The Animal Protection Institute's Statement on Private Possession of Exotic "Pets"
August 2002
The Animal Protection Institute strongly opposes the private possession of exotic animals as "pets." Exotic animals, such as lions, tigers, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, venomous snakes, and non-human primates, are being privately possessed as "pets" all across the country.
By their very nature exotic animals are wild and potentially dangerous and, therefore do not adjust well to a captive environment. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have all opposed private possession of certain exotic animals.
There are numerous incidents across the countr where exotic animals held in private possession have attacked humans and other animals, and have escaped from their enclosures and freely roamed the community. As a result, children and adults have been mauled by tigers, bitten by monkeys, and asphyxiated by snakes. In addition, many exotic animals are carriers of disease, such as Herpes B, Salmonellosis, and rabies all of which are communicable to humans.
When in the hands of private individuals, captive animals themselves suffer. Wild animals do not adjust well to a captive environment. They require special care, housing, diet and maintenance that the average person cannot provide. As a result, individuals who possess captive wild animals often attempt to change the nature of the animals rather than the nature of the care provided. Such tactics often include confinement in small barren enclosures, chaining, beating "into submission," or even painful mutilations, such as, declawing and tooth removal.
To properly ensure the community's safety and the animal's welfare, the Animal Protection Institute strongly urges you to support all measures to prohibit future possession of exotic animals as "pets." If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me at 916-447-3085.
Sincerely,
Nicole G. Paquette
General Counsel
Animal Protection Institute