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Many questions surround the issue of keeping dangerous wild animals as pets. CWAPC answers your most commonly asked questions below, and in doing so, helps explain why this practice is both dangerous for people and inhumane for animals; and why much stronger laws are needed to solve the problem.
What is a wild or exotic animal?
Wild animals are those species that have not been domesticated and genetically shaped by humans for their products (food, fibers, etc) or services (guarding, companionship). Species native to the United States are commonly termed wildlife or wild animals: cougars, raccoons, bears, wolves, etc. Any non-native species is considered exotic: lions, tigers, primates, pythons, macaws, etc.
In terms of the trade in exotic and wild animals for pets, the species of greatest concern are: lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, cougars, wolves, bears, reptiles, non-human primates, and some birds; all of which are considered dangerous animals and belong in their natural habitat and not in the hands of private individuals. These animals are wild, potentially dangerous and do not make appropriate pets. [top]
Why are wild animals, when kept as pets, a public health and safety concern?
Every year, privately owned wild animals seriously injure or kill humans. Pet snakes have suffocated babies; raccoons have killed children; and lions and tigers have mauled their owners. Individuals legitimately concerned about wild animals being kept in their neighborhoods regularly seek assistance in dealing with this problem. Animals in traveling acts also present considerable danger to the public. One particularly notorious act involved a wrestling bear that, though muzzled and declawed, managed to bite off fingers and break bones of his handler. Even small tiger cubs, used by traveling zoos that charge a fee to the public for a photo with the animal, have inflicted serious injuries to children. These are still wild animals and as such, are unpredictable and in any situation can inflict serious, if not fatal, injuries to children and adults. Furthermore, wild and exotic animals carry a number of diseases that are transmissible to humans, including polio, rabies, tuberculosis, hepatitis, tularemia, leptospirosis, salmonella, and ringworm, as well as numerous parasites. [top]
What does the future hold for a wild animal held in private ownership?
Most owners are ignorant of a wild animal's needs. Many practicing veterinarians can neither properly diagnose nor effectively treat health problems in wild animals. The animal's behavior is usually misunderstood and often radically altered in captivity as a result of inappropriate care. In order to domesticate the animal, many owners resort to such extreme measures as defanging, declawing, and castration. If the owner decides to get rid of the animal, it is usually impossible to find a new home. Obviously, other individuals are no better equipped than the original owner to care for a wild animal; reputable zoos, for a variety of reasons, generally do not accept such animals; and other facilities that will take them must be regarded with suspicion. The few wildlife sanctuaries that exist are often stretched to the breaking point, and local animal shelters are ill-equipped to handle anything other than the occasional raccoon. [top]
Should individuals keep wild or exotic animals as pets?
No. Wild and exotic (non-native) animals are unsuitable for home rearing and handling. They have complex needs that are difficult to meet. Most individuals have neither the finances nor the experience to care for them properly. It has been estimated that 90% are dead within the first two years of captivity. Many wild animals forced into a domestic situation cause injury to humans, especially children. Others, if released into the environment, may die because they lack learned survival skills and can cause irreversible and costly damage to our ecosystem. [top]
Is it difficult to get a permit to own an exotic animal?
No. Some states and counties have local permitting processes in place, many do not. Typically, all that is required is a short application form and a small fee. The majority of wild animal owners do not bother to apply for a permit, thereby, circumventing even the most lenient of regulations. [top]
Does the federal Animal Welfare Act protect wild animals?
This law, even if fully enforced, only provides minimal protection to those animals in the custody of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) permit holders (i.e. research facilities, dealers, exhibitors, and operators of auctions). This law provides no protection for wild animals kept strictly as pets. [top]
Are there any laws before congress to control the problem of keeping wild animals as pets?
Yes, the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, S. 269
Purpose: Amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to further the conservation of certain wildlife species. If enacted, S. 269 will ban the interstate and foreign commerce of dangerous exotic cats, including lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, and cougars for use as "pets." The legislation does not ban all private ownership of these prohibited species, but does outlaw the commerce of these animals for use as "pets." The bill does not apply to other exotic "pets" such as alligators or crocodiles. S. 269 does not apply to any zoo, circus, or other facilities currently regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act. Instead, the bill is specifically aimed at the unregulated and untrained individuals who maintain these wild animals as exotic "pets." [top]
Which organizations have made statements that wild animals should not be kept as pets?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and many other organizations have issued statements expressing opposition to the possession of certain exotic animals by individuals as pets. Most credible animal protection organizations strongly oppose the private ownership of exotic animals as pets.
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