Exotic animals should not be pets

Tigers are probably one of the last animals to come to mind when you think of pets. Yet, According to Worldwildlife.org, an estimate of 5,000 tigers are privately held as pets in the United States.

Exotic pets in the media are shown as cool and as a way to get popular. In reality, these pets are mistreated, dangerous, and sometimes illegal.

Exotic pets, though sometimes cute, have dangerous track records. A study from Livescience shows from 1990 through 2011, there were 1,610 reported incidents and 75 deaths related to exotic pets.

In one incident a Bengal tiger tore off the arm of a 4-year old boy. This happens because these animals’ brains aren’t wired to be pets. Another contributing factor is owners releasing these pets once they become too much to handle, endangering the pets and other people around them.

A veterinarian and animal therapist said “people who breed these animals and sell them as pets are playing Russian roulette. It’s a gross misrepresentation to sell these animals as pets.” Not only is it a danger to us, it’s dangerous for the animals.

Exotic animals require special care that most people won’t be able to provide. These animals are brought in illegally, and in an effort to hide the animals at the airport people will do horrifying things like taping baby turtles in their shells and tying birds’ beaks shut. Sadly, a majority of the animals die before they reach their destination. The few who do make it often suffer from malnutrition and die before they become adults.

That pet tiger doesn’t sound that cool anymore, does it? The next time you walk into the pet store, stick with a hamster.