The Humane Society of the United States strongly opposes keeping wild động vật as pets. This principle applies to both native and nonnative species, whether caught in the wild hoặc bred in captivity. The overwhelming majority of people who obtain these động vật are unable to provide the care they require.
Caring for Wild động vật Is Difficult hoặc Impossible
Despite what animal sellers may say, appropriate care for wild động vật requires considerable expertise, specialized facilities, and lifelong dedication to the animals. Their nutritional and social needs are demanding to meet and, in many cases, are unknown. They often grow to be larger, stronger, and thêm dangerous than owners expect hoặc can manage. Small mèo such as ocelots and bobcats can be as deadly to children as lions and tigers. Wild động vật also pose a danger to human health and safety through disease and parasites.
Baby động vật Grow Up
Baby động vật can be irresistibly adorable—until the cuddly baby becomes bigger and stronger than the owner ever imagined. The instinctive behavior of the adult animal replaces the dependent behavior of the juvenile, resulting in biting, scratching, hoặc displaying destructive behaviors without provocation hoặc warning. Such động vật typically become too difficult to manage and are confined to small cages, passed from owner to owner, hoặc disposed of in other ways. There are not enough reputable sanctuaries hoặc other facilities to properly care for unwanted wild animals. They can end up back in the exotic pet trade. Some may be released into the wild where, if they survive, they can disrupt the local ecosystem.
Wild động vật Spread Disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discourages direct contact with wild động vật for a simple reason: They can carry diseases that are dangerous to people, such as rabies, herpes B virus, and Salmonella. The herpes B virus commonly found among khỉ ở miền nhiệt đới, khỉ khổng lồ, khỉ monkeys can be fatal to humans. Thousands of people get Salmonella infections each năm from contact with reptiles hoặc amphibians, causing the CDC to recommend that these động vật be kept out of homes with children under five. A gần đây outbreak of monkeypox was set in motion when small mammals carrying the disease were imported for the pet trade and infected native prairie dogs, which were also sold as pets.
Domestication Takes Thousands of Years
Wild động vật are not domesticated simply bởi being captive born hoặc hand-raised. It's a different story with chó and cats, who have been domesticated bởi selective breeding for desired traits over thousands of years. These special animal companions depend on humans for food, shelter, veterinary care, and affection. Wild animals, bởi nature, are self-sufficient and fare best without our interference. The instinctive behavior of these động vật makes them unsuitable as pets.
Capturing Wild động vật Threatens Their Survival
When wild-caught động vật are kept as pets, their suffering may begin with capture—every năm millions of birds and reptiles suffer and die on the journey to the pet store. Even after purchase, their lives are likely to be filled with misery. If they survive, they may languish in a cramped backyard cage hoặc vòng tròn endlessly in a cat carrier hoặc aquarium. thêm commonly, they become sick hoặc die because their owners are unable to care for them properly. The global wild pet trade continues to threaten the existence of some species in their native habitats.
Having any animal as a pet means being responsible for providing appropriate and humane care. Where wild động vật are concerned, meeting this responsibility is usually impossible. People, animals, and the environment suffer the consequences.
Caring for Wild động vật Is Difficult hoặc Impossible
Despite what animal sellers may say, appropriate care for wild động vật requires considerable expertise, specialized facilities, and lifelong dedication to the animals. Their nutritional and social needs are demanding to meet and, in many cases, are unknown. They often grow to be larger, stronger, and thêm dangerous than owners expect hoặc can manage. Small mèo such as ocelots and bobcats can be as deadly to children as lions and tigers. Wild động vật also pose a danger to human health and safety through disease and parasites.
Baby động vật Grow Up
Baby động vật can be irresistibly adorable—until the cuddly baby becomes bigger and stronger than the owner ever imagined. The instinctive behavior of the adult animal replaces the dependent behavior of the juvenile, resulting in biting, scratching, hoặc displaying destructive behaviors without provocation hoặc warning. Such động vật typically become too difficult to manage and are confined to small cages, passed from owner to owner, hoặc disposed of in other ways. There are not enough reputable sanctuaries hoặc other facilities to properly care for unwanted wild animals. They can end up back in the exotic pet trade. Some may be released into the wild where, if they survive, they can disrupt the local ecosystem.
Wild động vật Spread Disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discourages direct contact with wild động vật for a simple reason: They can carry diseases that are dangerous to people, such as rabies, herpes B virus, and Salmonella. The herpes B virus commonly found among khỉ ở miền nhiệt đới, khỉ khổng lồ, khỉ monkeys can be fatal to humans. Thousands of people get Salmonella infections each năm from contact with reptiles hoặc amphibians, causing the CDC to recommend that these động vật be kept out of homes with children under five. A gần đây outbreak of monkeypox was set in motion when small mammals carrying the disease were imported for the pet trade and infected native prairie dogs, which were also sold as pets.
Domestication Takes Thousands of Years
Wild động vật are not domesticated simply bởi being captive born hoặc hand-raised. It's a different story with chó and cats, who have been domesticated bởi selective breeding for desired traits over thousands of years. These special animal companions depend on humans for food, shelter, veterinary care, and affection. Wild animals, bởi nature, are self-sufficient and fare best without our interference. The instinctive behavior of these động vật makes them unsuitable as pets.
Capturing Wild động vật Threatens Their Survival
When wild-caught động vật are kept as pets, their suffering may begin with capture—every năm millions of birds and reptiles suffer and die on the journey to the pet store. Even after purchase, their lives are likely to be filled with misery. If they survive, they may languish in a cramped backyard cage hoặc vòng tròn endlessly in a cat carrier hoặc aquarium. thêm commonly, they become sick hoặc die because their owners are unable to care for them properly. The global wild pet trade continues to threaten the existence of some species in their native habitats.
Having any animal as a pet means being responsible for providing appropriate and humane care. Where wild động vật are concerned, meeting this responsibility is usually impossible. People, animals, and the environment suffer the consequences.