| When looking for a pet think of how much time and | | | | Do you hope to have a pet that likes to be around |
| dedication you have for walking it, feeding it, and all | | | | people or can your ideal pet hide away when guests |
| the other responsibilities that come along with owning | | | | come around? Some pets live indoors all the time |
| a pet. If you don't want to be involved in all of the | | | | while others can spend a lot of time outside. Which |
| responsibilities being a pet owner entails then you | | | | do you prefer? |
| should reconsider buying a pet to haul along with you | | | | - The most frequently kept wild creature in the US is |
| on outings just to make you look cool. | | | | the tiger. About 10% of 5,000 to 7,000 tigers are |
| Exotic Pet Legal Issues | | | | kepts in tiger sanctuaries and zoos. Some of them |
| Laws not only apply to human beings, there are also | | | | live in traveling shows with the troupe, circuses and |
| laws binding to animals. We have the animal welfare | | | | big cat rescues for entertainment. Some people even |
| law as represented by PAWS and PETA. There's also | | | | tame them and make them their pets so they stay |
| the law regarding exotic pets. | | | | in their owners' backyard. |
| However, there is a variety from city-to-city. A law | | | | - Tigers actually kill people and nine people have died |
| in one city may not apply to another state. If you | | | | in the last nine years. Every year, studies show that |
| own an exotic pet, check first with your nearest | | | | almost a 100,000 people are in danger of contacting |
| locality about the restrictions in owning them. Where | | | | the salmonella infection which comes from reptiles. |
| would you get exotic pets for sale? | | | | The US Food and Drug Administration didn't allow the |
| There are restrictions in exotic pet laws because the | | | | sales and import of turtles smaller than 4 inches. |
| animal must be protected even more when they are | | | | Studies also show that the businesses of wild and |
| separated from their natural habitat. Also, there is a | | | | exotic animals that are eventually tamed are |
| possibility that the owner who adopts the exotic | | | | estimated to be worth $15 billion each year. Wild |
| creature may not be able to provide the right home, | | | | animal trade is worth billions of dollars. One fourth of |
| diet and care to the owner. | | | | wild animal trade is illegal. This is the poaching of |
| Another reason is that since these animals can be | | | | elephants and tigers. It's disturbing to find out that |
| sold to the state's zoo - capturing and smuggling of | | | | the second moneymaker on the black market, a |
| exotic creatures are rampant in an area where there | | | | close second after trading drugs and weapons, is the |
| is an exotic creature. It's also better to think of your | | | | illegal trade of exotic animals. |
| neighbors. There's no knowing what could happen if | | | | That is why the legislatures not only considers safety |
| you have a wild animal in your backyard. What if it | | | | of human beings, they also find the time to create |
| escapes? If it does, it could create great alarm to the | | | | laws to protect exotic animals. As mentioned earlier, |
| public. | | | | animals, be it the tamed or the wild, deserve to have |
| For example, look at these previous studies: | | | | rights, just like us humans. |
| - In Arizona, there is a dealer who was able to sell | | | | Some pets are stolen. A pet thief may snatch Fifi or |
| tigers from a minimum $900 to a maximum $7000. | | | | Fido in hopes of getting a reward for its return, or to |
| The price depends on the color of the tiger, as well | | | | use in dog fights (even small or gentle dogs are |
| as the gender. A young chimp has the going rate of | | | | susceptible - they can be used as "bait"), or for use |
| $50,000. | | | | in cult rituals. |