ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES

CONSIDER TO HAVING WILD ANIMALS AS PETS

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PROGRAM OF VETERINARY MEDICINE BRAWIJAYA UNIVERSITY MALANG

2013

CONSIDER TO HAVING WILD ANIMALS AS PETS The Animal Welfare Issue

By far the most important ethical issue about keeping wild animals as pets pertains to the welfare of the animal itself. In captivity, can we provide a wild animal with the proper diet, exercise, and socialization that it would get in the wild? Before deciding on a wild animal as a pet, carefully consider whether the animal is better off in captivity or in the wild. Background: Domestic Animals, Wild Animals, and Exotic Pets
The distinction between wild animals and domesticated animals can be fuzzy at times. Domesticated animals are those that have been bred in captivity for a number of generations, but the precise number of generations in captivity needed to qualify as domesticated is not easy to define. All domesticated animals were once wild animals, so where is the line drawn? There is a tendency to equate exotic pets with non-domestic animals, but this distinction depends on your definition of exotic pet. Here, we consider exotic pets to be anything that is not a dog, cat, bird, fish or horse. In this context, several species of exotic pets are considered domesticated, including (but not limited to) rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas, gerbils, fancy rats and mice, llamas, and alpacas). Some of these have been bred in captivity for hundreds of years. Many other exotic pet species have been bred in captivity for many years, and could probably be considered to be at least partially domesticated. However, being bred in captivity for even several generations does not make an animal domesticated, and the animal's wild instincts tend to be retained -- and depending on the animal, these wild instincts can be potentially destructive or dangerous.

Wild Animals Often Become Problem Pets

Wild animals often become very difficult pets, especially once they reach maturity and / or full size. They can be aggressive and some larger pets are dangerous simply due to the combination of sheer strength and natural instincts. Furthermore, problem behaviors develop since animals in

captivity can become frustrated at not being able to exhibit natural behavior, or from being confined to small spaces. Animals taken from the wild tend to be very stressed to begin with, and they may not adapt well to captivity (and are susceptible to illness as a result). Wild animals raised from a young age may be tame until they reach maturity, then revert to more skittish and sometimes aggressive behavior. Taking on a wild animal is not a commitment to be taken lightly. Providing proper care for a wild animal for its lifespan can be challenging, expensive, and time consuming. Finding a vet to care for your wild animal pet can be difficult. You must also consider what you will do if you are no longer able to care for your pet for any reason -- will you be able to find someone to take proper care of your pet (especially if there are behavioral issues involved)? Finding good homes for adult pet wild animals can be very difficult indeed.

The Dangers of Keeping Exotic Pets

Exotic animals lions, tigers, wolves, bears, reptiles, non-human primates belong in their natural habitat and not in the hands of private individuals as pets. By their very nature, these animals are wild and potentially dangerous and, as such, do not adjust well to a captive environment. Because the majority of states do not keep accurate records of exotic animals entering their state, it is impossible to determine exactly how many exotic animals are privately held as pets. The number is estimated to be quite high. Certainly 6,000 to 7,000 tigers are held by private individuals. The American Veterinary Medical Association, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have all expressed opposition to the possession of certain exotic animals by individuals. Exotic animals do not make good companions. They require special care, housing, diet, and maintenance that the average person cannot provide. When in the hands of private individuals

the animals suffer due to poor care. They also pose safety and health risks to their possessors and any person coming into contact with them. Individuals possessing exotic animals often attempt to change the nature of the animal rather than the nature of the care provided. Such tactics include confinement in small barren enclosures, chaining, beating into submission, or even painful mutilations, such as declawing and tooth removal. If and when the individual realizes he/she can no longer care for an exotic pet, he/she usually turns to zoos and other institutions such as sanctuaries to relieve him/her of the responsibility. However, all the zoos and accredited institutions could not possibly accommodate the number of unwanted exotic animals. Consequently, the majority of these animals are euthanized, abandoned, or doomed to live in deplorable conditions.

The Exotic Animal Pet Trade

Every year, a variety of sources provides millions of animals to the exotic pet trade. Animals are captured from their native habitat and transported to various countries to be sold as pets. Others are surplus animals from zoos or their offspring. Backyard breeders also supply exotic animals. It is absurdly easy to obtain an exotic pet. More than 1000 Internet sites offer to sell, give care advice, and provide chat rooms where buyers and sellers can haggle over a price. Helping to facilitate the exotic pet trade is the Animal Finders Guide, which carries ads from dealers, private parties, breeders, ranchers, and zoos offering large cats, monkeys, and other exotic animals for sale. The sellers of these animals, however, make no mention of the state or local laws regulating private possession of exotics, or of the dangers, difficulties, physical and physiological needs of the animals they peddle. The suffering of the animals in the hands of unqualified and hapless buyers appears to be of no concern in the lucrative exotic pet trade.

1. Public Safety Risk

Exotic animals are inherently dangerous to the individuals who possess them, to their neighbors, and to the community at large. Across the country, many incidents have been reported where exotic animals held in private hands attacked humans and other animals, and escaped from their enclosure and freely roamed the community. Children and adults have been mauled by tigers, bitten by monkeys, and asphyxiated by snakes. By their very nature, exotic animals are dangerous. Although most exotic animals are territorial and require group interactions, an exotic pet typically is isolated and spends the majority of his/her day in a small enclosure unable to roam and express natural behaviors freely. These animals are time bombs waiting to explode. Monkeys are the most common non-human primates held by private individuals. At the age of two, monkeys begin to exhibit unpredictable behavior. Males tend to become aggressive, and both males and females bite to defend themselves and to establish dominance. Reported have been many monkey bites that resulted in serious injury to the individual who possessed the animal, to a neighbor, or to a stranger on the street. According to the CDC, 52 people reported being bitten by macaque monkeys between 1990 to 1997. CDC reported, however, that owners of pet macaques are often reluctant to report bite injuries from their pets, even to their medical care providers for fear that their animal will be confiscated and possibly killed. Non-domesticated felines, such as lions, tigers, leopards, and cougars, are commonly held as pets. These exotic animals are cute and cuddly when they are young but have the potential to kill or seriously injure people and other animals as they grow. Even a seemingly friendly and loving animal can attack unsuspecting individuals. Many large cats have escaped from their cages and terrorized communities. Several of these incidents have resulted in either serious injury to the persons who came in contact with the animal, or the death of the animal, or both. Reptiles, including all types of snakes and lizards, pose safety risks to humans as well. Many incidents have been reported of escapes, strangulations, and bites from pet reptiles across the country. Snakes are the most common pet reptiles about 3% of U.S. households possess 7.3 million pet reptiles and have the potential to inflict serious injury through a bite or constriction. According to the University of Florida, more than 7,000 venomous snake bites are

reported annually in the United States (it is uncertain how many of these snakes are pets), 15 of which result in death. Moreover, there have been several reported incidences involving strangulation by snakes. For example, on August 28, 1999, in Centralia, IL, a 3-year-old boy was strangled to death by the familys pet python. The parents were charged with child endangerment and unlawful possession of a dangerous animal.

2. Human Health Risk

Exotic animals pose serious health risks to humans. Many exotic animals are carriers of zoonotic diseases, such as Herpes B, Monkey Pox, and Salmonellosis, all of which are communicable to humans. Herpes B-virus: 80 to 90 percent of all macaque monkeys are infected with Herpes B-virus or Simian B, a virus that is harmless to monkeys but often fatal in humans. Monkeys shed the virus intermittently in saliva or genital secretions, which generally occurs when the monkey is ill, under stress, or during breeding season. At any given time, about 2% of infected macaque monkeys are shedding the virus. A person who is bitten, scratched, sneezed or spit on while shedding occurs runs the risk of contracting the disease. Monkeys rarely show any signs or symptoms of shedding, making it nearly impossible to know when one is at risk. Reported cases of infection in humans are very rare; since the identification of the virus in 1932, there have only been 31 documented human infections by B virus, 21 of which were fatal. According to the CDC, the reason for such an apparently low rate of transmission may include infrequent B virus shedding by macaques, cross-reactive immunity against B virus stimulated by herpes simplex virus infection, and undetected asymptomatic infection. However, the frequency of Herpes B infection in humans has never been adequately studied and thus it is difficult to quantify how many people are actually infected with the virus. Persons who possess or work with infected monkeys are presumed to be in constant peril of potentially contracting the virus. Bites from non-human primates can cause severe lacerations. Wounds may become infected, with the potential to reach the bone and cause permanent deformity. The frequency of bites remains a mystery. Although it is widely acknowledged that non-human primate bites are some of the worst animal bites, little research regarding them exists.

Monkeys have also been known to transmit the Ebola virus, monkey pox, and other deadly illnesses.

Consider the risks to human health and safety, animal welfare, and the environment.
The Humane Society of the United States strongly opposes keeping wild animals as pets. This principle applies to both native and nonnative species, whether caught in the wild or bred in captivity. The overwhelming majority of people who obtain these animals are unable to provide the care they require.

1. Caring for wild animals is difficult or impossible Despite what animal sellers may say, appropriate care for wild animals 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 more dangerous than owners expect or can manage. Even small monkeys and small cats such as ocelots can inflict serious injuries, especially on children. Wild animals also pose a danger to human health and safety through disease and parasites. 2. Baby animals grow up Baby animals can be irresistibly adorableuntil 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, or displaying destructive behaviors without provocation or warning. Such animals typically become too difficult to manage and are confined to small cages, passed from owner to owner, or disposed of in other ways. There are not enough reputable sanctuaries or 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.

3. Wild animals spread disease The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discourages direct contact with wild animals 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 macaque monkeys can be fatal to humans. Tens of thousands of people get Salmonella infections each year from reptiles or amphibians, causing the CDC to recommend that these animals be kept out of homes with children under five. A 2003 outbreak of monkeypox was set in motion when African rodents carrying the disease were imported for the pet trade and infected native prairie dogs, who were also sold as pets. 4. Domestication takes centuries Wild animals are not domesticated simply by being captive born or hand-raised. It's a different story with dogs and cats, who have been domesticated by 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, by nature, are self-sufficient and fare best without our interference. The instinctive behavior of these animals makes them unsuitable as pets. 5. Capturing wild animals threatens their survival The global wildlife trade threatens the very existence of some species in their native habitats. When wild-caught animals are kept as pets, their suffering may begin with captureevery year countless birds and reptiles suffer and die on the journey to the pet store. Animals meant to live in the wild may languish in a cramped backyard cage or circle endlessly in a cat carrier or aquarium. Often, they become sick or die because their owners are unable to care for them properly. Captive breeding is no solution. It does not take the wild out of wildlife. Having any animal as a pet means being responsible for providing appropriate and humane care. Where wild animals are concerned, meeting this responsibility is usually impossible. People, animals, and the environment suffer the consequences.

Potential Problems With Keeping Wild Animals as Pets :

Stress for the Animal: the stress of capture and transport and improper care in captivity can cause illness or death. Even for captive bred animals, being kept in confined spaces and the inability to exhibit natural behavior can be very stressful.

Illegal Smuggling of Animals: there is a healthy black market for wild animals and related products which appears to be a growing problem. The black market in wildlife fuelled by mush more than the pet industry, but the demand for increasingly rare exotic pets does contribute to the problem. Authorities estimate that the black market in wildlife is valued in the billions of dollars, second only to illegal drug trafficking. Especially in the case where animals are caught and transported illegally it is estimated that many animals die for each one that eventually becomes someone's pet. See Wildlife Smuggling Boom Plaguing L.A., Authorities Say (National Geographic News, July 26, 2007) for more on this topic.

Declining Populations: capture of animals for the pet trade can contribute to declining wild populations of some species.

Exotic Diseases: wild animals can carry diseases transmissable to humans (e.g. the mild Monkeypox outbreak in the U.S. in 2003, which was thought ot have originated via an imported Gambian rat from Africa).

Invasive Species: the importation and movement of non-native species for the pet trade has led to several cases of pet species becoming invasive species and disrupting local ecossytems when the pets escape or are released. Examples include red eared sliders in many locations, and iguanas and burmese pythons in Florida.

Legal Issues
If you are considering a wild animal as a pet, the first thing to do is check the laws where you live. There may be local laws (at your city or county level), or laws at the state/provincial or federal levels that restrict the types of pet you may keep. Don't rely on information from the internet, and don't assume just because you can find an animal for sale locally that it is legal where you are. Get official confirmation; ignorance of the law will not protect you or your pet if you are turned in or discovered, and your pet will likely be confiscated.

WHAT TO DO !
You can do several things to help stop private possession of exotic animals:

For the animals sake and for your health and safety, please do not buy exotic animals as pets.

If you observe an exotic animal being abused, living in deplorable conditions, etc., report it to the appropriate animal control agency.

Educate others. Write a Letter to the Editor. Share this fact sheet with friends and family.

Support legislation at all levels to prohibit private possession of exotic animals. Find out how your state, city and county regulates private possession of exotic animals. For more information, see our website. If your state, city or county does not prohibit private possession, contact your state senator and representative or your city and county council members and urge them to introduce legislation banning possession of exotic animals.