Animal abuse?

Question

Does anyone think it should be considered animal abuse or illegal to own exotic pets? For example monkeys or anything that you can’t buy at the pet store? 
I think it is in a way because these animals need to be in they’re natural habitat. Not to mention they’re wild animals and just like dogs can turn and snap on you they can as well and the damage could be much worse than that if a dog. What do y’all think?

Answer

This is a topic I am well versed on. I used to be obsessed with it. 
Of course, there are varying degrees of “exotic” animals. Some have needs that can be met pretty easily, like snakes or different types of rodents/squirrels. If owned responsibly and with care, there are a few people out there who do very well with these types of exotic pets. In some cases, these animals are injured and cannot stay in the wild, so it is a help to have people as well. 
Now, for my favorite— big cats. The tiger in Harlem, the cheetahs raised alongside kings in Saudi Arabia, Juno the panther in Oklahoma. Owning big cats has never gone well in history, except for one— the cheetah. 
The cheetah is far closer in domestication than any other big cat. They have been raised in homes many times without attack, used to herd animals, used as guard pets, etc. However, the environmental needs of the cheetah must be respected. Cheetahs should not be kept as pets out of respect for their species. They deserve to live life naturally in the wild in the specific environment that is best for them. It is impossible for a regular homeowner in the US to provide the environment needed for the cheetah, who is the fastest land mammal on earth and needs endless space to run on terrain that Africa has best. 
If someone wants to own an exotic pet with many fatal recorded attacks, such as the group of big cats or chimpanzees, they should respect the species by not getting them as a pet and instead volunteer at a zoo or wildlife organization that will let them handle and come in close proximity with them. The CCF will hire staff or let volunteers come into contact with their cheetahs often, for example. You could feed them daily and check on their medical needs by getting very personal with them without disrupting their habitat needs. 
I find it selfish that many humans want these animals to learn to adapt to their odd home habitats but can’t stand the animal’s. If you want a cheetah as a pet, for example, spend a day in its habitat and try not to pass out from the heat or struggle to run in the grassy plains that they are well accustomed to, and realize how hard of a transition it would be for them to come to a home in the US where they would not have enough space to run or hunt naturally with the exception of a great zoo, which still can’t provide the true spatial needs it wants or has put in the wild. 
Owning exotic animals is usually a game of fatal attractions, where the lines become blurred and can result in death of the owner and pet. My answer is usually no, but some exotic animals (smaller) can be fine. Many of these owners are just so blinded by love that they cannot separate the animals needs from their desire to have them, which can unfortunately be tied to animal abuse, such as the tiger in Harlem. But if you look at many of the “extreme” cases, you will see that these owners grew up in a place with a lot of violence, had issues with mental health that went untreated, problems with substance abuse, and turned to animals for comfort because of the lack of help they received from the society around them. We should always strive to make environments for the people around us, especially children, welcoming and encouraging instead of making them turn to things like tigers as pets for comfort.

Answer

I imagine most exotic pets have very complex needs that would be difficult to accomplish, and I don’t think it should be legal to keep them, with the exception of somebody who can look after them properly and the animal is unable to survive in the wild.

Answer

People that keep animals that aren't domestic generally keep them in shitty conditions. With the exception of sanctuaries where their needs are met.

Answer

I think it depends on the animal.

Answer

Yes it should be illegal.

Answer

Well if you're able to correctly care for them and provide the medical attention they need, and when they need it then I don't think it should be a problem but they also of the they also have to have the appropriate licenses to own these animals of course.

Answer

Not exactly, but depending on the situation.
More tigers live in Texas than anywhere in the world. I would say they're better off being pets than being hunted down for their fur.

Answer

I do becuase people can barley take care pf their domestic animals. Taking a wild animal away from it’s family and way of life is just wrong to me.

Answer

Depends. What if they rescued the animal? If it’s in great living conditions then who cares. If ya went and bought a tiger from some dude on the corner cuz they’re cute, then you should definitely get in trouble. Leave it for the professionals.

Answer

Unless the "exotic animal" is injuried, being fostered, or for some other reason can't be released into it's natural enviroment then I don't see why you should just be able to get one as a pet when it's functional. Maybe for ethical educational purposes, but not for some rando who wants to feel cool showing off some snake or a big cat he feeds stray animals to entertain his buddies. Then we have people who release them and we get invasive species and all the dangers that entails.

Animal abuse?

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