They are not domesticated by any stretch of the imagination. It is only a matter of time before something will go dreadfully wrong. cheers,

I'd report it if my neighbor had a large animal like that! They are putting everyone at risk. Could you imagine if that tiger got out and killed someone else? That is just awful!