5 Irrefutable Arguments That Support Exotic Pet Ownership
Review some of the arguments that support private exotic pet ownership.
Greg Bryon Used with Permission
Pros of Owning Exotic Pets
The follow are the five best arguments for preserving the rights of people to own exotic pets privately, in my opinion.
- If you support keeping birds, reptiles, or cats as indoor pets, you already support exotic pet ownership.
- Is keeping exotic pets selfish? So what! Keeping any pet is selfish.
- Exotic pets do not harm the environment any more than domestic pets.
- Just because the animal is exotic doesn't mean it will bite.
- Bans only eliminate problems by eliminating animals.
1. If you support keeping birds, reptiles, or cats as indoor pets, you already support exotic pet ownership.
Many people believe that exotic animals have not adapted to being kept as pets in the same way that domesticated species have. Well, the truth is that no animal has! There is little or no difference between subjecting a domesticated pet or an ‘exotic’ pet to captivity. The quality of the captive situation varies as does the species being subjected to it.
It is often the case that those who oppose exotic pet keeping on the grounds that they are ‘unsuitable for captivity’ do not logically consider the welfare of traditional pets, applying their same logic.
Domesticated cats are probably the most popular animal kept as pets on Earth, and at least within the USA, it is a common practice to keep cats exclusively as house pets, which is a practice (intelligently), promoted and recommended by many vets, animal rescues, and animal rights organizations for the safety of the cat as well as outdoor wildlife. But no cat is ‘built’ to live inside a house (consider learning more about proper indoor enrichment).
Many behavioral and physical disorders that are seen in cats are often secondary to stress from lack of appropriate stimulation.
— AFFP Position Statement
These misconceptions arise due to the domestication myth—a notion that makes people believe that domesticated animals are biologically or mentally suited for living in a modern indoor household while that could never be acceptable for a 'wild' animal (although not all exotics are kept inside). In actuality, the same conflicts that exist for exotic pets also exist for domesticated animals.
In fact, considering their extreme popularity, it can be argued that domesticated animals may be worse off. Domesticated animals are overbred and many are invasive species. Just like wild animals, pet birds (an exotic pet that sometimes may not be considered as such), hamsters, and indoor cats require, and unfortunately often do not receive, a mentally stimulating environment, socialization relevant to their species, and an outlet for their energy.
The wild relatives of domesticated cats aren't tigers and lions, This is a wildcat, and not much has changed.
It is not realistic to assume that all cat keepers are aware of the commitment involved that should be carried out with all pets in captivity—in fact most people view cats as 'easy care' pets that don't require much attention from the owner. Many indoor cats have behavioral problems, weight gain, and neurosis as a result...which is not unlike what occurs with inadequately cared for exotic pets or zoo animals.
Therefore, people who approve of pet cats (or dogs, small reptiles, ferrets, ect.) being kept as pets cannot declare any moral superiority over people who keep exotic pets, because both 'trades' have the same exact conflicts. The severity of the problem may vary in extent (i.e. a monkey may have more significant problems in captivity than a tabby), but a ‘lesser evil’ is still an evil.
Note: There are those who believe that cats should never be kept exclusively indoors (a dominant belief in some places like the UK), a belief in favor of encouraging a destructive invasive species (another conflict associated with the exotic pet trade), unnecessary killing native wildlife, and spread of disease to wildlife and humans via fecal contamination.
2. Is keeping exotic pets selfish? So what! Keeping any pet is selfish.
Selfishness is inherent to every organism. In fact, it is humans that have invented the concept of selfishness and have set criteria for attempting to avoid the poorly viewed attribute while no other animal has. Lack of excellence in selflessness leads many people to believe humans are the scum of the Earth, despite no other animal even taking a monk-like lifestyle into consideration.
Humans consume. We build large, resource-consuming homes that we don’t need on top of the homes of hundreds of other animals. We then continue to build more of these structures for frivolous pleasures: nail salons, restaurants, Build-a-bear workshops—you name it—a resource-consuming structure will be built for it.
And then to top it all off, we keep millions of human-engineered carnivores that must subsist on the deaths of other animals…but if I pick an uncommon pet, all of the sudden I am viewed as extra selfish. I think my selfishness level does not exceed that of most modern people.
African Grey
Some people like to claim that keeping exotic pets will save them in the wild but I think that’s untrue in most cases, so I apologize for that on their behalf even if they don’t agree with me. The reason people may be saying this is to salvage any possibility that their beloved animals won't nonsensically be made illegal.
Exotic pet owners keep exotic pets for the same reasons that domesticated animal owners keep domesticated pets, which is the hope of a symbiotic relationship with their creature of choice. No one intends to harm animals by keeping them as pets even though this can unintentionally occur. Since that is not our intention, and since it’s perfectly feasible that an exotic pet can thrive in captivity, the act of keeping pets is not immoral. Exotic pets may also have the advantage of receiving individualized attention, unlike many zoo animals.
Melissa S
3. Exotic pets do not harm the environment any more than domesticated pets.
Most exotic pets do not pose a threat to the environment and those that don't have as severe of a footprint as many domesticated pets.
Keeping in mind that lack of being more damaging than another type of animal is not by any means meant to be taken as an attempt to make light of the negative environmental impact that some of our pet-keeping decisions are responsible for, the most popular pets in America that are recommended as moral alternatives to exotic pets are indeed the most damaging to the ecosystem. And not just in the United States, but worldwide (think feral dogs, cats, pigeons, swine). The garden plant trade is also equally damaging.
It is rather astounding that owners of bonafide invasive species would become enraged that some exotic pets have also become invasive. The Burmese python is the most popular animal that people complain about; however, despite the severity of the nuisance, its presence is restricted to one region in Florida (they cannot survive in most states).
The domesticated cat is established in all 50 states, and there is a powerful lobby to not only stop cat removal for the protection of wildlife, but currently owned pet cats are routinely released to add to the devastation of invasive feral cats which include excessive small animal predation, diseases spread by feces to wildlife, and adding to the number of animals that motorists have to swerve past to avoid emotional upset.
It is becoming crystal clear that many things humans do as mere hobbies and pleasure have negative impacts for our world, but laws seem to be made only when people are wrongfully intimidated by something. Exotic pets are singled out due to lack of cultural acceptance only. Also keep in mind that there are no mammals from the exotic pet trade that are currently invasive in U.S.
Petting baby servals
4. Just because the animal is exotic doesn't mean it will bite.
How many times have you heard of an animal, let’s say an exotic cat or monkey, biting someone in the news? Generally, the first reaction a typical person has is “of course! What do you expect from a wild animal like that!?” But dogs and cats bite too. A lot. It is estimated that 4.5 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year (!) with insurance companies paying more than $1 billion in dog-bite claims annually.
And I’m not one of those people who say ‘Chihuahuas bite more than pit bulls!’—failing to realize that a pit bull bite is far more severe than a little dog’s. Not only do domesticated animals hurt people, but they kill too.
Animals don’t even need to attack to hurt or kill. Horses, cows, and other large herbivores have caused deaths because of their sheer mass alone, and countless injuries that would never make the major news unless a celebrity was the victim. Why do people tend to overlook this strikingly obvious fact about the nature of all pets?
Some say that the difference between "wild" pets and domesticated pets is that the former are inherently dangerous. This is partially true, it is far more dangerous to be locked in a cage with any tiger picked at random compared to a random canine.
But generally, humans are intelligent enough to treat each species accordingly with the present danger. Tigers will not be kept in living rooms and dart out the front door when the owner leaves. In fact, despite the vivid imagination of law makers, no ‘pet’ big cat has escaped and attacked a member of the "uninvolved" public (people who aren't the owner, or voluntarily visiting the animal) in the U.S.
Despite the small number of bad scenarios involving exotics, people still hold exotic pet owners, as a whole, 100% responsible for every incident individual owners cause, but dog owners are never blamed for attacks and fatalities caused by other dog owners (this means that there would have to be zero exotic pet-related incidences in order to ease people’s fears, and sometimes even that isn’t enough!).
So basically, the logic being exercised here is that since domesticated animals are not supposed to bite or kill humans, their consistently occurring attacks and even fatalities are not relevant, and only reflect on the individual. If a 3-year-old child is attacked and killed by their parent’s dog who has "never shown any aggression before," the child is somehow less dead than if killed by a wolfdog.
Despite expectations, will unforeseen deaths by domesticated pets ever end? Of course not. But these animals still maintain more acceptance as pets than exotic pets like small wild cats that have no human fatalities on record. The presence of wild-looking spots still unnerves most people more than rowdy dogs kept loosely confined in backyards. While not all dogs are attackers, you don’t know which ones are, and that alone heightens the danger.
People who seek to resolve the perceived public safety threat of exotic pets are hardly saving many human lives by proposing bans. If preserving the safety of the public is the ultimate goal, efforts would be better spent addressing large domesticated animals, which are a bigger threat due to how they are traditionally kept. As for occupational or personal risk, high-risk extreme sports are similar to situations where people choose to interact with dangerous animals.
5. Bans only eliminate problems by eliminating animals.
It’s true, there are problems with the exotic pet trade, and I’ll never hesitate to admit this. There are also problems with the trade of all animals. From rats to dogs, to goldfish, to cats, despite how easy it might seem to care for these animals, there are people who will acquire them and will cause them to have a poor quality of life and/or premature death. Banning the ownership and breeding of these animals will solve these problems! But is that the right thing to do?
Closing Thoughts
Where should we draw the line with what is in need of being eliminated to provide an instant resolution to the bad stuff associated with it? If you hate that people keep exotic pets, it’s easy to be optimistic about them being forced into extinction. I would certainly enjoy a law that would prohibit people’s attempts to ban my pets and lifestyle, but I know that wouldn’t be ethical.
People have the right to free speech and to push their laws, but I wish they would consider the unfairness of targeting exotic pet owners. I’m sure there are exotic pet owners out there whose care and expertise could appeal to even the most diehard anti-captivity advocate, and since they exist, the right to keep alternative pets is worth protecting.
Are Captive Exotic Animals Dangerous?
- Exotic Pet Statistics | Lion, Tiger, and Big Cat Attacks and Fatalities in the United States (1990-2
The final, irrefutable truth about exotic cat incidences in the United States. Are big cats in captivity a threat to public safety? - Diseases from Exotic Pets: Separating Fact From Fiction
This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.
© 2014 Melissa A Smith
Comments
John Doe on June 15, 2020:
I wanted to respond to Sam's comment on the dangers of the exotic pet trade to their indigenous ecosystems.
What you said is very true, when endangered species are taken from their natural habitat the ecosystem does suffer. It is very wrong to poach like this, and it should not ever be supported.
However, the conclusion that because some animals are endangered, and when removed from their habitat the ecosystem suffers greatly, all exotic animals must be banned is faulty reasoning. I agree full heartedly that cheetahs taken from their natural habitat harms the ecosystem, and I will repeat how much I agree with that time and time again, but it is also important to remember that not all exotic animals are endangered. For example, only one type of Capuchin monkey is on the endangered species list:
https://animalsake.com/endangered-monkeys-list
I'm not advocating for the removal of any animals from their native habitat, but what I am trying to bring light to is the fact that simply because a pet is exotic, it is not always true that it is endangered.
The common exotic pet owner, if exotic pet ownership were to become normal, would not purchase (legally) exotic animals from poachers anyhow. It is illegal to poach animals, if you were unaware, and any trade of any poached animal carcass or young is also a serious offense. Additional legislation wouldn't even be necessary to deter the average exotic pet owner from purchasing poached animals due to the laws already in place.
The average exotic pet owner would get their pet from where they already do: from breeders in their country. In the United States where exotic pets are legal the USDA regulates the sale and origin of the exotic pet that is to be sold or adopted. Oftentimes the breeders even have pedigrees for their animals.
So yes, taking animals from their native habitat is wrong and endangers the ecosystem in the cases where the animal is endangered, but no it does not justify a blanket ban of any animal that is abnormal (not a cat or a dog).
Maybe, just maybe, it is the sheep-like parroting of people like you, Sam, that is uneducated and unfounded. (Did you see the double animal pun?)
I know Sam may never see this, but I wrote it anyway so that people who come across this in the future may see a more logical answer.
TLDR: Poaching of endangered species is bad but does not justify a blanket ban on anything that is not a cat or a dog.
person on April 27, 2020:
But the animals are dangerous because for example tigers can kill someone
Drusk33t on April 21, 2020:
On a side note.. Im not necessarily against exotic pet ownership. Especially if the animal is well cared for. I was hoping to get a little more information.
Drusk33t on April 21, 2020:
This article reads more like anti domesticated pets than it does pro exotic pets. You say their's 5 arguments for exotic pet ownership, yet you're only giving me 1 and then you rehash the same point.. We get it!! Its still a form of "animal imprisonment" to keep a domestic cat/dog/whatever. Do you have any reasons you can give me that dont boil down to "keeping a lion is the same as keeping a caliko"... like can you give me any reasons why its actually beneficial to the animal? (And duh... its obviously better than killing them)
angel peters on March 29, 2020:
cool
ovsd on March 11, 2020:
really inertesting
jaiden on February 28, 2020:
nice
Splashstorm on February 06, 2020:
Where was the graph that you had that showed where most people were attacked-- like in zoos vs USDA licensed pets, etc.?
nonono on January 15, 2020:
jk it is fine
Sam on May 13, 2019:
Sorry I made a typing error. I meant to say "It doesn't matter if you'll take good care of your "pet" because the animal most likely was (when it was captured and being transported) unable to eat, move, and behave properly."
Sam on May 12, 2019:
If you have an exotic pet, you are most likely promoting the exotic pet trade. Why? Because smugglers will keep on going back to the animals to make more money. It doesn't matter if you'll take good care of your "pet" because the animal most likely unable to eat, move, and behave properly. The exotic pet trade also damages food chains and ecosystems. For instance, when Cheetahs are captured, there's more prey. This means there's less vegetation which means animals that rely on the vegetation die. Not only those animals die, the the predators that rely on those animals die.This then ruins the whole ecosystem. Also, 70% of Cheetah cubs die when being taken and usually the mother is killed (other mothers in others species are killed too). I guess there can be some expectations, but that's probably very small. If we educate people on the harms these animals can cause to humans, people will most likely stop buying these "pets" which means the smugglers can't sell anything. I hope some education will help you all.
anonymous on May 10, 2019:
people should be allowed to own wild animals if they take care of them if they are going extinced they should breed them to help
kitty wow on April 01, 2019:
I have a tiger! is it safe?
ur mom on March 18, 2019:
copy and paste
mrmicman36 on March 05, 2019:
im impressed that u know how to put fake info.
Galaxy gamer fox 34 on March 05, 2019:
thanks for having this article it helps me for my school presentation. thank you so much Melissa A Smith!!!!!!
Galaxy gamer fox 34 on March 05, 2019:
i believe animals should be free but of course there are people who abuse them or poach them or also sell them for money which is not right. so its kinda confusing if we should let them go but they could get captured or something bad happens.
Galaxy Gamer fox 34 on March 05, 2019:
i named my fox Funtime foxy my favorite fox in FNAF
Galaxy gamer fox 34 on March 05, 2019:
i dont ever want to abandon my fox because of poachers, wolves and people who abuse their pets.
Galaxy gamer fox 34 on March 04, 2019:
My fox belongs somewhere to be free but when she was little she got bit by a wolf and i saved her when she was getting hurt so from now on ive kept her safe
Galaxy gamer fox 34 on March 04, 2019:
i love foxes i even have one sleeping in my gaming section where i do youtube vids my fox is the best shes very fast and she likes to play outside.
anonymous on February 25, 2019:
great article i have a tortoise and it doesn't hurt anyone. Any animal can be kept as long as it is properly cared for
Dude on February 20, 2019:
Great fo essays
student on February 12, 2019:
this animals are so cute
Student on February 11, 2019:
Thanks so much!
john on February 08, 2019:
thanks i doing a school essay and this help a lot
Blurple on November 17, 2018:
dont curse
Blurple on November 17, 2018:
great content for my essay.
I think its all on opinion
that is why this topic is so controversial
I don't disagree
but I don't agree
Thanks though
P.S. is a guinea pig exotic
and im a robot
blurple on November 17, 2018:
danger is what matters
getting a turtle is harmless
getting a tiger is less harmless
but be yourself
I can't stop you
Jesus on November 07, 2018:
Thanks for the information I think the same as you
? on November 07, 2018:
thanks for the information i think the same too.
? on October 24, 2018:
This is stupid cats and dogs are nice and wild animals would eat you for a snack.
Tanner on May 23, 2018:
Personally there is not much of a difference between exotic and domestic animals. I have had a leopard gecko and a yellow lab for about 5 years now and they both have the same needs, water, food and space. I treat both of them the same and love them both.
Mochie on May 03, 2018:
I agree with exotic pets should be allowed. I lived in California and that was horrible. I moved to Florida and got a ferret. I loved her name is Mochie. Anyway, there was a huge fire. My house burned and I was at work. My ferret chose to stay rather than run away. I was so touched and scared Mochie was alive. She chose to stay right in front of the house, waiting for me.
Ugande on April 09, 2018:
All of you are stupid. All animals are the same we just spent more time with dogs and cats
Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on February 20, 2018:
Adam, It's not my job to defend owning pets in general just because mine are exotic. Domesticated pet owners enjoy their freedom and I just want the same thing. I can't argue against the negative stuff: disease, environmental problems, bad care from some owners...all of that is true. All I can say is that dog and cat supporters, i.e. everyone, can't say there is some novel reason keeping exotics is so terrible. Or really anyone who does anything that affects animals negatively.
Adam on February 20, 2018:
I am in almost total agreement, but I think this article is more why have domesticated animals is just as “bad” or as “good” as having exotic animals. Though you did scrape the side of why they are good, I feel like some changes could’ve been made. Otherwise, great article I enjoyed reading it and it helped me a ton with an argumental essay on this topic.
Me on February 14, 2018:
I agree that you should be able to own exotic animals. You did great.
human on February 05, 2018:
i am cringing so hard right now at this. i can't even... so nasty.
katrina on January 18, 2018:
hey love the paragraphs !!
Nice work!
kylea christensen on January 18, 2018:
this is the most amazing thing ever
i don't have a name on January 11, 2018:
i wholesomely thank you for creating this article. i have noted down all your points for a debate at university. however, i do not agree with keeping exotic pets because of how it could change their species characteristics over time. but i do realise your points and support your opinions on the matter.
Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on December 01, 2017:
"I'd really love for you to expand on your point as to why owning a domestic animal could ever be the same as owning an exotic one. I'm fairly confident you can't."
1. Exotic animal = anything other than a dog, cat, or common farm animal. This includes hamsters, parakeets, or even bunny rabbits. Some are simultaneously considered to be domestic as well.
2. All of these animals have instincts, some can be skittish, some don't even like humans, not unlike other 'exotic' animals like lemurs, foxes, and kangaroos.
3. All require the owner to do research, lest their care is executed poorly.
4. Many domesticated animals can survive just fine in the wild (some dogs, most cats, goldfish, swine, ect. all have formed invasive populations in the wild).
5. Most so-called wild or exotic animals CANNOT survive in the 'wild'. Invasive populations of mammals originating from the exotic pet trade are very rare and pretty much only exist in Florida.
6. The so-called domesticated cat is considered by some to not even be domesticated. They are VERY similar to their ancestor, the African wild cat, and have the exact same issues that zoo animals have in captivity. These issues are resolved the same exact way you would with an 'exotic' animal.
Should I go on dumb@ss?
Ryan on December 01, 2017:
*bred
Ryan on December 01, 2017:
Also, you're missing the point. Dogs and cats in the United States have been bread for years and years to be domesticated animals. Many of them couldn't survive in the wild. Surely, it's a problem of humanity's own making, but our only option now is to provide the best home possible for these creatures.
I'd really love for you to expand on your point as to why owning a domestic animal could ever be the same as owning an exotic one. I'm fairly confident you can't.
Ryan on December 01, 2017:
The author is objectively a bad person. THAT is irrefutable.
i don't have one on November 29, 2017:
I agree with you guys about not having an exotic pet an why you guys did an good job explaining
lucy ann on September 18, 2017:
I think these pets are weird snm
Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on July 14, 2017:
Compassion: That's your prerogative. The point is that you shouldn't be judging me if you're fine with owning cats. I don't think there's anything wrong with exotic pets or cats. Before you start preaching to others how wrong it is to own exotic pets, just be sure you inform people you are also against owning dogs and cats.