Should people be allowed to raise exotic pets? I’ve heard stories of people raising dangerous and poisonous snakes in their homes, some have lions, tigers, and other wild cats in their homes. It’s as if the more expensive they are, the more people want to tame them. And that’s how it goes. But then, can a regular Joe afford what it would cost to raise a lion? Would they be able to provide the large amount of meat they’d need to eat every day? Because if they can’t feed the animals adequately, they end up becoming the food for the animals themselves.
That’s why there are rules to these things, because when you put wild animals in your home, you’re not the only one who ends up being in danger. Others who live in the same house as you do will also be at risk. Your neighbors and visitors will be at risk. It gets to a point where even dogs are dangerous to the people around them, not to mention those that were designed to live in the wild.
Personally, I think it’s a terrible idea. People who do this don’t do it because they care about the animals, they actually only care about the aesthetics and the bragging rights that come with having a lion or tiger in your home. Like, having a pet that you can’t actually pet, what then is the point?
As it stands, there are dogs that people aren’t actually allowed to own, and there are dogs that you need special licenses before you can own them due to how dangerous they are when in their wild elements. But that’s not even the most unsettling fact, it’s the fact that many times, people only care about ‘owning’ these animals, and not really about taking care of them. Some people see them as commodities that can easily be changed when they’re gone.
I remember having a conversation with someone who told me that he had always had a dog since he was young. He’s now in his 30s. During the conversation, I found out he had never been to the vet before. So, does his dog never get sick? Omo… I can’t even share the response he gave me. It just showed that he loved the idea of owning dogs more than the need to take care of them.
Many times, I see people buying pets just because of trends. There was a time the trend was huskies. Animals that were not conditioned for our climate were being brought here in their numbers. When the owners saw how expensive they were to raise, their minds changed, and the poor animals suffered for it. For many, it’s not like they can’t afford it, they just don’t see the point in spending so much on the animals. But they prefer to show it off for the world to see and let everyone know that they own such a dog.
This is just how it will be if people are allowed to own wild animals. Many will do it just because it’s cool and chic. But when it comes to actually taking care of them and giving the animals their rights, we’d get nothing like that. If you want to help the wild animals, donate the money to reputable zoos and reserves, you’d know the money was being used for the upkeep of the animals, and they would be handled by professionals who actually knew what they were doing and were being paid for it.
Anything other than that… we’re simply deceiving ourselves. It’s all vanity.
