\

[IF[ WILDLIFE

t Is Dwning an exotic^ pet a wild idea nr

a beastly problem?

L ooking for theperfect pet?Most people picktraditional four-footed friends,such as a cat or

!i. a dog. Others,Tt are tempted to

go for one that'smore exotic.

With everything from squirrel-likeAustralian sugar gliders to CostaRican zebra tarantulas availableat some pet stores, turning yourhome into a zoo might sound easy.But experts warn that you shouldthink twice before buying a rare orunusual creature as a pet.

"People want something differ-ent, and they may think it's cool to

carry a snake aroundtheir necks," says BethPreiss, director of TheHumane Society of theUnited States exoticpets campaign. "Butit really isn't cool forthe animals." Keepingexotic pets can alsocause big problems forpet owners themselves.

DANGER AND DISEASEThe term exotic animal generally

refers to animals other than dogs,cats, horses, and livestock. Althoughsome exotic animals, like hamsters,guinea pigs, and rabbits, have beendomesticated, or tamed by genera-tions of selective breeding, many

other exotic spe-cies have not.Some exotic-petownere maybe in for a wildride. Even if anexotic animal was bom in c^üvity, itis still an untamed animal. Its unpre-dictable nature increases the risk

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CELEBRIT.GONE WILOr In2006, Paris Hiltonwas bitten byher pet kinkajou(on left), a wildanimal native toCentral and SouthAmerica.

bites and scratches. With some ani-mals, the danger is obvious: A3 meter (10 feet)-long Burmesepython can crush its owner. But howcould a tiny turtle be dangerous?

In the U.S., the sale of turtles withshells less than 10 centimeters (4inches) long is illegal. The reason?like all reptiles, turtles carry Salmo-nella, a type of bacteria that causesinflammation of the stomach andintestines. Touching pet turtles andthen putting your unwashed hands inyour mouth can lead to a salmonellainfection; in small children, the infec-tion can prove deadly. "Small turtlesare especially dangerous, becausethey seem so harmless, and parentsare more likely to let their kids playwith them than a snake or a scary-looking lizard," says Preiss.

Salmonella is only one type ofzoonosis, or disease that animals cantransmit to people. Others includethe respiratory infection psittacosisfrom birds, and tnonkeypox, a diseasethat can be carried by rodents andthat causes rashes and high fevers.Two U.S. agencies restricted the saleof prairie dogs after dozens of peoplecontracted monkeypox fromthem in 2003. One of theagencies recentlylifted the restric-tion as it deemedthe threat to beover. However,it still restrictsthe Africanrodents blamedin spreadingmonkeypox tothe prairie dogs inthe first place. Due *̂ *'i

to the potential dis-eases they can carry, manyexotic pets—even ones as commonas ferrets—are illegal in certain citiesand states.

Dr. James W. Carpenter, an exotic-animal veterinarian at the College

1 8 November 10-24. 2008

CUTEmay be small and fuzzy, but theanimals are still wild at heart.

of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas StateUniversity, points out that people canalso contract diseases from domes-tic animals. His advice: "Make sureyou know what you're getting into. Iwould say the majority of people whoget exotic pets really do not knowwhat they're getting."

PETS IN PERILWhen owners of exotic pets are

clueless, the situation is alsodangerous for the

animals. "Mostpeople can'tprovide the care

lliat wild animalsneed if they'regoing to be keptin captivity,"says Preiss, Shepoints to reptilesas an example: "Ifthe light isn't rightor the tempera-ture isn't right,they can get sick."

Many exotic pets are malnourished,stressed-out, or just plain unhappybecause their owners don't understandtheir unique needs.

Carpenter recalls a client who

DEADLYBACTERIA:Turtles and otherreptiles carry abacteria calledSalmonella.

brought in a young reticulated pythonand was shocked to learn that hiscute little pet couid grow into a 7.5meter (25 feet)-long monster capableof swallowing small children. Anotherfamily didn't realize that their newparrot could live for 40 or 50 years."They had no idea what they weregetting involved with in terms oftime and commitment," he says. Themessage: think ahead. If you're notequipped to handle the animal after itgrows, or if you're not sure you canprovide ongoing care for an animalthat will still be around when you're agrandparent, choosea different pet.

When peoplecan't handletheir exotic pets,many set them

free, which is illegal. Carpenter says,"Most exotic pets will not survive inthe wild. The majority of them willeither die a slow death from starva-tion, will be killed by himians, or willbe preyed upon by predators."

SHOULD YOU GO WIL07With so many risks, should people

own exotic pets? Caipenter believesthat although some exotics aren't petmaterial, others make good pets—forpeople who've done their homework.For instance, rabbits, guinea pigs,mice, geckoes, and canaries makefine companions. He says, "Peoplereally need to do research to find outhow to take care of them, how bigthey get, how much commitment isinvolved, how long they live, whatdiseases they get, and what type ofenviromnent they need." Before yougo wild, he urges making sure there'sa veterinarian in your area who treatsthat type of animal.

Preiss goes further. "To protecttheir health and your health we rec-ommend against getting any wildanimal as a pet," she says. "Theybelong in the wild." ^

—Jacqueline Adams

MEET YOUR

"If you're thinking about getting a pet,a good place to start is the local shelter,where you'll find dogs, cats, and smalleranimals such as hamsters who needgood homes," says Beth Preiss of TheHumane Society.

Breeds and individual animals have dif-ferent needs. That's why the ASPCA has developed a program called,"Meet Your Match." To participate, adopters at participating sheltersfill out a survey to learn their personality type, and are assigned a cor-responding color. Dogs and cats at the shelter have color-coded cagetags that show their own particular character traits. Looking for a jog-ging partner? You might be matched with a dog labeled a green Go-Getter. Want a cat who's content to curl up in your lap while you read abook? A purple Love Bug might be just the pet for you.

You don't have to choose a pet that shares your personality. Some-times opposites attract! But by participating in the "Meet Your Match"program, you'll have a better idea of what to expect when you bringyour furry friend home.

0

am more about the pros and

www.hsus.org/p8ts/issues_affecting_our_pets/should_wild_animals_be_kept_a5_pets.html

www.aemv.01^

MONSTER PET: Although~ ons start out small,

can grow to becomeirai meters long. t

1. Selling small turtles is illégal

(A) they carry a bacteria calledSalmoneHa.

(B) they are difficult to care for.© t h e animals may bite children.(D) owners often release them

into the wild.

2 . Which pet would NOT beconsidered an exotic animal

(K) guinea pig(§) hamster(C) python(D) horse

d . What should you find outbefore becoming the ownernf an pxntîr nfi7

(Â) Am I allowed to own thistype of animal in my cityor state?

(B) Can I provide the animalwith the care it needs?

(C) Is there a vet nearby whospecializes in treating thistype of pet?

(D) All of the above.(?) None of the above.

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