The Humane Society of the United States strongly opposes keeping wild 动物 as pets. This principle applies to both native and nonnative species, whether caught in the wild 或者 bred in captivity. The overwhelming majority of people who obtain these 动物 are unable to provide the care they require.
Caring for Wild 动物 Is Difficult 或者 Impossible
Despite what animal sellers may say, appropriate care for wild 动物 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 更多 dangerous than owners expect 或者 can manage. Small 猫 such as ocelots and bobcats can be as deadly to children as lions and tigers. Wild 动物 also pose a danger to human health and safety through disease and parasites.
Baby 动物 Grow Up
Baby 动物 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, 或者 displaying destructive behaviors without provocation 或者 warning. Such 动物 typically become too difficult to manage and are confined to small cages, passed from owner to owner, 或者 disposed of in other ways. There are not enough reputable sanctuaries 或者 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 动物 Spread Disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discourages direct contact with wild 动物 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 猕, 猕猴 monkeys can be fatal to humans. Thousands of people get Salmonella infections each 年 from contact with reptiles 或者 amphibians, causing the CDC to recommend that these 动物 be kept out of homes with children under five. A 最近的 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 动物 are not domesticated simply 由 being captive born 或者 hand-raised. It's a different story with 狗 and cats, who have been domesticated 由 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, 由 nature, are self-sufficient and fare best without our interference. The instinctive behavior of these 动物 makes them unsuitable as pets.
Capturing Wild 动物 Threatens Their Survival
When wild-caught 动物 are kept as pets, their suffering may begin with capture—every 年 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 或者 圈, 圈子 endlessly in a cat carrier 或者 aquarium. 更多 commonly, they become sick 或者 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 动物 are concerned, meeting this responsibility is usually impossible. People, animals, and the environment suffer the consequences.
Caring for Wild 动物 Is Difficult 或者 Impossible
Despite what animal sellers may say, appropriate care for wild 动物 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 更多 dangerous than owners expect 或者 can manage. Small 猫 such as ocelots and bobcats can be as deadly to children as lions and tigers. Wild 动物 also pose a danger to human health and safety through disease and parasites.
Baby 动物 Grow Up
Baby 动物 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, 或者 displaying destructive behaviors without provocation 或者 warning. Such 动物 typically become too difficult to manage and are confined to small cages, passed from owner to owner, 或者 disposed of in other ways. There are not enough reputable sanctuaries 或者 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 动物 Spread Disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discourages direct contact with wild 动物 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 猕, 猕猴 monkeys can be fatal to humans. Thousands of people get Salmonella infections each 年 from contact with reptiles 或者 amphibians, causing the CDC to recommend that these 动物 be kept out of homes with children under five. A 最近的 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 动物 are not domesticated simply 由 being captive born 或者 hand-raised. It's a different story with 狗 and cats, who have been domesticated 由 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, 由 nature, are self-sufficient and fare best without our interference. The instinctive behavior of these 动物 makes them unsuitable as pets.
Capturing Wild 动物 Threatens Their Survival
When wild-caught 动物 are kept as pets, their suffering may begin with capture—every 年 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 或者 圈, 圈子 endlessly in a cat carrier 或者 aquarium. 更多 commonly, they become sick 或者 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 动物 are concerned, meeting this responsibility is usually impossible. People, animals, and the environment suffer the consequences.