What do you think about exotic pets?

I agree with the first response: it depends on the animal and location. It also depends on the skill/knowledge of the person and even their financial situation. There's a big difference between keeping a monkey when you spent 30 years working in a zoo or circus and keeping a leopard because it sounds cool and you're a rich idiot. Have you seen the story of Christian the lion? Two guys in London bought a cub and kept him in their furniture store but he got too big. So they had to send him off to Africa to live - very sad. A year later, they went to see if they could find him... they did and he remembered them. Loads of cuddles and everything, from a full-grown lion, and even the two lionesses with him accepted the men. YouTube time (it'll make you sniffle): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCjyWp3rEk&feature=related You wouldn't get a license for a tiger in the suburbs, by the way.

I am a bit more torn than most people on the subject. Exotic pets are classified as anything not normally kept as a pet; which under most laws includes anything not cat, dog or common small rodents. I found it interesting how many people commented that exotic pets were dangerous. Yes, tigers, wolves and primates are very dangerous exotic pets, but I've never heard of a sugar glider seriously harming anyone. For those who don't know sugar glider is a small Australian mammal similar to a flying squirrel. If you live in a city or town there are most likely laws that forbid you from owning many exotic animals even if you got a permit to bring them into this country and own them. For instance it is illegal to own a pet pig in Madison, WI (WI's second largest city) and the same law is in effect in Kewaskum, WI, a small town surrounded by farmland. I realize pigs are not all that exotic sounding, especially since they are domesticated, but they generally fall under exotic species when it comes to pets. One other issue I have is that people think it is fine to have pet dogs and cats because they are "domesticated." Well how do you think they got to be that way? Someone had to start the domestication process and others kept it going. I definitely agree that people need to know what they are getting into and have a very good understanding of animal behavior and the commitment a particular animal will require. I encourage all of you to read about the Russian Silver Fox experiments, where they domesticated Silver Foxes in a relatively short period of time. Look up the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Siberia for more information. It is very interesting.

Some pets can be really dangerous. They are bound to escape and attack people living around the area. I think they shouldn't be allowed in human habitations as there has some been some reported attacks and fatalities from vicious dogs and other animals. The risk of keeping those pets is too high in my opinion.

Afew months ago there was a story in the news about a policeman answering a noise call in a apartment complex. Come to find out it was a big oversized chimp. Had to call the squad to help. I am very against dog/wolf hybrids and it makes me very angry to hear about them. And the people who move and incroach on an animals area and then kill it if the people get hurt.

I think that it depends on the type of animal, where the person lives, and how dangerous the animal is. For example, I have always wanted a raven. These are normally wild, but aren't known to turn on their owners or anyone else when they are kept as pets. However, I would want to live a little out of town, so that my raven would not have to stay indoors too much and would still have some fun. However, if a person owns a big house or a lot of land, this could still be enough room for an exotic pet. Most people who do own pets such as tigers do have a lot of money, since these types of animals usually cost a great deal of money, to buy and to take care of. I would definitely rather be around a wolf than a tiger because they can be domesticated and are much less likely to turn. There is a wolf sanctuary in New Mexico and the guy who runs it is always in there hugging them and stuff, same with a lot of the other workers.

These pets are fine in my opinion to own, but not in excess. They must be regulated and require a license with training tacked on. Safety precautions must be taken, as well.

This is a question I have often pondered.I have always loved white tigers and think it would be awesome to own one, but I don't think they are meant to be owned. They are wild and need their native environment. Most exotic animals fall into this category. The world is becoming so overpopulated that I think exotic animals should not be allowed. Animals don't like to be caged and your never know how they will respond to other people. There used to be a man in my neighborhood that owned a Lion. He had problems keeping it at home and it scared the neighbors when it was roaming around. Though I am sure he took well care of the animal, it still needed some freedom and with so many children and neighbors, I think it was a bad idea.

I don't like them as pets. My idea of a pet would be dogs. I don't like having those you mentioned around as pets. They seem to be dangerous.

I believe wild animals should be left in the wild and not in cages in our homes. If a person really wants to have exotic animals as pets, then they should be the ones to live with the animals. Hahaha. This makes me think of Tarzan... Seriously, keep the wild in the wild.

I think it's a cruelty. It's like taking a human being and put in a totally umnatural enviroment, I imagine if we take people to the moon and put in a cage or in a collar and see if we are going to be happy that way. Exotic pet owners or even birds in cages that are legal and all don't actually love animals, if they loved they wouldn't participate in this traffic.

Most exotic pets are harmful. So i dont personally suggest exotic pets in our house. But really those that have exotic pets are amazing.