Prohibiting Private Ownership of Wild and Exotic "Pets"

Dear [Name of Public Official]:

I urge you to support an ordinance prohibiting private possession of wild and exotic animals as pets. Such possession involves dangers and health risks to individuals and the community as well as immense suffering for the animals.


Unscrupulous breeders and dealers assure people that cute infant wild animals, if hand-raised, will make good pets. However, "pet" monkeys, reptiles, tigers, and lions, just to mention a few, are not safe. Their natural behaviors soon clash with owner expectations. Children and adults have been attacked, bitten, even killed by these wild "pets." Others have been infected by salmonella and the herpes B virus.


The animals’ suffering begins when they are taken too early either from their family in the wild or their captive mothers. Their natural needs—behavioral, dietary, housing, light, and maintenance—most people can’t or ultimately won’t meet. The animals end up abandoned or caged for life, often in basements, garages, or worse. Few sanctuaries have room to take them in. Large animals end up being sold to canned hunts or roadside zoos. Others are destroyed.


For too long, numerous groups housing captive and exotic wildlife ("restricted species") for the most part, have been self-regulated and have failed to adequately ensure the welfare of animals and public safety.Some believe that owning exotic and wild animals is a rewarding experience that brings great joy and happiness to many. They believe it is a right and have no knowledge or adequate education about all the maturity stages associated with these animals and the various needs associated with that ownership. With this privilege comes great responsibility and long-term emotional and financial commitment. People are often unrealistic about maintaining the proper veterinary care required for such exotic animals.


Some facilities supports the owner's right to decide whether or not to perform claw removal (declawing), and tooth removal (defanging), which is a cruel act against the animals welfare, and is ethically highly controversial within the American veterinary community.We demand the ban of the harmful practice of keeping dangerous wild animals as pets.


In order to ultimately create a safer environment for both people and animals, the creation and passing of a legislation to ban private ownership of wild and exotic animals in all states is required. Persons possessing an exotic or wild animal prior to the effective date of the act have to release these animals to a professionally operated, regulated facilities/sanktuaries that can provide appropriate levels of care for wild animals.


Wild animals are not suited to be kept as pets. Private ownership of wild animals as pets is dangerous to people and inhumane to animals, and wild animals as pets injure and kill children and adults and can transmit potentially deadly diseases.


Wild and exotic animals need to live out their natural lives in their native habitats, not captive in human domesticated space. Let’s work to stop this cruel trade in wild lives and to protect our communities and the animals from a tragic fate.


The prohibition of the ownership of wild and exotic animals is long overdue. The lack of implementation and enforcement of captive wildlife regulations pose unacceptable risks to public safety, animal welfare and native free-living wildlife. Please take action on this important issue.


Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.



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