Exotic Pets
Shanice Anderson
Derrick Justice
ENG 113
10 October 2013
Exotic Pets In today’s society, domestic pets are very popular. As of 2006, more than 69 million households (63 percent) own at least one pet (“How Many Pets”, par. 1). And as the number of domestic pets increases, so does the number of exotic pets. But what exactly are exotic pets and what dangers do they present? Should they be banned because of these dangers? And if so, are all exotic pets dangerous, and should they all be banned? Exotic pets are very difficult to define. An exotic pet is a rare or unusual animal kept as a pet which is not commonly thought of as a pet. There are many different types of exotic pets. Ferrets, rabbits, rodents, reptiles and amphibians, salamanders and newts, snakes, turtles, hermit crabs, insects and millipedes, scorpions, and tarantulas are just a few examples of exotic pets. Some other various types of exotic pets are animals such as big cats (non-domestic), monkeys, pigs, primates, raccoons and wolf dogs (McLeod, par. 2). Exotic animals are usually animals that are not native to our land. Because of this, they can present a biological threat to the public. Although all animals harbor and can transmit bacteria, pathogens, and viruses to humans that have the potential to cause illness, many people associate these pet-related illnesses with unusual or exotic pets. A zoonotic disease is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans (Smith, “Exotic Pets Zoonotic Disease”, par. 6). There is controversy over diseases that are claimed to be spread by exotic pets. Many people who argue for the banning of exotic pets present an illusion that diseases are spread by exotic pets, and that non-exotic pets in comparison are “clean and safe” to own. Although approximately 70 percent of emerging diseases come from “wildlife”, those animals are animals that exist in the wild, while most of the commonly kept exotic pets are captive bred (Smith, Exotic Pets
Derrick Justice
ENG 113
10 October 2013
Exotic Pets In today’s society, domestic pets are very popular. As of 2006, more than 69 million households (63 percent) own at least one pet (“How Many Pets”, par. 1). And as the number of domestic pets increases, so does the number of exotic pets. But what exactly are exotic pets and what dangers do they present? Should they be banned because of these dangers? And if so, are all exotic pets dangerous, and should they all be banned? Exotic pets are very difficult to define. An exotic pet is a rare or unusual animal kept as a pet which is not commonly thought of as a pet. There are many different types of exotic pets. Ferrets, rabbits, rodents, reptiles and amphibians, salamanders and newts, snakes, turtles, hermit crabs, insects and millipedes, scorpions, and tarantulas are just a few examples of exotic pets. Some other various types of exotic pets are animals such as big cats (non-domestic), monkeys, pigs, primates, raccoons and wolf dogs (McLeod, par. 2). Exotic animals are usually animals that are not native to our land. Because of this, they can present a biological threat to the public. Although all animals harbor and can transmit bacteria, pathogens, and viruses to humans that have the potential to cause illness, many people associate these pet-related illnesses with unusual or exotic pets. A zoonotic disease is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans (Smith, “Exotic Pets Zoonotic Disease”, par. 6). There is controversy over diseases that are claimed to be spread by exotic pets. Many people who argue for the banning of exotic pets present an illusion that diseases are spread by exotic pets, and that non-exotic pets in comparison are “clean and safe” to own. Although approximately 70 percent of emerging diseases come from “wildlife”, those animals are animals that exist in the wild, while most of the commonly kept exotic pets are captive bred (Smith, Exotic Pets